Inscriptions From Other Nations--------------------------------------------
The Babylonian
ration tablets contain a list of captives taken to Babylon during the
campaigns of Nebushadnezzer.Among the recipients of these rations
were people from various subject nations (the Jewish people were not
the only displaced persons in the Babylonian empire). The nations
listed include: Egypt, Philistia, Phoenicia, Asia Minor, Persia, and,
of course, Judah. The Jewish people that are listed have
characteristically Jewish names, some of which are biblical, such as:
Semachiah, Gaddiel and Shelemiah. It is in these tablets, associated
with five other royal princes, that the mention of King Jehoiachin of
Judah can be found. Jehoiachin's name has an important effect on the
authenticity of Ezekiel. Jehoiachin (written Yaukin; an abreviated
form of his name) is specifically described as " king of the
land of Yahud." "Yahud" is a shortened for of Judah
(Yehuda in Hebrew) which is well known in the period after the exile,
when the small Jewish state stamped official jar handles and silver
coins with the legend "Yehud". One of the documents
mentioning Yaukin is specifically dated 592 BC. At this time, some
have suggested, the captive Judean king seems to have been free to
move about the city, as suggested by the distribution of rations to
him. Some would argue that he was not cast into prison until a later
time, and then in the thirty-seventh year of his exile he was finally
liberated and restored to a favorable, or perhaps even a perferential
treatment.The Bible tells us that Jehoichin’s head was lifted
up,out of prison by Evil Merodach,(II Kings
25:27)
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The following are inscriptions from the campaigns of Assyrian kings
King Ahab from the Kurkh Monolith of Shalmaneser III 853 BCE
I approached the
city of Qarqar.I razed, destroyed and burned the city of Qarqar , his
royal city. 1,200 chariots, 1,200 cavalry, and 20,000 troops of
Hadad-ezer of Damascus; 700 chariots, 700 cavalry, 10,000 troops of
Irhuleni, the Hamathite; 2,000 chariots, and 10,000 troops of Ahab,
the Israelite; 500 troops of Byblos; 1,000 troops of Egypt; 10
chariots and 10,000 troops of the land of Irqanatu; 200 troops of
Matinu-ba'al of the city of Arvad; 200 troops of the land of Usanatu;
30 chariots and X,000 troops of Adon-ba'al of the land of Shianu,
1,000 camels of Gindibu of Arabia; X hundred troops of Ba'asa, the
man of Bit ruhubi, the Ammonite--these twelve kings he took as his
allies....I decisively defeated them from the city of Qarqar to the
city of Gilzau.I felled with the sword 14,000 troops, their fighting
men.Like Adad, I rained down upon them a devastating flood. I spread
out their corpses and I filled the plain. I felled with the
sword their extensive troops. I made their blood flow in the
wadis. style="mso-spacerun: yes"> The field was
too small for laying flat their bodies; the broad countryside had
been consumed in burying them. I blocked the Orontes River with
their corpses as with a causeway. In the midst of this battle I
took away from them chariots, cavalry, and teams of horses.
"To
strengthen his forces he was assisted by Hadazer of Damascus who had
1,200 chariots and cavalrymen, along with 20,000 soldiers on foot . .
. 2,000 chariots and 10,000 troops of Ahab from Israel . . . military
forces of Basa, the son of Ruhubi, the Ammonite. Combined they
numbered twelve kings."
The
House of Omri inscription of Sargon II
"[the
Samar]ians [who had agreed with a hostile king]...I fought with them
and decisively defeated them]....carried off as spoil. 50 chariots
for my royal force ...[the rest of them I settled in the midst of
Assyria] [The inhabitants of Sa]merina, who agreed [and plotted] with
a king [hostile to] me, not to do service and not to bring tribute
[to Ashshur] and who did battle, I fought against them with the power
of the great gods, my lords. I counted as spoil 27,280 people,
together with their chariots, and gods, in which they trusted. I
formed a unit with 200 of [their] chariots for my royal force. I
settled the rest of them in the midst of Assyria. I repopulated
Samerina more than before. I brought into it people from countries
conquered by my hands. I appointed my eunuch as governor over them.
And I counted them as Assyrians. I plundered Sinuhtu, Samerina and
the entire land of
Bit-Humria(Omri)(Israel)".
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King
Jehu from the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III 841 BCE
“I
received the tribute of Jehu the man of Bit-Humri (Omri):
silver, gold, a golden bowl, a golden goblet, golden cups, golden
buckets, tin, a staff of the king's hand, and javelins”.
