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The Northern Kingdom of Israel fell to the Assyrians from "summary" of A History of Israel and the Holy Land by Michael Avi-Yonah
During the 8th century BCE, the Northern Kingdom of Israel faced a period of turmoil and instability. The Assyrians, a powerful empire in the region, launched a series of military campaigns against Israel, ultimately leading to its downfall. The Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III initiated the conflict by invading Israel and capturing several of its cities. This marked the beginning of a long and bloody struggle between the two nations. Despite initial resistance from the Israelites, the Assyrians continued to advance into the heart of the Northern Kingdom. The Assyrian army, known for its military prowess and brutality, inflicted heavy casualties on the Israelite forces. As a result, many of the Israelite cities and towns fell under Assyrian control. The Assyrians employed ruthless tactics such as siege warfare and forced deportations to subdue the Israelites and crush any remaining resistance. The final blow came in 722 BCE when the Assyrians captured the capital city of Samaria, effectively bringing an end to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Thousands of Israelites were either killed or taken captive by the Assyrians, who sought to assert their dominance over the region. The fall of Israel marked a significant turning point in the history of the ancient Near East, as it demonstrated the military might and expansionist ambitions of the Assyrian empire. The Assyrians went on to annex the territory of Israel and incorporate it into their growing empire. The Israelites who survived the conquest were either assimilated into Assyrian society or dispersed to other parts of the empire. The destruction of the Northern Kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians had far-reaching consequences, not only for the Israelites but also for the broader geopolitical landscape of the ancient world. It served as a grim reminder of the harsh realities of power politics and the relentless march of empires in the ancient Near East.
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