Sunday, January 7, 2018

ARCHAEOLOGY: Tiglath-Pileser’s Inscriptions

"Circumstances of Discovery and Acquisition- Austen Henry Layard (or perhaps his assistant Hormuzd Rassam) discovered Summary Inscription 4 in 1853 or 1854 during his second season of excavation at Nimrud.

Layard discovered another type of inscription at Tiglath-Pileser’s palace that some scholars refer to as “summary inscriptions.” They sum up the king’s accomplishments geographically rather than chronologically. At least twelve of Tiglath-Pileser’s inscriptions are assigned to this category, though none of these have been preserved in their entirety.

Among the Summary Inscriptions, only numbers 4 and 7 preserve mention of Tiglath-Pileser’s dealings with ancient Israel. Most importantly, they provide some background to a conflict of the Kings of Israel and Damascus against the King of Judah, referred to by modern historians as the Syro-Ephraimite War. While King Menahem of Israel had sent tribute to Tiglath-Pileser III, his
successor Pekah moved from appeasement back to a more militant, anti-Assyrian policy.

Assyrian king appoints HosheaIsrael (lit- Omri-land Bit-Humria)… All its inhabitants (and) their possessions I led to Assyria. They overthrew their king Pekah (Pa-qa-ha) and I placed Hoshea (A-u-si) as king over them. I received from them 10 talents of gold, 1,000 (?) talents of silver as their [tri]bute and brought them to Assyria.”

In the days of King Pekah of Israel, King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor—Gilead, Galilee, the entire region of Naphtali; and he deported the inhabitants to Assyria. Hoshea son of Elah conspired against Pekah son of Remaliah, attacked him, and killed him. He succeeded him as king in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah.
2 Kings 15-29–30"
COJS