8. sennacherib
(704–681)
(a) The Siege of Jerusalem
(1) From the Oriental Institute Prism of Sennacherib, which
contains—as does the so-called Taylor Prism (cf. Rawlinson, Vol. 1, Pls. xxxvii–xlii)—the
final edition of the Annals of Sennacherib. Publication: D. D. Luckenbill, The Annals of Sennacherib (OIP, II, Chicago, 1924). Translation: ibid., and Luckenbill, AR, II, §§233 ff.
(ii 37–iii 49)
In my third campaign I marched against Hatti. Luli, king of Sidon,
whom the terror-inspiring glamor of my lordship had overwhelmed, fled far
overseas and perished. The awe-inspiring splendor of the “Weapon” of Ashur, my
lord, overwhelmed his strong cities (such as) Great Sidon, Little Sidon,
Bit-Zitti, Zaribtu, Mahalliba, Ushu (i.e. the mainland settlement of Tyre),
Akzib (and) Akko, (all) his fortress cities, walled (and well) provided with
feed and water for his garrisons, and they bowed in submission to my feet. I
installed Ethba’al (Tuba’lu) upon the
throne to be their king and imposed upon him tribute (due) to me (as his)
overlord (to be paid) annually without interruption.
As to all the kings of Amurru—Menahem (Mi-in-ḫi-im-mu) from Samsimuruna, Tuba’lu from Sidon, Abdili’ti
from Arvad, Urumilki from Byblos, Mitinti from Ashdod, Buduili from Beth-Ammon,
Kammusun-adbi from Moab (and) Aiarammu from Edom, they brought sumptuous gifts
(igisû) and—fourfold—their heavy tâmartu -presents to me and kissed my
feet. Sidqia, however, king of Ashkelon, who did not bow to my yoke, I deported
and sent to Assyria, his family-gods, himself, his wife, his children, his
brothers, all the male descendants of his family. I set Sharruludari, son of
Rukibtu, their former king, over the inhabitants of Ashkelon and imposed upon
him the payment of tribute (and of) katrû-presents
(due) to me (as) overlord—and he (now) pulls the straps (of my yoke)!
In the continuation of my campaign I besieged Beth-Dagon, Joppa,
Banai-Barqa, Azuru, cities belonging to Sidqia who did not bow to my feet
quickly (enough); I conquered (them) and carried their spoils away. The
officials, the patricians and the (common) people of Ekron—who had thrown Padi,
their king, into fetters (because he was) loyal to (his) solemn oath (sworn) by
the god Ashur, and had handed him over to Hezekiah, the Jew (Ha-za-qi-(i)a-ú amelIa-ú-da-ai)—(and)
he (Hezekiah) held him in prison, unlawfully, as if he (Padi) be an enemy—had
become afraid and had called (for help) upon the kings of Egypt (Muṣ(u)ri) (and) the bowmen, the
chariot(-corps) and the cavalry of the king of Ethiopia (Meluḫḫa), an army beyond counting—and they (actually) had come to
their assistance. In the plain of Eltekeh (Al-ta-qu-ú),
their battle lines were drawn up against me and they sharpened their weapons.
Upon a trust (-inspiring) oracle (given) by Ashur, my lord, I fought with them
and inflicted a defeat upon them. In the mêlée of the battle, I personally
captured alive the Egyptian charioteers with the(ir) princes and (also) the
charioteers of the king of Ethiopia. I besieged Eltekeh (and) Timnah (Ta-am-na-a), conquered (them) and
carried their spoils away. I assaulted Ekron and killed the officials and
patricians who had committed the crime and hung their bodies on poles
surrounding the city. The (common) citizens who were guilty of minor crimes, I
considered prisoners of war. The rest of them, those who were not accused of
crimes and misbehavior, I released. I made Padi, their king, come from
Jerusalem (Ur-sa-li-im-mu) and set
him as their lord on the throne, imposing upon him the tribute (due) to me (as)
overlord.
As to Hezekiah, the Jew, he did not submit to my yoke, I laid
siege to 46 of his strong cities, walled forts and to the countless small
villages in their vicinity, and conquered (them) by means of well-stamped
(earth-) ramps, and battering-rams brought (thus) near (to the walls) (combined
with) the attack by foot soldiers, (using) mines, breeches as well as sapper
work. I drove out (of them) 200,150 people, young and old, male and female,
horses, mules, donkeys, camels, big and small cattle beyond counting, and
considered (them) booty. Himself I made a prisoner in Jerusalem, his royal
residence, like a bird in a cage. I surrounded him with earthwork in order to
molest those who were leaving his city’s gate. His towns which I had plundered,
I took away from his country and gave them (over) to Mitinti, king of Ashdod,
Padi, king of Ekron, and Sillibel, king of Gaza. Thus I reduced his country,
but I still increased the tribute and the katrû-presents
(due) to me (as his) overlord which I imposed (later) upon him beyond the
former tribute, to be delivered annually. Hezekiah himself, whom the
terror-inspiring splendor of my lordship had overwhelmed and whose irregular
and elite troops which he had brought into Jerusalem, his royal residence, in
order to strengthen (it), had deserted him, did send me, later, to Nineveh, my
lordly city, together with 30 talents of gold, 800 talents of silver, precious
stones, antimony,5 large cuts of red stone, couches (inlaid) with
ivory, nîmedu -chairs (inlaid) with
ivory, elephant-hides, ebony-wood, boxwood (and) all kinds of valuable
treasures, his (own) daughters, concubines, male and female musicians. In order
to deliver the tribute and to do obeisance as a slave he sent his (personal)
messenger. (The Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old
Testament [3d ed.; Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1969], 287-88,
emphasis in bold added)
