Images of The Lachish Relief and line drawings are all over the internet, if you haven’t already seen them please take a look, they are facinating.

The Lachish Relief: Hezekiah and Sennacherib Q&A

Question 1.

Examine the line drawings of the Lachish relief. What evidence do you see that indicated the importance of this siege to Sennacherib?

Lachish was important to Sennacherib because Lachish was a military stronghold, it was in a great location which was rich in agriculture and it was importance to Judah.

• Lachish was a fortified military stronghold, with a royal palace[1] .

• It was the second most important city in Judah, and whilst Jerusalem protected the north, Lachish protected Judah’s southern border[2].

• Israelite military leaders and kings were associated with Lachish. Joshua 10:31-32 states Lachish was captured by Joshua and King Amaziah sought refuge there (2 Chronicles 25:27-28)[3].

• Lachish was not just strategically positioned from a military perspective, it was part of the Shephelah and rich in agriculture. Edelman says it was rich in wheat, wine and had a massive oil industry[4].

Question 2. 

(A) Is there anything you find particularly interesting about the relief? (B) What are its key features? (C) How do you understand these features in the relief’s ancient Near Eastern context?

• It’s interesting that the (Lachishites) didn’t appear to be fighting back, apart from the fire and arrows (Fig.14)[5]. They appeared to be very submissive[6].

• I question whether the relief was composed during the seige and as to how accurate  it is (Ussishkin 1982, pp. 119-26) or whether it was completed at a later date? The size of the wall is also disputed[7].

• The relief occupied a prominent place in Sennacherib’s palace, and was not displayed in a public place.

• The Relief was innovative[8] used imagery and text, and captions (epigraphs), for literate and non-literate visitors. Although non-literates would have had trouble understanding it[9].

• Like other ANE monuments, it boasted about Sennacherib’s victories.

• Sennacherib is elevated and identified as the victor[10].

• The features glorified the king and his gods[11].

• Like other ANE texts it is history, it either compliments or contradicts the Bible[12].

Question 3.

What other evidence do we have for Sennacherib’s campaign, and the rebellion of Hezekiah?

• Second Kings 18 & 19, 2 Kings 18:7b, Isaiah 38 and 2 Chronicles 29-32 all mention Sennacherib’s campaign and Hezekiah’s rebellion[13].

• The Taylor Prism (Octagonal) is about Sennacherib’s fought campaigns, and Hezekiah’s rebellion[14].

• The Rassam Cylinder is a source for Sennacherib’s third campaign[15].

• Herodotus the Greek Historian and Josephus the Jewish Historian give accounts of the campaign[16], Although Josephus’s information appears to be from the Bible because he also mentions 300 talents of silver and 30 talents of gold[17].

Question 4

Where do the biblical accounts overlap with Sennacherib’s inscription/relief? B. Is there any contradictory evidence in the two sources? C. How do you account for this?

• Biblical accounts overlap with Sennacherib’s relief in regard to the tribute paid to Hezekiah, 2 Kings 18:14 says 300 talents of silver and 30 talents of gold[18], the relief says, 30 talents of gold and thirty talents of silver[19]. It stands to reason it took time to remove the gold and transport it to Nineveh.

• Also when was the tribute paid? Second Kings 18:15 says Sennacherib was in Lachish at the time, the relief says he was back at Nineveh[20].

• Second Kings 19: 7 says Sennacherib retreated on his own accord, 2 Kings 19:35 says after the Angel of the Lord struck his army.

• Hezekiah’s chronology, a scribal error fourteen possibly originated from Isaiah. Miller and Hayes raise the chronology issue[21].

• Rabshakeh’s speech before or after tribute (2 Kings 18:17 and 2 Chronicles 32) differ.

• There could have been a more serious matter that Sennacherib had to attend to in Libnah. But I don’t doubt there could have divine intervention[22].

• The fourteen year difference in Miller and Hayes chronology could be a scribal error.

• Rabshakeh’s speech was a warning for Hezekiah not to seek help from Egypt, and had nothing to do with the tribute.

Question 5

Are the Biblical sources consistent? B. Do they include different information or show differing interests?

The Biblical sources are not consistent, they have variations. 2 Kings 18 and 19[23] are concerned with what I would call the five R’s, reform, rebuilding, restoration, repentance and relationship. Hezekiah is portrayed as a reformer who has a good relationship with Isaiah the prophet (2 Kings 19:20), this is confirmed also in Isaiah 36-39. Miller and Hayes, state both Chronicles and Kings were influenced by Isaiah[24]. The Chronicler (2 Chronicles 32) is more concerned about Hezekiah’s achievements like the Siloam Tunnel. Although, Grabbe questions whether the tunnel can be attributed to Hezekiah’s reign, as it is difficult to distinguish with 7th and 8th century archaeology[25].

Yes the sources show differing interests, Isaiah is prophetic; concerned with comforting and giving hope to the people. Second Kings is concerned with portraying Hezekiah as a good King and the Chronicler is concerned with recording his achievements.

We may not have the full Biblical story as there is a missing book. The book of The Kings of Judah and Israel (2 Chronicles 32:32). Perhaps that is the real Hebrew source and Isaiah, Kings and the Chronicler got their information from there.

 

Bibliography:

Demsky, Aaron. ‘Reading Northwest Semitic Inscriptions’. Near East Archeology 702 (2007): 68-72.

Edelman, Diana. ‘What If We Had No Accounts Of Sennacherib’s Third Campaign Or The Palace Reliefs Depicting His Capture Of Lachish?’. Biblical Interpretation 81-2 (2000): 88-103.

