The Eighth century historical situation and how the prophets addressed it. discuss

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In the late eighth century B.C.E., God's people in the promised land had become divided into a northern kingdom, Israel, and a southern kingdom, Judah. Assyria was the dominant power in the region. Israel and another liege state, Syria, were planning to rebel against Assyria. Their kings pressured Judah's king Ahaz to join them. When he refused, they began to plot to overthrow him. Ahaz decided to appeal to Assyria for help against Israel and Syria. Enter the prophet Isaiah. He is confident that God will protect Judah and king Ahaz, who is, after all, a descendant of David. Isaiah also knows that only mischief can come from getting cozy with the Assyrians. He tells Ahaz to be have faith and not ally himself with Assyria. But Ahaz won't hear of it; he's going ahead with his alliance. Isaiah tells him the Lord wants him to ask Isaiah for a sign of the truth of what he's saying. Ahaz doesn't want to be dissuaded from his plan, so he piously demurs, "I will not ask." In frustration, Isaiah announces a sign anyway, the birth of a son, whose very name reminds everyone that God is with these people.

source http://www.lectorprep.org/advent_04_yrA.html