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he Hebrew Bible records the history of ancient Israel reign. In three different inscriptions, Shalmaneser III and Judah, relating that the two kingdoms were recounts that he received tribute from Tyre, Sidon, and united under Saul (ca. 1000 B.C.) Jehu, son of Omri, in his 18th year, tand became politically separate fol- usually figured as 841 B.C. Thus, Jehu, lowing Solomon’s death (ca. 935 B.C.). the next Israelite king to whom the The division continued until the Assyrians refer, appears in the same Assyrians, whose empire was expand- order as described in the Bible. But he ing during that period, exiled Israel is identified as ruling a place with a in the late eighth century B.C. different geographic name, Bit Omri But the goal of the Bible was not to (the house of Omri). record history, and the text does not One of Shalmaneser III’s final edi- shy away from theological explana- tions of annals, the Black Obelisk, tions for events. Given this problem- contains another reference to Jehu. In atic relationship between sacred the second row of figures from the interpretation and historical accura- top, Jehu is depicted with the caption, cy, historians welcomed the discovery “Tribute of Iaua (Jehu), son of Omri. of ancient Assyrian cuneiform docu- Silver, gold, a golden bowl, a golden ments that refer to people and places beaker, golden goblets, pitchers of mentioned in the Bible. Discovered gold, lead, staves for the hand of the in the 19th century, these historical king, javelins, I received from him.”As records are now being used by schol- scholar Michele Marcus points out, ars to corroborate and augment the Jehu’s placement on this monument biblical text, especially the Bible’s indicates that his importance for the COPYRIGHT THE BRITISH MUSEUM “historical books” of Kings. This field © Assyrians stems from the fact that he is for comparison complements the from an area representing the farthest recent trend among biblical scholars reach of the Assyrian state. of using new interpretative method- through Along with the new name is a ologies and archaeology to question change in Israel’s relationship to some of the Bible’s historical claims. Assyria. When Ahab governed Israel it was active in a coalition of city-states ISRAEL BY ANY OTHER NAME assyria’s that militarily opposed Assyria. In the The one reference to Israel in the sur- later inscriptions, Jehu brought tribute viving Assyrian materials dates to to Shalmaneser III. In the final in- the reign of the Assyrian king eyes scription the position of Jehu is that of Shalmaneser III (858–824 B.C.). Ahab ruler of a region that functions as a of Israel is listed as part of a coalition secure border of Assyria. Thus, as the of 12 city-states — including Damas- israel’s Assyrians portrayed this relationship, cus, the Arabs, Byblos, and Egypt — the change in name is a shift in the that engaged Shalmaneser III in bat- nature of the relationship between tle in his sixth year. While the refer- relationship Israel and Assyria, from one of active ence to Ahab is the only mention hostility to one of subservience. of Israel in the Assyrian inscriptions, with judah The Bible makes no reference to that is not to say that Assyria did not Jehu’s relationship with Assyria, but have further contact with what the some elements in Jehu’s reign that are Hebrew Bible names Israel, only that the Assyrians never again used the term Israel in their inscriptions. Another TOP: Image of Assyrian king Shalmaneser III on the Black term for biblical Israel appears later in the same king’s Obelisk of Shalmaneser III found at Nimrud by Tammi J. Schneider WWW.MUSEUM.UPENN.EDU/PUBLICATIONS 9 a LEFT: General timeline. The region of Israel, Judah, and TIMELINE There are many differing dates, some of the major cities, sur- especially for the kings of rounding nations, and tribal areas Year B.C. Assyria Israel Judah Israel and Judah. Here, Israelite Saul Saul and Judean kings are tied to despite devastating the cities of associated with different groups the Assyrian kings for 1000 Ashur-rabi II (1012–972) David (1005–965) David Bit Omri, he did not destroy of cities. The Assyrian sources comparative purposes. Tiglath-pilesar II (966–935) Solomon (968–928) Solomon Samaria, but Pekah, their king, are mute about why Judah paid was overthrown. Writing about tribute to Assyria and under 950 Jeroboam (928–907) Rehoboam (928–911) the author(s) of Kings may the inscriptions of Tiglath- what conditions. According to Abijam (911–908) not have wanted to dis- pilesar, Hayim Tadmor explains the Eponym Chronicle for the Adad-nirari II (911–891) Asa (908–867) credit Jehu — who bought that the main clause “they year 734 B.C., Tiglath-pilesar III Nadab (907–906) his security to the throne overthrew” is not preserved but went to Philistia. The texts from 900 Baasha (906–883) by becoming an Assyrian must have referred to the these years are rather mutilated, Tukulti-Ninurta II (890–884) Elah (883–882) vassal — by mentioning fall of Pekah. providing no details explaining Ashurnasirpal II (883–859) Zimri (882) this relationship. Without reference to Bit Assyria’s interest in the area. Omri (882–871) Jehoshaphat (870–846) Despite changes in Omri, Tiglath-pilesar III’s The Bible adds to the discus- Shalmaneser III (858–824) Ahab (873–852) Assyria and its relation- annals mention Menahem, sion, in 2 Kings 15:17, when 850 Ahaziah (852–851) Jehoram (851–843) ship with the region fol- King of Samaria, two times Menahem, son of Gadi, be- Jehoram (851–842) lowing Shalmaneser III’s between Rezin of Damascus comes king in Samaria. Line 19 Jehu (841–814) Ahaziah (843–842) death, Assyrian texts con- and Tuba’il of Tyre. The refer- states,“King Pul [Tiglath-pilesar Shamshi-Adad V (824–811) Jehoahaz (817–800) Athaliah (842–836) tinue to refer to Israel as ence on Stele III A further III’s nickname] of Assyria Adad-nirari III (810–783) Joash (836–798) Bit Omri until Israel’s defines all those listed on Stele invaded the land, and Menahem Amaziah (798–769) destruction. The Assyrian III A as kings of Hatti and the Aramaeans of the western gave Pul a thousand talents of silver that he might support 800 Jehoash (800–784) Azariah (785–733) king Adad-nirari III (810– seashore; Judah does not appear in these lists. him and strengthen his hold on the kingdom.” Shalmaneser IV (783–773) 783 B.C.) first introduces Possibly, Assyrian sources do not mention Menahem’s Ashur-dan III (772–755) Jeroboam II (789–748) Jotham (758–743) the name Samaria into the ENTER JUDAH son and successor Pekahiah because, “His [Pekahiah’s] Ashur-nirari V (755–745) picture. Samaria is likely When Tiglath-pilesar III does mention the land of Judah aide, Pekah son of Remaliah, conspired against him and 750 Zechariah (747) another reference to Israel in a tribute list, it is with very different contemporaries. struck him down in the royal palace in Samaria...” (2 Shallum (747) because it became the Summary Inscription 7 lists Jehoahaz of Judah between Kings 15:25). Pekah’s interaction with Tiglath-pilesar III Tiglath-pilesar III (745–727) Menahem (747–737) Jehoahaz (743–727) capital of Bit Omri/Israel Mitini of Ashkelon and Qaushmalaka of Edom. Earlier, is described in line 29:“In the days of King Pekah of Israel, Pekahiah (737–735) beginning in King Omri’s this inscription includes Menahem’s contemporaries, King Tiglath-pilesar of Assyria came and captured Ijob, Pekah (735–732) day (1 Kings 16:24). Adad- such as Hiram of Tyre, Kushtashpi of Kummuh, Urik of Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor-Gilead, Shalmaneser V (726–722) Hoshea (732–724) Hezekiah (727–698) nirari III notes that Que, and Ussame of Tabal, though neither Menahem, Map of the first millennium B.C. Ancient Near East, high- Sargon II (722–705) Fall of Samaria 722 Jehoash of Samaria (800– Samaria, or Bit Omri is mentioned. Another differ- lighting the heartland of Assyria Table 1. There are many differing dates, especially for the kings of Israel and Judah. Here Israelite 784 B.C.) paid him tri- ence between the lists may be in their dating. and Judean kings are tied to the Assyrian kings for comparative purposes. bute. The other kings who Mordechai Cogan and paid tribute to Assyria in Hayim Tadmor have mentioned in the Bible are relevant here. Jehu came to the same campaign were the kings of Damascus, noted that Tiglath-pilesar the throne in a bloody coup where he destroyed King Tyre, and Sidon. Here, the Bible is silent. III’s Summary Inscrip- Jehoram and the house of Ahab, the previous Israelite Tiglath-pilesar III (745–727 B.C.), who ushered in a tion 7 separates the states king (2 Kings 9:1–10, 20; 2 Kings 10). He even took new era of expansion for Assyria, is the next Assyrian into two groups: the Syro- revenge on the royal family of Judah, killing their King king to refer to Bit Omri, Samaria, and Judah. In two Anatolian kings who paid Ahaziah (2 Kings 9:27). Despite the severity of his coup, inscriptions, the name Bit Omri defines Aram’s bor- tribute in 738 B.C., and Jehu has a fairly good reputation in the biblical text, at ders. One of the inscriptions includes events in the the Syro-Palestinian kings least for a king of Israel (2 Kings 10:28–31), because he land of Bit Omri, but what occurred is lost in a break who paid on another rid Israel of the house of Ahab.
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