Kurba'il Statue of Shalmaneser III
839-838 BCE
“At that time [841], I received the tribute of the Tyrians, the
Sidonians, and Jehu, the man of Bit -Humri
(Omri)”.
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King Jehu
Calah Bulls of Shalmaneser III 841 BCE
“At
that time, I received the tribute of the Tyrians and the Sidonians,
and of Jehu, man of Bit- Humri”.
Marble Slab inscription of Shalmaneser III 839 BCE
[In 841] I marched to the mountains
of Ba'li-ra'si at the side of the sea and opposite Tyre.
Ierected a statue of my royalty there. I received the tribute
of Ba'al-manzer, the Tyrian, and of Jehu, the man of
Bit-Humri.______________________________________________________________________________________
King Joash of Israel from theTell Rimah Stela of Adad-Nirari III 797 BC
“I received the tribute of Joash the Samarian, of the ruler, and of the Sidonian ruler”.______________________________________________________________________________________
...”Rezin, the Damascene, Menahem, the Samarian, Tuba'il, the Tyrian, etc...I imposed on them tribute of silver, gold, tin, iron, elephant hides, elephant tusks (ivory), blue-purple and red-purple garments, multi-colored garments, camels, and she-camels”
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Pekah Omri and Hoshea from the Summary Inscription of Tiglath-pileser III ca. 731
“I
carried off to Assyria the land of Bit-Humria (Israel), [its]
auxiliary [army]...all of its people,...[I killed] Pekah, their king,
and I installed Hoshea [as king] over them. I received from
them 10 talents of gold, x talents of silver, [with] their
[possessions] and [I car]ried them [to Assyria]”.
Hazeal
and Omri from the Summary Inscription of Tiglath-pileser III
“The wide [land of Bit]-Haza'ili (Aram-Damascus) in its entirety, from Mount [Leb]anon as far as the city of Gilea[d], Abel...[on the bor]der of Bit-Humria (Israel) I annexed to Assyria. [I placed] my eunuch [over them as governor]”.
Pekah and Omri from the Summary Inscription of Tiglath-pileser III
“[The land of Bit-Humria (Israel)], all [of whose] cities I leveled [to the ground] in my former campaigns...I plundered its livestock, and I spared only (isolated) Samaria. [I/they overthrew Pek]ah their king”.
Omri from the Pavement Inscriptions of Sargon III
“I plundered Sinuhtu, “Sameria and the entire land of Bit-Humria (Israel)”.
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Jehoahaz from the Summary Inscription ofTiglath-pileser III
“I received the tribute of...Sanipu, Ammonite, Salamanu, Moabite,...Mitinti, the Askhelonite,
Jehoahaz, the Judahite [= Ahaz]”
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Azekah and Hezekiah Inscription of Sargon III
“With
the power and might of Anshar, my lord, I overwhelmed the district of
Hezekiah of Judah... Azekah, his stronghold, which is located between
my land and the land of Judah...I besieged by means of beaten earth
ramps, by great battering rams brought near its walls, and with the
attack of foot soldiers [...] They had seen the...of my cavalry and
they had heard the roar of the mighty troops of the god Anshar, and
their hearts became afraid. I captured this stronghold, I
carried off its spoil, I destroyed, I devastated, I burned with
fire. I approached Ekron, a royal city of the Philistines,
which Hezekiah had captured and strengthened for himself....His
skillful battle warriors he cause to enter into
it”.
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Hezzekiah
from Sennacherib's Annals
“Because
Hezekiah of Judah did not submit to my yoke, I laid siege to 46 of
his fortified cities, walled forts, and to the countless villages in
their vicinity. I conquered them using earthen ramps and
battering rams....I took 200,150 prisoners of war....I imprisoned
Hezekiah in Jerusalem like a bird in a cage. I erected siege
works to prevent anyone escaping through the city gates. The
cities of Judah, which I captured I gave to Mitiniti, ruler of
Ashdod, and to Padi, ruler of Ekron, and to Sillibel, ruler of
Gaza....Hezekiah, who was overwhelmed by my terror-inspiring
splendor, was deserted by his elite troops, which he had brought into
Jerusalem. He was forced to send me 420 pounds of gold, 11,200
pounds of silver, precious stones, couches and chairs...his
daughters, concubines....He sent his personal messenger to deliver
this tribute and bow down to me”.
