Damascus’s main interest was trade, which it maintained internally with a strong monarchy and externally by subjugating Israel. As long as Judah and Israel remained at odds, Damascus could upset any balance of power between them. However, this changed during the reign of Ahab of Israel and Jehoshaphat of Judah: Jehoshaphat’s son married Ahab’s daughter, and Judah pledged military support to Israel. As a result, Israel and Judah faced Damascus directly. This pattern was also repeated on a larger scale: a new power emerged above them—specifically, Assyria—that sought to impose its hegemony by exploiting divisions. When Assyria puts pressure on Damascus, Israel and Judah can rest and recover territories; when Assyria backs off, Damascus resumes expansion for commercial gains.