doi: 10.2143/ANES.46.0.2040712TIGLATH-PILESER III'S AID TO AHAZ ANES 46 (2009) 93–10693 Tiglath-pileser III's Aid to Ahaz: A New Look at the Problems of the Biblical Accounts in Light of the Assyrian Sources Luis Robert SIDDALL Department of the Near and Middle East Factury of Languages and Cultures School of Oriental and African Studies The University of London E-mail: [email protected] Abstract This study examines the discrepancy in the biblical text’s account of Tiglath- pileser III’s aid to Ahaz during the Syro-Ephraimite crisis in light of the Assyrian sources. II Kings 16:5–9 (and Isaiah 7) states that Tiglath-pileser helped Ahaz by repelling the attacks of the Syro-Ephraimite coalition, while II Chronicles 28:5– 21 proclaims that Tiglath-pileser failed to help the Judean king. Previous studies have attempted to resolve the textual conflict by way of literary analysis or textual emendation. By undertaking an historical methodology of the biblical text and an examination of the Assyrian sources, the case is made that while the biblical accounts contradict each other in specific areas, there are key elements that are historically accurate in both accounts which are in complete accord with the Assyrian sources, and in turn clarify the biblical accounts.* This article will examine the contexts of the passages in the Hebrew Bi- ble that relate to Tiglath-pileser III’s movements in Syria-Palestine and his * This article is dedicated to Dr Noel K. Weeks of the University of Sydney. Now at the close of his teaching career, this study aims to pursue an historical problem abiding by the two central instructions Dr Weeks gave to the apprentice historians in his lectures and semi- nars. The first is to look at what is written in the ancient text, not what the secondary litera- ture says about it. The second is a quote from the late Professor C. H. Gordon, who was one of Dr Weeks’ teachers at Brandeis: “Any fool can amend a text, but it takes a true scholar to it solve it as it stands”. It is my great honour to humbly present this paper to my former teacher, who is for me the unsung hero of Ancient Near Eastern studies in Australia, in the hope of fulfilling the two criteria outlined for a young historian. 2170-09_Anes46_06_Siddall 93 09-01-2009, 15:07 94 L. R. SIDDALL aid to Ahaz of Judah: namely, II Kings 16:5–9 and II Chronicles 28:5–21, and where appropriate the account in Isaiah 7:1–17 will also be considered. It will be suggested that what at first appears to be a discrepancy between the biblical books can rather be viewed, with the aid of the contemporary Assyrian sources, as reflection of the different emphases of the author of Kings and the Chronicler.1 The thesis proposed in the discussion that fol- lows is in complete accord with the books of II Kings, II Chronicles as well as Tiglath-pileser III’s inscriptions. In the years 733–732,2 Tiglath-pileser campaigned in Syria-Palestine in order to dismantle the Syro-Ephraimite alliance. The alliance consisted of Tyre, Damascus and the northern kingdom of Israel. These states were re- corded as tribute bearers to Tiglath-pileser III in the years from 740–738.3 However, during the years that followed, these states formed an alliance against Judah, leading to a conflict that is reported in II Kings 16:5–9 and II Chronicles 28:5–21. There is some debate as to whether or not the reason for the Syro-Ephraimite coalition’s attack on Judah was an anti-Assyrian movement or a continuation of an existing territorial conflict in the Trans- Jordanian region.4 There are significant discrepancies in the two biblical accounts of the conflict. A number of scholars have attempted to harmonise the two ver- sions of the Syro-Ephraimite war by linguistic and textual criticism, or by identifying the difference between the ideological-theological aims and atti- tudes of the author of Kings and the Chronicler. At the heart of any inter- pretation is how we understand the relationship between Kings (and Samuel for that matter) and Chronicles. While we do not have the time or space to offer a detailed evaluation of the relationship between Samuel- Kings and Chronicles, it has been accepted here that the books of Chroni- cles were composed later than Samuel-Kings.5 This is not to say, as is often argued, that Samuel-Kings is a more reliable source than Chronicles. Rather, that the Chronicler produced a work that indicated that he had knowledge of Samuel-Kings and expanded on it to create a different em- 1 By ‘author of Kings’ and ‘Chronicler’ I do not contend that these works were necessarily the efforts of one particular individual. Rather, they are designations of convenience. 