Changes

== The Assyrian War ==

== The Assyrian War ==

=== Prelude to war ===

=== Prelude to war ===

In the sixth year of his reign, Hezekiah witnessed the [[Fall of Samaria]].<ref name=Ussher/><ref name=GeoCities/> At some point in the next eight years, Hezekiah rebelled against [[Assyria]], determined to end the annual tribute that [[Tiglath-Pileser III]] had imposed upon [[Jehoahaz I|Ahaz]] in return for fighting a campaign that Tiglath-Pileser had his own reasons to fight anyway.<ref name=Orr/><ref name=AllAboutGod>Authors unknown. "[http://www.allaboutgod.com/truth-topics/hezekiah.htm Entry for Hezekiah]." AllAboutGod.com, 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2007.</ref>

In the sixth year of his reign, Hezekiah witnessed the [[Fall of Samaria]].<ref name=Ussher/><ref name=GeoCities/> At some point in the next eight years, Hezekiah rebelled against [[Assyria]], determined to end the annual tribute that [[Tiglath-Pileser III]] had imposed upon Ahaz in return for fighting a campaign that Tiglath-Pileser had his own reasons to fight anyway.<ref name=Orr/><ref name=AllAboutGod>Authors unknown. "[http://www.allaboutgod.com/truth-topics/hezekiah.htm Entry for Hezekiah]." AllAboutGod.com, 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2007.</ref>

[[James Ussher]]<ref name=Ussher/> states that [[Shalmaneser V]], the conqueror of the [[Northern Kingdom]], died in 717 BC, four years after his successful conquest. Secular scholars, however, insist that between Shalmaneser and Sennacherib, another king ruled, named [[Sargon II]], and ''he'' had completed the conquest of Samaria. However, Mackey<ref name=Mackey>Mackey, Damien. [http://www.specialtyinterests.net/sargon.html Sargon is Sennacherib] 2001. Retrieved May 28, 2007.</ref> presents an excellent analysis providing independent support of Ussher's claim<ref name=Ussher/> that Sargon was the same man as [[Sennacherib]], the immediate successor to Shalmaneser. Mackey's basis is the appearance of identical sequences of six different wars in both men's inscriptions. Although Mackey still assumes that Shalmaneser died before completing the capture of Samaria, Mackey's most important and relevant contribution in this context is showing that Sargon and Sennacherib are one and the same man.

James Ussher<ref name=Ussher/> states that [[Shalmaneser V]], the conqueror of the [[Northern Kingdom]], died in 717 BC, four years after his successful conquest. Secular scholars, however, insist that between Shalmaneser and Sennacherib, another king ruled, named [[Sargon II]], and ''he'' had completed the conquest of Samaria. However, Mackey<ref name=Mackey>Mackey, Damien. [http://www.specialtyinterests.net/sargon.html Sargon is Sennacherib] 2001. Retrieved May 28, 2007.</ref> presents an excellent analysis providing independent support of Ussher's claim<ref name=Ussher/> that Sargon was the same man as [[Sennacherib]], the immediate successor to Shalmaneser. Mackey's basis is the appearance of identical sequences of six different wars in both men's inscriptions. Although Mackey still assumes that Shalmaneser died before completing the capture of Samaria, Mackey's most important and relevant contribution in this context is showing that Sargon and Sennacherib are one and the same man.

717 BC was the tenth year of Hezekiah's reign. That Hezekiah would begin planning rebellion and suspension of the tribute in that year is only logical, for new kings of superpowers quite often have to contend with rebellion in far-flung provinces, and even invasion from without, as "tests of their mettle."<ref name=Hatchepsut>[[Pharaoh]] [[Hatshepsut]], the first-ever female head-of-state of an ancient power, faced similar tests. For details, see Tyldesley, Joyce, ''Hatchepsut: the Female Pharaoh'', Penguin Books, 1998. ISBN 0140244646.</ref>

