Isaiah 1:1 states: “The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz of Judah and Jerusalem, which he saw in the reigns of Uzziah, of Jotham, of Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah” This verse indicates that Isaiah's ministry began with the reign of Uzziah, king of Judah, and culminated in the reign of King Hezekiah. So while Isaiah was prophesying to Judah, the southern kingdom, during the reign of these four kings, Hosea and Amos were prophesying to Israel, the northern kingdom. Geographically, the area where these three prophets prophesied was the northern kingdom (Israel with its capital being Samaria) and the southern kingdom (Judah). Aram was located above Judah. West of Aram was the Assyrian kingdom. The areas including Samaria and Judah as well as Galilee were full of mountains and were located to the west of what is today called Israel. These three regions received sufficient rainfall, which made this region an ideal location for the agricultural industry. These three sections represent only part of the central mountain region that "was the most geographically varied and historically significant in the Old Testament." Indeed, it was in the central mountainous region that most of the Israelite cities were located and the majority of the territory was in the hands of the “united and divided Hebrew monarchies.” From the early to mid-8th century, Israel and Judah were physically in a state of prosperity and power. However, in the mid-8th century, Israel's prosperity and power came under attack when the Assyrians invaded their region in an attempt to attack them. King Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria was responsible for the invasion of Israel. This attack is the background to...... middle of paper ...... Simple and direct commentary on each book of the Bible. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. 1998: 261-262. Hill, Andrew E. and John H. Walton. A Survey of the Old Testament. 3rd edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House. 2009: 522-23. Clenden, ER New American Commentary: Isaiah 1-39. City: B&H Publishing Group. 2007: 25. Walton, John H. Chronological and Contextual Charts of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House. 1994: 30. Hill, Andrew E. and John H. Walton. A Survey of the Old Testament. 3rd edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House. 2009: 525. Walton, John H. Chronological and Contextual Charts of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House. 1994: 30. Hill, Andrew E. and John H. Walton. A Survey of the Old Testament. 3rd edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House. 2009: 523.