Sancheriv's Campaign and Assyrian Sources/0

Sancheriv's Campaign and Assyrian Sources

This topic has not yet undergone editorial review

Overview

The story of Sancheriv's campaign against Yehuda is one of the most documented events in Tanakh

Biblical Sources

Tanakh discusses Sancheriv's campaign at length in Melakhim II 18-19, Yeshayahu 36-37, and Divrei HaYamim II 32, and further alludes to it in the opening chapters of Yeshayahu and Mikhah.¹

•  Melakhim II  – The account in Melakhim is the fullest of the three sources, sharing how Chizkiyahu rebelled against Assyria, leading Sancheriv to retaliate in the fourteenth year of Chizkiyahu's reign. Sancheriv captured the fortified cities of Yehuda, prompting Chizkiyahu to send him a large tribute so that he would not attack Yerushalayim. For unknown reasons, the tribute did not have the desired effect and emissaries of Sancheriv returned to the city to convince the people to surrender. In the aftermath of Chizkiyahu's prayers, he is told by Yeshayahu that he should not fear for Hashem will protect the city and Sancheriv will return to his land, and die there.  A miracle ensues and an angel strikes the Assyrian camp, killing 185,000 people causing them to retreat.
• Yeshayahu – Yeshayahu's version of the campaign is almost identical to that of Melkahim, leaving out only the discussion of Chizkiyahu's original tribute. Other passages in the book might further allude to and highlight the destruction wrought by Sancheriv, though they are not explicit and not all agree that he is the enemy mentioned.² 

¹ See Yeshayahu 8:7-8 , Yeshayahu 10:5-19 and Mikhah 1:9-14.

² Chapter 1's description of the ravage done to Yehuda and Jerusalem's lone status would appear to match the era: "אַרְצְכֶם שְׁמָמָה עָרֵיכֶם שְׂרֻפוֹת אֵשׁ ... וְנוֹתְרָה בַת צִיּוֹן כְּסֻכָּה בְכָרֶם כִּמְלוּנָה בְמִקְשָׁה כְּעִיר נְצוּרָה." Chapter 8 similarly describes how Assyria has spread throughout Yehuda, reaching its : "עַד צַוָּאר יַגִּיעַ".