Lessons from Ancient Coalition Against Assyria

Ancient coalitions like the one Ahab of Israel led in 853 BC could resist Assyrian power, but once disunited, they fell individually to the empire's might, resulting in mass death, destruction, and societal upheaval. Through extensive archaeological evidence and biblical texts, Israel and Judah's experiences provide insights into the struggles faced by neighboring polities like the Airmans, Moabites, and Philistines. These kingdoms' rivalries, infighting, and power struggles, along with the devastating impacts of direct Assyrian attention, mirror the broader effects of empire in that era. Israel and Judah, by reflecting these experiences, serve as a window into the consequences of empire for all peripheral polities of the time.