717 BC was the tenth year of Hezekiah's reign. That Hezekiah would begin planning rebellion and suspension of the tribute in that year is only logical, for new kings of superpowers quite often have to contend with rebellion in far-flung provinces, and even invasion from without, as "tests of their mettle."<ref name=Hatchepsut>[[Pharaoh]] [[Hatshepsut]], the first-ever female head-of-state of an ancient power, faced similar tests. For details, see Tyldesley, Joyce, ''Hatchepsut: the Female Pharaoh'', Penguin Books, 1998. ISBN 0140244646.</ref>

If Hezekiah suspended the annual tribute in the tenth year of his reign, he seems to have anticipated at once that Sennacherib would invade. He dug a tunnel<ref name=GeoCities/><ref name=NT/><ref name=Konig/><ref name=HebrewU1/><ref name=HebrewU2/><ref name=Lancaster>Lancaster, James E., PhD., [http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/1631/hez1.html City of David and Hezekiah's Tunnel], 1999. Retrieved May 28, 2007.</ref><ref name=BP>Authors unknown. "[http://www.bibleplaces.com/heztunnel.htm Hezekiah's Tunnel]." http://www.bibleplaces.com/ Retrieved May 28, 2007.</ref><ref name=OhavSholom>Rosenbloom, Michael. "[http://www.ohav.org/travel/hezekiahtunnel.html Hezekiah's Tunnel and the Gihon Spring]." ''Travel in Israel.'' Congregation Ohav Sholom, July, 2000. Retrieved May 28, 2007.</ref><ref name=SiloamInscr>Authors unknown. "[http://jeru.huji.ac.il/eb26.htm Siloam Inscription and Hezekiah's Tunnel]." [[Hebrew University]], [[Israel]]. Retrieved May 28, 2007.</ref> connecting the Gihon Spring and the Pool of Siloam directly to the city, the better to prolong the time that [[Jerusalem]] could withstand a siege. When he did this, the [[Bible]] does not say. Secular scholars have suggested that he did this toward the time they fix for the invasion of the Southern Kingdom—701 BC, the date that [[Edwin R. Thiele|Thiele]] accepts. Perhaps Hezekiah dug this tunnel toward the end of his reign, or shortly before the invasion, or even four years earlier when Shalmaneser was dead and Hezekiah was already planning to suspend the tribute.

If Hezekiah suspended the annual tribute in the tenth year of his reign, he seems to have anticipated at once that Sennacherib would invade. He dug a tunnel<ref name=GeoCities/><ref name=NT/><ref name=Konig/><ref name=HebrewU1/><ref name=HebrewU2/><ref name=Lancaster>Lancaster, James E., PhD., [http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/1631/hez1.html City of David and Hezekiah's Tunnel], 1999. Retrieved May 28, 2007.</ref><ref name=BP>Authors unknown. "[http://www.bibleplaces.com/heztunnel.htm Hezekiah's Tunnel]." http://www.bibleplaces.com/ Retrieved May 28, 2007.</ref><ref name=OhavSholom>Rosenbloom, Michael. "[http://www.ohav.org/travel/hezekiahtunnel.html Hezekiah's Tunnel and the Gihon Spring]." ''Travel in Israel.'' Congregation Ohav Sholom, July, 2000. Retrieved May 28, 2007.</ref><ref name=SiloamInscr>Authors unknown. "[http://jeru.huji.ac.il/eb26.htm Siloam Inscription and Hezekiah's Tunnel]." [[Hebrew University]], Israel. Retrieved May 28, 2007.</ref> connecting the Gihon Spring and the Pool of Siloam directly to the city, the better to prolong the time that [[Jerusalem]] could withstand a siege. When he did this, the [[Bible]] does not say. Secular scholars have suggested that he did this toward the time they fix for the invasion of the Southern Kingdom—701 BC, the date that [[Edwin R. Thiele|Thiele]] accepts. Perhaps Hezekiah dug this tunnel toward the end of his reign, or shortly before the invasion, or even four years earlier when Shalmaneser was dead and Hezekiah was already planning to suspend the tribute.

