YHWH the God of Israel the antithesis of imperialism in both its pro-Assyrian and anti-Assyrian varieties.20 The futility of trusting in power politics rather than the God of Israel came to the fore in 745 BCE when the window of political opportunity slammed shut with the advent of Tiglath-pileser III, the famous Assyrian king. The renaissance of Assyria coincided nearly exactly with the passing of Jeroboam II and Uzziah, two longstanding kings in Samaria and Judah, respectively, whose stable reigns
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