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The Ethiopian King,Tirhakah,was mentioned in II Kings 19:9,as having come to fight the Assyrians.History tells us that at the time Assyria was invading Canaan and Egypt,the Ethiopians had gained control of Egypt.Keeping that control depended on stopping the Assyrians before they reached Egypt.
Tirhakah Ethiopian King of Egypt from the Anals of Ashurbanipal
“In my first campaign I marched against Egypt (Magan) and Ethiopia (Meluhha). Tirhakah (Tarqu), king of Egypt (Musur) and Nubia (Kusu), whom Esarhaddokn, king of Assyria, my own father, had defeated and in whose country he (Esarhaddon) had ruled, this (same) Tirhakah forgot the might of Ashur, Ishtar and the (other) great gods, my lords, and put his trust upon his own power. He turned against the kings (and) regents whom my own father had appointed in Egypt. He entered and took residence in Memphis (Me-im-pi), the city which my own father had conquered and incorporated into Assyrian territory. An express messenger came to Nineveh to report to me.I became very angry on account of these happenings, my soul was aflame”.
Anals of Esarhaddon
“I departed from my city Ashur. I crossed the Tigris and the Euphrates at (the time of their flood); I advanced over the difficult territory (of my route) (as quick-footed) as a wild-ox. In the course of my campaign I threw up earthwork (for a seige) against Ba’lu, king of Tyre who had put his trust upon his friend Tirhakah (Tarqu), king of Nubia (Kusu), and (therefore) had thrown off the yoke of Ashur, my lord “. “I departed from my city Ashur. I crossed the Tigris and the Euphrates at (the time of their flood); I advanced over the difficult territory (of my route) (as quick-footed) as a wild-ox. In the course of my campaign I threw up earthwork (for a seige) against Ba’lu, king of Tyre who had put his trust upon his friend Tirhakah (Tarqu), king of Nubia (Kusu), and (therefore) had thrown off the yoke of Ashur, my lord From the town of Ishhupri as far as Memphis, his royal residence, a distance of 15 days (march), I fought daily, without interruption, very bloody battles against Tirhakah (Tarqu), king of Egypt and Ethiopia, the one accursed by all the great gods. Five times I hit him with the point of (my) arrows (inflicting) wounds (from which he should) not recover, and (then) I led siege to Memphis, his royal residence, and conquered it in half a day by means of mines, breaches and assault ladders; I destroyed (it), tore down (its walls) and burnt it down. His “queen,” the women of his palace, Ushanahuru, his “heir apparent,” his other children, his possessions, horses, large and small cattle beyond counting, I carried away as booty to Assyria. All Ethiopians I deported from Egypt - leaving not even one to do homage (to me). Everywhere in Egypt, I appointed new (local) kings, governors, officers (saknu), harbor overseers, officials and administrative personnel. I installed regular sacrificial dues for Ashur and the (other) great gods, my lords, for all times. I imposed upon them tribute due to me (as their) overlord, (to be paid) annually without ceasing. I had (also) made (this) stela (bearing) my name- inscription and had written thereupon the praise of the valor of my lord Ashur, my own mighty deeds ... I entered Memphis (Me-im-pi), his royal residence, amidst (general) jubilation and rejoicing ... [u]pon the sadalum which was plated with gold, I sa[t down] in happiness ... weapons, [...] KURnanati of gold, silver, plate[s of] ... Afterwards ... [I en]tered and his personal property (lit.: palace), the gods and goddesses of Tirhakah (Tarqu), king of Nubia (Kusu), together with their possessions ... I declared as booty. [His] “queen,” the female servants of his court, Ushanahuru, the heir to his throne, [...]miri, his court official(s), ... his possessions, (a lengthy list of possessions follows). The treasuries (full) with gold, silver, ant[imony...], byssus-linen, ... the bathat of which is like ..., copper, tine, abaru-metal, ivory, [...]s of the Suti-people ... his sons-in-law, his family (qinnu), ... princes ... physicians, divination-experts, ... goldsmiths, cabinetmakers, ... the son of Binzuqi ... which Tirhakah (Tarqu) [has made] to their strongholds, ... (balance destroyed)”.
