Sennacherib's campaign in the Levant

Sennacherib's campaign in the Levant took place in 701 BCE, when Sennacherib turned from Babylonia to the western part of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, where Hezekiah of Judah, incited by Egypt and Marduk-apla-iddina II, had renounced Assyrian allegiance. The rebellion involved various small states in the area: Sidon and Ashkelon were taken by force and a string of other cities and states, including Byblos, Ashdod, Ammon, Moab and Edom then paid tribute without resistance. Ekron called on Egypt for help but the Egyptians were defeated. Sennacherib then turned on Jerusalem, Hezekiah's capital. He besieged the city and gave its surrounding towns to Assyrian vassal rulers in Ekron, Gaza and Ashdod. However, Sennacherib did not breach the city,[2] and Hezekiah remained on his throne as a vassal ruler.[3]

Sennacherib's campaign in the Levant
Part of Sennacherib's campaigns

Lachish relief showing the Siege of Lachish. Assyrian siege-engine attacking the city wall of Lachish, part of the ascending assaulting wave. Detail of a wall relief dating back to the reign of Sennacherib, 700-692 BCE. From Nineveh, Iraq, currently housed in the British Museum.
Date701 BCE
Location
Result Judah remains an Assyrian vassal kingdom, Sidon and Ashkelon defeated
Belligerents

Kingdom of Judah

Supported by
Kushite Egypt
Neo-Assyrian Empire
Commanders and leaders
King Hezekiah
Isaiah Ben-Amotz
Eliakim Ben-Hilkiah
Joahe Ben-Asaph
Shebna
Supported by
Taharqa
Sennacherib
Rabshakeh
Rabsaris
Tartan
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
Many killed
200,150 Judeans exiled,
46 walled cities and many other towns destroyed[1]

Timeline

Phoenicia, Philistia and Transjordan

The rebellion involved various small states in the area: Sidon and Ashkelon were taken by force and a string of other cities and states, including Byblos, Ashdod, Ammon, Moab and Edom then paid tribute without resistance. Ekron called on Egypt for help but the Egyptians were defeated.

Kingdom of Judah

Sennacherib then turned on Jerusalem, Hezekiah's capital. He besieged the city and gave its surrounding towns to Assyrian vassal rulers in Ekron, Gaza and Ashdod. However, Sennacherib did not breach the city,[2] and Hezekiah remained on his throne as a vassal ruler.[3]

References

  1. "Sennacherib's Annals". Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  2. Grayson 1991, p. 110.
  3. Grabbe 2003, p. 314.

Cited bibliography

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