Tell al-Rimah Stele
'Jehoash the Samarian' pays tribute to Adad-nirari III
Found 1967 — British School of Archaeology in Iraq expedition directed by David Oates
Where Tell al-Rimah (ancient Zamahu/Qattara), Nineveh Governorate, Iraq (Iraq)
Dates from c. 797 BCE · Neo-Assyrian · Divided Kingdom (Jehoash of Israel)
Now at Iraq Museum, Baghdad
Names a biblical person Jehoash (Joash) of Israel ('Joash the Samarian')
How Tell al-Rimah Stele was found
Found standing in the cella of the temple at Tell al-Rimah, west of Mosul, during the 1967 season.
What it is
A round-topped stone stele showing Adad-nirari III before divine symbols, with a 21-line cuneiform text set up by his governor Nergal-eresh. It records the king's western campaign and lists tribute from Mari' of Damascus, 'Jehoash the Samarian (Ia-'a-su Sa-me-ri-na-a-a)', and the rulers of Tyre and Sidon.
Why it matters for the Bible
This is the only ancient inscription that names King Jehoash (Joash) of Israel, and the first Assyrian text to call an Israelite king 'Samarian' after his capital rather than 'son of Omri'. It shows Jehoash as an Assyrian tributary in the years when, according to 2 Kings 13, Israel was regaining strength against Aram.
The Hebrew word: Shom-RONE
שֹׁמְרוֹן
שֹׁמְרוֹן is pronounced Shom-RONE and means Samaria, capital of the northern kingdom (Strong's H8111).
People this discovery connects to
- Jehoash (Joash) of Israel — יְהוֹאָשׁ (Ye-ho-AHSH) — YHVH has given
Places
- Samaria — שֹׁמְרוֹן (Shom-RONE) — watch-mountain
Events
Adad-nirari III's western campaign · Israel's revival under Jehoash
Tell al-Rimah Stele in Scripture
2 Kings 13:9 First mention of Jehoash of Israel in Scripture.
2 Kings 13:10-11 Jehoash's accession in Samaria; the stele calls him 'Jehoash the Samarian'.
2 Kings 13:25 Jehoash's victories over Ben-Hadad fit the moment Assyria had just humbled Damascus.
Questions people ask
What is Tell al-Rimah Stele?
A round-topped stone stele showing Adad-nirari III before divine symbols, with a 21-line cuneiform text set up by his governor Nergal-eresh. It records the king's western campaign and lists tribute from Mari' of Damascus, 'Jehoash the Samarian (Ia-'a-su Sa-me-ri-na-a-a)', and the rulers of Tyre and Sidon.
When was Tell al-Rimah Stele discovered?
It was found in 1967 by British School of Archaeology in Iraq expedition directed by David Oates, at Tell al-Rimah (ancient Zamahu/Qattara), Nineveh Governorate, Iraq.
Where is Tell al-Rimah Stele today?
Iraq Museum, Baghdad.
Which Bible verses does Tell al-Rimah Stele relate to?
2 Kings 13:9, 2 Kings 13:10-11, 2 Kings 13:25.
Related discoveries
- מָצוֹרTell es-Safi/Gath: Hazael's Siege TrenchA 2-km ditch and burnt city marking the Aramean destruction of Gath
- גָּלוּתTel Hadid: Assyrian Cuneiform Tablets of Resettled ExilesTwo 7th-century contracts from a village where Assyria planted deportees — the mirror image of Israel's exile
- מִנְחָהBlack Obelisk of Shalmaneser IIIJehu of Israel bowing before the Assyrian king — the only known portrait of an Israelite king
- חֹתָםTel Hadid Mother-of-Pearl SealA moon-god seal from the Assyrian resettlement of Samaria's hills (published 2026)
- מִנְחָהEsarhaddon and Ashurbanipal Prisms Naming ManassehAssyrian tribute lists that include 'Manasseh, king of Judah'
- פּוּלAnnals of Tiglath-Pileser IIIMenahem's tribute, Pekah's overthrow, Hoshea's appointment, and 'Jehoahaz of Judah'
Sources
- Page, 'A Stela of Adad-nirari III and Nergal-eres from Tell al Rimah', Iraq 30 (1968)
- Wikipedia: Tell al-Rimah stela