Necho King of Egypt and Tirhakah from the Anals of Ashurban
“Necho (Ni-ku-u), king of Memphis and Sais (Sa-a-a), Sharruludari, king of Si'nu, Pishanhuru, king of Nathu, Pakruru, king of (Pi)Shaptu, Bukkununni'pi, king of Athribis (Ha-at-hi-ri-bi), Nahke, king of Hininshi, Putubishti, king of Tanis (Sa-'a-nu), Unamunu, king of Nathu, Harsiaeshu, king of Sabnuti, Buaima, king of Pitinti, Shishak (Su-si-in-qu), king of Busiris (Bu-si-ru), Tabnahti, king of Punubu, Bukkananni'pi king of Ahni, Iptihardeshu, king of Pihattihurunpi (ki), Nahtihuruansini, king of Pishabdi'a, Bukurninip, king of Pahnuti, Siha, king of Siut (Si-ia-a-u-tu), Lamentu, king of Himuni (Hermopolis), Ishpinatu, king of Taini, Mantimanhe, king of Thebes; these kings, governors and regents whom my own fther had appointed in Egypt and who had left their offices in the face of the uprising of Tirhakah and had scattered into the open country, I reinstalled in their offices and in their (former) seats of office. (Thus) I seized anew (control over) Egypt (Musur) and Nubia which (already) my own father had conquered; I made the garrisons stronger than before and the(ir) regulations (more) severe. With many prisoners and heavy booty I returned safely to Nineveh. (But) my officers heard about these matters, seized their mounted messengers with their messages and thus learned about their rebellious doings. They arrested these kings and put their hands and feet in iron cuffs and fetters. The (consequences of the broken) oaths (sworn) by Ashur, the king of the gods, befell them. I called to account those who had sinned against the oath (sworn by) the great gods (and those) whom I had treated (before) with clemency. And they (the officers) put to the sword the
inhabitants, young and old, of the towns of Sais, Pindidi, Tanis and of all the other towns which had associated with them to plot, they did not spare anybody among (them). They hung their corpses from stakes, flayed their skins and covered (with them) the wall of the towns(s). Those kings who had repeatedly schemed they brought alive to me to Nineveh. From all of them, I had only mercy upon Necho (Niku) and granted him life. I made (a treaty) with him (protected by) oaths which greatly surpassed (those of the former treaty). I clad him in a garment with multicolored trimmings, placed a golden chain on him (as the ) insigne of his kingship, put golden rings on his hands; I wrote my name (phonetically) upon an iron dagger (to be worn in ) the girdle, the mounting of which was golden, and gave it to him. I presented him (furthermore) with chariots, horses and mules as means of transportation (befitting) his position as ruler. I sent with him (and) for his assistance, officers of mine as governors. I returned to him Sais as residence (the place) where my own father had appointed him king. Nabushezibanni, his son, I appointed for Athribis (thus) treating him with more friendliness and favor than my own father did. The terror of the (sacred) weapon of Ashur, my lord, overcame Tirhakah (Tarqu) where he had taken
refuge and he was never heard of again”.
During the reign of Josiah,The pharoah Necho attempted to throw off the yoke of the Assyrians.Nebuchadnezzer had conquered the Assyrian lands and Necho saw this as a weakness on the part of Assyria.King Josiah,still loyal to the Assyrians.attempted to cut off the Egyptians and met them at Megiddo.Josiah was killed in the battle.On His return to Egypt,three months later,He punished Judah by dethroning Jehoahaz and replacing Him with Eliakim,and placed Judah under tribute.Some historians claim that Necho had intended to aid the Assyrians against Babylonia,but the fact that the Assyrian king in the above inscription felt the need to punish Necho and Egypt makes that unlikely.
Gog King of Lydia from the Anals of Assurbanipal
“Guggu (Gyges), king of Lydia, a district of the other side of the sea, a distant place, whose name, the kings, my fathers, had not heard. Assur, the god, my creator, caused to see my name in a dream. " Lay hold of the feet of Assurbanipal, king of Assyria and conquer thy foes by calling upon his name." On the day that he beheld this vision, he dispatched his messenger to bring greetings to me. (An account of) this vision, which he beheld, he sent to me by the hand of his messenger, and made it known to me. From the day that he laid hold of my royal feet, he overcame, by the help of Assur and Ishtar, the gods, my lords, the Cimmerians, who had been harassing the people of his land, who had not feared my father, nor had laid hold even of my royal feet. From among the chieftains of the Cimmerians, whom he had conquered, he shackled two chieftons with shackles, fetters of iron, manacles of iron, and sent them to me, together with his rich gifts”.