2 The dates are all BCE and follow those of Tadmor 1994. 3 Annal 13:10–12, in Tadmor 1994, pp. 68–69. 4 For a discussion of alternate points of views, see Begrich 1927; Oded 1972, pp. 153–165; Otzen 1979, pp. 255–261; Bright 1981, p. 273; Irvine 1990; Na’aman 1991, p. 92; and Blenkinsopp 2000, pp. 229–230 and Doubovsky 2006, p. 154. 5 Klein 1992, esp. pp. 995–997, Gottwald 1987, pp. 514–517, and Kalimi 2005, pp. 1–2, are representative of this notion. For a differing opinion, see Auld 1999; Rainey 1997; Rezetko 2003; and Person 2007. 2170-09_Anes46_06_Siddall 94 09-01-2009, 15:07 TIGLATH-PILESER III'S AID TO AHAZ 95 phasis. This notion is a key element to the interpretations of this problem and the reason for taking this position will become clear in the discussed below. The two accounts of the Syro-Ephraimite war are as follows: II KINGS 16:5–9 (5) Then king Rezin of Aram and King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel ad- vanced on Jerusalem for battle. They besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome [him]. (6) At that time King Rezin of Aram recovered Elath for Aram; he drove out the Judahites from Elath, and the Edomite came to Elath and set- tled there, as is still the case. (7) Ahaz sent messengers to King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria to say, “I am your servant and your son; come and deliver me from the hands of the king of Aram and the king of Israel, who are attacking me.” (8) Ahaz took the gold and silver that were on hand in the House of the LORD and in the treasuries of the royal palace and sent them as a gift to the king of Assyria. (9) The king of Assyria responded to his request; the king of Assyria marched against Da- mascus and captured it. He deported its inhabitants to Kir and put Rezin to death. II Chronicles 28:5–21 (5) The LORD his god delivered him over to the king of Aram, who defeated him and took many of his men captive, and brought them to Damascus. He was also delivered over to the king of Israel, who inflicted a great defeat on him. (6) Pekah son of Ramaliah killed 120,000 in Judah–all brave men–in one day, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. (7) Zichri, the champion of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king’s son, and Azrikam chief of the palace, and Elkanah, the second to the king. (8) The Israelites captured 200,000 of their kinsmen, woman, boys, and girls; they also took a large amount of booty from them and brought the booty to Samaria. (9) A prophet by the name of Oded was there, who went out to meet the army on its return to Samaria. He said to them, “Because of the fury of the LORD God of your fathers against Judah, he delivered them over to you, and you killed them in a rage that reached heaven. (10) Do you now intend to subjugate the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem to be your slaves? As it is, you have nothing but offenses against the LORD your God. (11) Now then, listen to me, and send back the captives you have taken from your kinsmen, for the wrath of the LORD is upon you!” (12) Some of the chief men of the Ephraimites — Azariah son of Jehohenen, Berechiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai — con- fronted those returning from the campaign (13) and said to them, “Do not bring these captives here, for it would mean our offending the LORD, adding to our sins and our offenses; for our offense is grave enough, and there is already wrath upon Israel.” (14) So the soldiers released the captives and the 2170-09_Anes46_06_Siddall 95 09-01-2009, 15:07 96 L. R. SIDDALL booty in the presence of the officers and all the congregation. (15) Then the men named above proceeded to take the captives in hand, and with the booty they clothed all the naked among them — they clothed them and shod them and provided donkeys for all who were failing and brought them, to Jericho, the city of palms, back to their kinsmen. Then they returned to Samaria. (16) At that time, King Ahaz sent to the king of Assyria for help. (17) Again the Edomites came and inflicted a defeat on Judah and took captives. (18) And the Philistines made forays against the cities of the Shephelah and the Negeb of Judah; they seized Beth-Shemesh and Aijalon and Gederoth, and Soco with its villages, and Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo with its villages; and they settled there.