At the time of Hezekiah's accession to the throne of Judah, the Assyrians had already carried captive a large number of the children of Israel from the northern kingdom; and a few years after he had begun to reign, and while he was still strengthening the defenses of Jerusalem, the Assyrians besieged and captured Samaria and scattered the ten tribes among the many provinces of the Assyrian realm. The borders of Judah were only a few miles distant, with Jerusalem less than fifty miles away; and the rich spoils to be found within the temple would tempt the enemy to return.

Da Ezekias blev konge i Juda, havde assyrerne allerede ført et stort antal israelitter fra nordriget bort som fanger. Nogle få år efter at han var begyndt at regere, på det tidspunkt arbejdede han endnu på at udbygge Jerusalems forsvar belejrede og indtog assyrerne Samaria og spredte de ti stammer blandt assyrerrigets talrige provinser. Der var kun få kilometer til Judas grænse; Jerusalem lå kun ca. 75 kilometer borte, og de store rigdomme i templet fristede fjenden til at komme tilbage.