How did Isaiah respond to Assyrian pressure on Judah during King Hezekiah’s reign?

During the reign of King Hezekiah, the prophet Isaiah’s response to Assyrian pressure evolved in two distinct phases:

• Advocacy for Neutrality: As Hezekiah became entangled in the power struggles between Babylon, Egypt, and Assyria following the death of Sargon II in 705 BCE, Isaiah initially urged the king to remain neutral and avoid revolutionary turmoil.1
• Call for Resistance: When Sennacherib of Assyria launched his campaign to crush the Palestinian rebellion, Isaiah shifted his stance. Contrary to his previous advocacy for neutrality, he urged Hezekiah to resist the Assyrians. Isaiah argued that the people should not rely on Egyptian allies, whom he described as merely men and not God, but should instead place their trust in Yahweh, who would protect Jerusalem.12

Isaiah’s broader prophetic mission emphasized that true security was not found in military alliances or armaments, but in the nation’s adherence to moral demands and trust in God. He maintained that because God determines the destiny of nations, security is granted by Him rather than through human political maneuvering.12