Introduction

Assyria, a dominant Mesopotamian empire, played a significant role in the history of Israel and Judah during the biblical period. Among its notable kings was Shalmaneser V, who is particularly remembered for his involvement in the conquest and re-population of Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

Historical Context

Assyria emerged as a formidable power in the ancient Near East, known for its military prowess and administrative efficiency. The Assyrian Empire expanded its territory through a series of aggressive campaigns, subjugating neighboring nations, including the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The Assyrian kings were known for their policy of deporting conquered peoples and resettling them in different parts of the empire, a strategy aimed at preventing rebellion and ensuring control over their vast territories.

Shalmaneser V

Shalmaneser V reigned as king of Assyria from 727 to 722 BC. He succeeded his father, Tiglath-Pileser III, and continued the expansionist policies of his predecessors. Shalmaneser is most prominently mentioned in the Bible in connection with the fall of Samaria.

The Siege and Fall of Samaria

The biblical account of Shalmaneser's campaign against Israel is found in 2 Kings 17. During the reign of Hoshea, the last king of Israel, Shalmaneser laid siege to Samaria. The siege lasted for three years, culminating in the capture of the city in 722 BC. The Berean Standard Bible records this event: "In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and deported the Israelites to Assyria. He settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River, and in the cities of the Medes" (2 Kings 17:6).

Re-Population of Samaria

Following the conquest, Shalmaneser implemented the Assyrian policy of deportation and re-population. The Israelites were exiled to various regions within the Assyrian Empire, and people from other conquered territories were brought in to settle in Samaria. This re-population strategy is further detailed in 2 Kings 17:24: "Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took over Samaria and lived in its towns" .

Religious and Cultural Impact

The re-population of Samaria had significant religious and cultural implications. The new inhabitants brought with them their own gods and religious practices, leading to a syncretistic form of worship that combined elements of Israelite and foreign religions. This is highlighted in 2 Kings 17:33: "They worshiped the LORD, but they also served their own gods according to the customs of the nations from which they had been carried away" .

Legacy

Shalmaneser's actions had a lasting impact on the region. The fall of Samaria marked the end of the Northern Kingdom of Israel as an independent entity and initiated a period of Assyrian dominance. The mixed population of Samaria eventually gave rise to the Samaritans, a group that played a significant role in later Jewish history.

Shalmaneser V's reign, though relatively short, was pivotal in the fulfillment of prophetic warnings against Israel for their persistent idolatry and disobedience to God. The Assyrian conquest and subsequent exile served as a divine judgment, as articulated by the prophets, and a somber reminder of the consequences of turning away from the covenant with Yahweh.2 Kings 17:24
And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelled in the cities thereof.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
... Anisuskia; will they ravage the borders of Assyria and steal ... of the thirty-first
campaign of Shalmaneser III ... light on the future, and the king's questions were ...
/.../chapter iithe power of assyria 2.htm

Sennacherib (705-681 BC )
... minanu, the name of the Elamite king, to Minanu ... no desire to provoke a conflict with
Assyria, the issue ... Tiglath-pileser III, Shalmaneser V., and Sargon had all ...
/.../chapter isennacherib 705-681 b c.htm

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