Context The King of Assyria (Sennacherib) is threatening King Hezekiah and Judah. This was a very difficult and frightening time for Hezekiah and the people of Judah, because Assyria had been successful in conquering many other nations, including Israel (Northern Kingdom). Furthermore, Judah was not able to physically and militarily withstand the power and might of the invading Assyrian army. The Assyrians were ruthless; they struck terror in the hearts of the subjugated peoples of their conquered lands.