Nimrud Prism of Sargon II
A second Assyrian telling of Samaria's fall and the exile of its people
Found 1952 — Max Mallowan, British School of Archaeology in Iraq
Where Nimrud (ancient Kalhu), Iraq (Iraq)
Dates from c. 706 BCE · Neo-Assyrian · Fall of Samaria
Now at British Museum, London, and Iraq Museum, Baghdad (fragments)
Names a biblical person Sargon (Hoshea not named)
How Nimrud Prism of Sargon II was found
Fragments of clay prisms recovered during Mallowan's 1952 and 1953 seasons at Nimrud; published by C. J. Gadd (1954).
What it is
Fragments of clay prisms inscribed with Sargon's account of his reign. Column IV says the Samarians 'came to an agreement with a king hostile to me not to do service and not to bring tribute'; Sargon fought them, 'counted as spoil 27,280 people together with their chariots', formed a unit of fifty chariots from them, and resettled Samaria under a governor.
Why it matters for the Bible
The prism adds detail the Khorsabad texts lack: the Israelites' revolt was a conspiracy with a foreign king, which lines up with 2 Kings 17:4, where Hoshea stops paying tribute and sends to 'So, king of Egypt'. It also shows the deportees put into Assyrian service, including a chariot corps drawn from Samaria's famous horsemen.
The Hebrew word: KEH-sher
קֶשֶׁר
קֶשֶׁר is pronounced KEH-sher and means conspiracy; treason (Strong's H7195).
People this discovery connects to
- Hoshea — הוֹשֵׁעַ (Ho-SHAY-ah) — salvation
- Sargon — סַרְגוֹן (Sar-GONE) — the king is legitimate
Places
- Samaria — שֹׁמְרוֹן (Shom-RONE) — watch-mountain
Events
Hoshea's rebellion against Assyria · Deportation of Samaria
Nimrud Prism of Sargon II in Scripture
Isaiah 20:1 The only verse that names Sargon.
Questions people ask
What is Nimrud Prism of Sargon II?
Fragments of clay prisms inscribed with Sargon's account of his reign. Column IV says the Samarians 'came to an agreement with a king hostile to me not to do service and not to bring tribute'; Sargon fought them, 'counted as spoil 27,280 people together with their chariots', formed a unit of fifty chariots from them, and resettled Samaria under a governor.
When was Nimrud Prism of Sargon II discovered?
It was found in 1952 by Max Mallowan, British School of Archaeology in Iraq, at Nimrud (ancient Kalhu), Iraq.
Where is Nimrud Prism of Sargon II today?
British Museum, London, and Iraq Museum, Baghdad (fragments).
Which Bible verses does Nimrud Prism of Sargon II relate to?
Isaiah 20:1.
Related discoveries
- גָּלָהSargon II's Khorsabad Annals'I besieged and conquered Samaria... 27,290 people I carried away'
- פּוּלAnnals of Tiglath-Pileser IIIMenahem's tribute, Pekah's overthrow, Hoshea's appointment, and 'Jehoahaz of Judah'
- מוֹשִׁיעַNimrud Slab of Adad-nirari IIIAssyria lists 'the land of Omri' among its tributaries
- כָּלַחNimrud IvoriesThousands of Phoenician and Syrian ivories — the same art that filled Ahab's palace — hoarded by Assyria
- מִנְחָהBlack Obelisk of Shalmaneser IIIJehu of Israel bowing before the Assyrian king — the only known portrait of an Israelite king
- הוֹשֵׁעַSeal of Abdi, Servant of HosheaThe only Israelite object naming Israel's last king
Sources
- Gadd, 'Inscribed Prisms of Sargon II from Nimrud', Iraq 16 (1954)
- Frame, RINAP 2, Sargon II no. 74
- Gadd, 'Inscribed Prisms of Sargon II from Nimrud', Iraq 16 (1954)
- COJS: The Nimrud Prism, 720 BCE