Evans, Paul S. ‘History In The Eye Of The Beholder? Social Location & Allegation Of Racial/Colonial Biases In Reconstruction Of Sennacheribs Invasion Of Judah.’. Journal Of Hebrew Scripture 12, 5 (2012): 20. doi:10.550jhs.2012v12.a5.

Grabbe, Lester L. ‘The Kingdom Of Judah From Sennacherib’s Invasion To The Fall Of Jerusalem: If We Only Had The Bible…’In Good Kings And Bad Kings’. LHB/OTS 393;ESHM 5;Ed.,L.L.Grabbe; London T&T Clark, (2005): 78-122.

Miller, Maxwell, and John H Hayes. A History Of Ancient Israel And Judah. 1st ed. London: SCM Press, 2006.

Nadav, Na’áman. ‘Three Notes On The Aramaic Inscription From Tel Dan’. Israel Exploration Journal 50 (2000): 92-104.

Provan, Iain W, V. Philips Long, and Tremper Longman. A Biblical History Of Israel. 1st ed. Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John Knox Press, 2003.

Reade, Julian. ‘Sources For Sennacherib: The Prisms’. Journal Of Biblical Literature Studies 27, issue 4 (1975): 189-196. doi:10.2307/1359321.

Russell, John Malcolm. ‘Sennacherib’s Lachish Narratives’. In Narrative And Event In Ancient Art, , (1993): 55-73.

The Holy Bible, New International Version,. Zondervon Bible Publishers, 1984.

Ussishkin, David. ‘The Conquest Of Lachish By Sennacherib’ , (1982): 24-30,77,127,130 (pictures).

Whiston, William, ed. The Works Of Josephus. 1st ed. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc, 1987.

[1] David Ussishkin, ‘The Conquest Of Lachish By Sennacherib’ , (1982): 28 A, 29A, 29B (pictures).

[2] David Ussishkin, ‘The Conquest Of Lachish By Sennacherib’ , (1982): 27B (pictures).

[3] The Holy Bible, New International Version (Zondervon Bible Publishers, 1984).

[4] Diana Edelman, ‘What If We Had No Accounts Of Sennacherib’s Third Campaign Or The Palace Reliefs Depicting His Capture Of Lachish?’, Biblical Interpretation 81-2 (2000): 96.

[5] John Malcolm Russell, ‘Sennacherib’s Lachish Narratives’, In Narrative And Event In Ancient Art, , (1993): 63.

[6] David Ussishkin, ‘The Conquest Of Lachish By Sennacherib’ , (1982): 77B,77D (pictures).

[7] John Malcolm Russell, ‘Sennacherib’s Lachish Narratives’, In Narrative And Event In Ancient Art, , (1993): 64,65.

[8] John Malcolm Russell, ‘Sennacherib’s Lachish Narratives’, In Narrative And Event In Ancient Art, , (1993): 56,

[9] John Malcolm Russell, ‘Sennacherib’s Lachish Narratives’, In Narrative And Event In Ancient Art, , (1993): 56,66,69,70.

[10] David Ussishkin, ‘The Conquest Of Lachish By Sennacherib’ , (1982): 77D (pictures).

[11] Na’áman Nadav, ‘Three Notes On The Aramaic Inscription From Tel Dan’, Israel Exploration Journal 50 (2000): 95

[12] Aaron Demsky, ‘Reading Northwest Semitic Inscriptions’, Near East Archaeology 702 (2007): 72.

[13] The Holy Bible, New International Version (Zondervon Bible Publishers, 1984).

[14] Julian Reade, ‘Sources For Sennacherib: The Prisms’, Journal Of Biblical Literature Studies 27, issue 4 (1975): 189, doi:10.2307/1359321.

[15] John Malcolm Russell, ‘Sennacherib’s Lachish Narratives’, In Narrative And Event In Ancient Art, , (1993): 65.

[16] J. Maxwell Miller and John H Hayes, A History Of Ancient Israel And Judah, 1st ed. (London: SCM Press, 2006): 362.

[17] William Whiston, The Works Of Josephus, 1st ed. (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc, 1987): 265.

[18] The Holy Bible, New International Version (Zondervon Bible Publishers, 1984).

[19] John Malcolm Russell, ‘Sennacherib’s Lachish Narratives’, In Narrative And Event In Ancient Art, , (1993): 55.

[20] Iain W Provan, V. Philips Long and Tremper Longman, A Biblical History Of Israel, 1st ed. (Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John Knox Press, (2003): 274.

[21] Maxwell Miller and John H Hayes, A History Of Ancient Israel And Judah, 1st ed. (London: SCM Press, 2006):403

[22] Paul S Evans, ‘History In The Eye Of The Beholder? Social Location & Allegation Of Racial/Colonial Biases In Reconstruction Of Sennacherib’s Invasion Of Judah.’, Journal Of Hebrew Scripture 12, 5 (2012): 20, doi:10.550jhs.2012v12.a5

[23] The Holy Bible, New International Version (Zondervon Bible Publishers, 1984).

[24] Maxwell Miller and John H Hayes, A History Of Ancient Israel And Judah, 1st ed. (London: SCM Press, 2006):402

[25] Lester L Grabbe, ‘The Kingdom Of Judah From Sennacherib’s Invasion To The Fall Of Jerusalem: If We Only Had The Bible…’In Good Kings And Bad Kings’, LHB/OTS 393;ESHM 5;Ed.,L.L.Grabbe;(London T&T Clark, 2005):83.