[176] No one can seriously maintain that Ahaz imitated the ritual of the chief enemy of Assyria and Judah, the altar and worship of Rezin, who was moreover now overthrown. [177] Isa. i. 3, 5-9; ii. 6. [178] The Books of Kings are only wrong in representing Hoshea as first subject, and paying tribute, to Shalmanesar IV. (xvii. 3). [179] 2 Kings xvii. 4. [180] Isa. xiv. 29-31. [181] Isa. xxiii. 1-12. [182] Isa. xxviii. 1-6. [183] So must we read for 800; 60 penteconters required 3000; 60 triremes at least 8000 rowers. [184] "Antiq." 9, 14, 2. [185] As Samaria was besieged 724-722 B.C., we may place the beginning of the Assyrian war in 726. [186] Oppert, "Dour Sarkayan," p. 8, 30; "Records of the Past," 7, 28; E. Schrader, "K. A. T." s. 160; Ménant, "Annal." p. 161. [187] E. Schrader, _loc. cit._ s. 158; Ménant, "Annal." p. 181. [188] L. 26, in Ménant, _loc. cit._ p. 192. [189] L. 17, in Ménant, p. 200. [190] 2 Kings xvii. 6, 24. [191] "The Annals of Sargon," Oppert, "Records of the Past," 7, 29. [192] Oppert, _loc. cit._ 7, 30. [193] G. Smith, "Assyr. Canon," p. 125, 126. [194] Isa. xi. 6-8; 2 Chron. xxx. 6, 10; xxxiv. 9. [195] 2 Kings xvii. 26 ff. [196] Inscription of Nimrud, in Ménant, _loc. cit._ p. 205; in E. Schrader, _loc. cit._ p. 90. [197] "Annals of Sargon," Oppert, "Records of the Past," 7, 29; G. Smith, _loc. cit._ [198] In the great hall No. 8, in Botta. Ménant, p. 182. [199] Memorial-stone of Larnaka, in Ménant, p. 207; G. Smith, "Assyr. Canon," p. 127. [200] Oppert, "Records of the Past," 7, 29; E. Schrader, "K. A. T." 258; Ménant, _loc. cit._ p. 161. [201] Ménant, _loc. cit._ p. 159, 192. [202] E. Schrader, _loc. cit._ s. 258. [203] Oppert, "Records of the Past," 7, 34. [204] Communication from E. Schrader. [205] E. Schrader, "K. A. T." s. 258; Ménant, _loc. cit._ p. 181. [206] Isa. xx. 1 ff. [207] Oppert, _loc. cit._ 7, 40; Ménant, p. 169; cf. l. 12 of the inscription on the bulls in Ménant, p. 162. [208] G. Smith's Cylinder, "Disc." p. 289 ff. [209] Ménant, p. 159. [210] Oppert, "Records of the Past," 7, 26. [211] E. Schrader, "K. A. T." s. 257 ff.; cf. Ménant, _loc. cit._ p. 186. [212] Ménant, _loc. cit._ p. 159. [213] Ménant, p. 189, 206-208. That the stone cannot have been set up in Babylon before the payment of tribute in 709 B.C., is proved by the mention of the tribute upon it. Cp. G. Smith, "Z. Ægypt. Sprache," 1869, s. 109; 1870, s. 70, 71. CHAPTER V. ASSYRIA IN THE REIGNS OF SARGON AND SENNACHERIB.