The Old Testament in the Light of the Historical Records and Legends of Assyria and BabyloniaPinches, Theophilus G. (Theophilus Goldridge)
Religion
The Old Testament in the Light of the Historical Records and Legends of Assyria and Babylonia
Pinches, Theophilus G. (Theophilus Goldridge)
Bible. Old Testament -- Criticism, interpretation, etc.
Tiglath-pileser was now complete master of the land of Ša-imēri-šu or
Syria, and all the princes of the west acknowledged his overlordship. This
being the case, it is only natural that Ahaz of Judah should visit and pay
him homage at Damascus, the capital of the new province, as related in 2
Kings xvi. 10, and probably it was to that city that many of the other
subject princes went for that purpose, and to offer him their tribute. The
further result of the visit of Ahaz is detailed in the succeeding verses
of the passage in 2 Kings referred to.
Thus ended Tiglath-pileser’s successful expedition to Pilišta and
Damascus, and there is no record that he ever went westward again. The
Chaldeans, in combination with the Arameans, had made use of his absence
to engage in new advances against Babylon. Nabonassar, the king of that
country, had died, and been succeeded by his son, Nabû-nadin-zēri, who,
however, only reigned two years, and gave place to Nabû-šum-ukîn, who
murdered him. This last, however, only held the throne for somewhat more
than two months, and Ukîn-zēr, chief of the Chaldean tribe Bît-Amukkāni,
took possession of the throne, and ruled for three years—much against the
inclination of the Babylonians, who, to all appearance, had no love for
the Chaldean tribes inhabiting certain tracts of the country. The
interference of Tiglath-pileser was therefore looked on with favour by the
Babylonians, who welcomed him as a deliverer. Ukîn-zēr (the Chinzēros of
Ptolemy) was besieged in his capital, Sapîa, though that city was not
taken until the year 729 B.C. The result of this was, the submission of
all the Chaldean tribes, including that of which Merodach-baladan (then
only a young man) was the chief. Entering Babylon, Tiglath-pileser, in
accordance with the custom, “took the hand of Bêl,” an expression
apparently meaning that he performed the usual ceremonies, and was
accepted by the god—and the priesthood—as king. This also took place again
next year, from which it may be supposed that one acknowledged as king of
Babylon had to perform the ceremony yearly in order to fulfil the
conditions imposed upon all who held the reins of power. An entry in the
Canon for this year suggests that there was a rebellion (?) in a city of
which only the first character is preserved—possibly to be completed Dir,
and perhaps situated in Babylonia. Operations against this place, in all
probability, were taken in hand next year (727 B.C.), but whilst they were
in progress, Tiglath-pileser died, and Shalmaneser IV. mounted the throne.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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