=== Invasion ===

=== Invasion ===

Rabshakeh seems to have gotten the message that Hezekiah was refusing to surrender. He traveled to Lachish, but then rejoined his master at [[Libnah]], where Sennacherib had now moved his camp. At this point, Sennacherib was contending against [[Egypt]]ian and [[Ethiopia]]n forces as well. When Sennacherib heard that the king of Ethiopia was planning to join battle with him personally, he sent an intemperate letter to Hezekiah demanding his immediate and unconditional surrender.<ref name=Orr/><ref name=GeoCities/><ref name=AllAboutGod/>

Rabshakeh seems to have gotten the message that Hezekiah was refusing to surrender. He traveled to Lachish, but then rejoined his master at [[Libnah]], where Sennacherib had now moved his camp. At this point, Sennacherib was contending against [[Egypt]]ian and [[Ethiopia]]n forces as well. When Sennacherib heard that the king of Ethiopia was planning to join battle with him personally, he sent an intemperate letter to Hezekiah demanding his immediate and unconditional surrender.<ref name=Orr/><ref name=GeoCities/><ref name=AllAboutGod/>

Hezekiah took that letter into the Temple, spread it out on the altar, and prayed. Shortly thereafter he received another assurance from Isaiah, saying that [[God]] had heard everything, that Sennacherib and his servant Rabshakeh simply did not know whom they were insulting, and that Sennacherib would never enter Jerusalem, nor shoot an arrow at it, nor attack it with any sort of [[siege engine]].<ref name=GeoCities/><ref name=Aust/><ref name=AllAboutGod/>

Hezekiah took that letter into the Temple, spread it out on the altar, and prayed. Shortly thereafter he received another assurance from Isaiah, saying that God had heard everything, that Sennacherib and his servant Rabshakeh simply did not know whom they were insulting, and that Sennacherib would never enter Jerusalem, nor shoot an arrow at it, nor attack it with any sort of [[siege engine]].<ref name=GeoCities/><ref name=Aust/><ref name=AllAboutGod/>

=== A miraculous victory ===

=== A miraculous victory ===

== Marriage and a son ==

== Marriage and a son ==

In 710 BC, Hezekiah married [[Hephzibah]] and by her had his son and successor, [[Manasseh King of Judah|Manasseh]]. In the [[James Ussher|Ussher]] chronology, this took place three years after Hezekiah fell ill and then had his life extended.<ref name=Ussher/><ref name=GeoCities/> In the [[Edwin R. Thiele|Thiele]] chronology, Manasseh was born eight or nine years ''before'' Hezekiah's illness and was therefore a child during the invasion, and became [[viceroy]] of the kingdom three years after Sennacherib's withdrawal.<ref name=Wood/>

In 710 BC, Hezekiah married [[Hephzibah]] and by her had his son and successor, [[Manasseh King of Judah|Manasseh]]. In the [[James Ussher|Ussher]] chronology, this took place three years after Hezekiah fell ill and then had his life extended.<ref name=Ussher/><ref name=GeoCities/> In the Thiele chronology, Manasseh was born eight or nine years ''before'' Hezekiah's illness and was therefore a child during the invasion, and became [[viceroy]] of the kingdom three years after Sennacherib's withdrawal.<ref name=Wood/>

== Death and Succession ==

== Death and Succession ==

Secular commentators, in attempting to reconcile Hezekiah's reign with [[Assyrian chronology|Assyrian records]], cannot agree on a chronological placement for Hezekiah's reign. Their difficulties arise mainly from the inexactitude of the Assyrian records, the probable interpolation of a king between Shalmaneser and Sennacherib, and their own skepticism about the [[Bible]] itself.

