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Which Assyrian ruler was expanding his empire when Isaiah became a prophet?
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Isaiah
Miniature of Isaiah, manuscript illumination from The Siegburg Lectionary, 12th century.
When Isaiah received his call to prophecy around 742 BCE, the Assyrian ruler who was actively expanding the empire was Tiglath-pileser III (reigned 745–727 BCE).123
Tiglath-pileser III inaugurated the final and most significant phase of Assyrian expansion, systematically subjecting regions such as Syria and Palestine to his rule. Isaiah viewed this westward expansion as a divine instrument of judgment, famously referring to Assyria as the "rod of my anger" in his prophecies.423