Secular commentators, in attempting to reconcile Hezekiah's reign with [[Assyrian chronology|Assyrian records]], cannot agree on a chronological placement for Hezekiah's reign. Their difficulties arise mainly from the inexactitude of the Assyrian records, the probable interpolation of a king between Shalmaneser and Sennacherib, and their own skepticism about the [[Bible]] itself.

The conventionally accepted date for Sennacherib's Egyptian-Ethiopian-Palestinian-Judean War is 701 BC.<ref name=LoveToKnow/><ref name=Velikovsky>[[Immanual Velikovsky|Velikovsky, Immanuel]], [http://www.varchive.org/tac/hezekiah.htm The Reign of King Hezekiah]. ''[http://www.varchive.org/tac/index.htm The Assyrian Conquest]''. Retrieved May 30, 2007.</ref><ref name=BHC>Authors unknown. "[http://www.biblicalheritage.org/People/hezekiah.htm Entry for Hezekiah]." [http://www.biblicalheritage.org/index.htm Bible Heritage Center], 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2007.</ref> [[Edwin R. Thiele]], in order to make his chronology agree with that date, simply assumed ''[[a priori]]'' that the Biblical text was wrong and that the syncrhonies with Hezekiah's birth and accession were not to be trusted—except that he assumed that Hezekiah lived on to the year 686 BC and made his son Manasseh his [[viceroy]] in 697 BC, when Manasseh was twelve years old.

The conventionally accepted date for Sennacherib's Egyptian-Ethiopian-Palestinian-Judean War is 701 BC.<ref name=LoveToKnow/><ref name=Velikovsky>[[Immanual Velikovsky|Velikovsky, Immanuel]], [http://www.varchive.org/tac/hezekiah.htm The Reign of King Hezekiah]. ''[http://www.varchive.org/tac/index.htm The Assyrian Conquest]''. Retrieved May 30, 2007.</ref><ref name=BHC>Authors unknown. "[http://www.biblicalheritage.org/People/hezekiah.htm Entry for Hezekiah]." [http://www.biblicalheritage.org/index.htm Bible Heritage Center], 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2007.</ref> Edwin R. Thiele, in order to make his chronology agree with that date, simply assumed ''[[a priori]]'' that the Biblical text was wrong and that the syncrhonies with Hezekiah's birth and accession were not to be trusted—except that he assumed that Hezekiah lived on to the year 686 BC and made his son Manasseh his [[viceroy]] in 697 BC, when Manasseh was twelve years old.

The ''New Bible Dictionary''<ref name=NBD>Wood, D. R. W., Millard, A. R., Packer, J. I., Wiseman, D. J., and Marshall, J. Howard, eds. ''New Bible Dictionary''. InterVarsity Press, 1996. ISBN 0830814396</ref> took a different approach and simply made multiple changes in reckoning, as follows:

The ''New Bible Dictionary''<ref name=NBD>Wood, D. R. W., Millard, A. R., Packer, J. I., Wiseman, D. J., and Marshall, J. Howard, eds. ''New Bible Dictionary''. InterVarsity Press, 1996. ISBN 0830814396</ref> took a different approach and simply made multiple changes in reckoning, as follows:

# In the third year of Hoshea, Hezekiah became [[viceroy]] under [[Jehoahaz I|Ahaz]].

# In the third year of Hoshea, Hezekiah became viceroy under Ahaz.

# Hezekiah became ''sole ruler'' in 715 BC, fourteen years in advance of the invasion.

# Hezekiah became ''sole ruler'' in 715 BC, fourteen years in advance of the invasion.

# The invasion (and Hezekiah's illness) took place in the fourteenth year of his ''lone reign''.

# The invasion (and Hezekiah's illness) took place in the fourteenth year of his ''lone reign''.

== See also ==

== See also ==

* [[Hoshea]]

* [[Hoshea]]

* [[Sennacherib]]

* [[Sennacherib]]

* [[Isaiah (prophet)|Isaiah]]

* [[Isaiah (prophet)|Isaiah]]