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Annals of Tiglath-Pileser III

Menahem's tribute, Pekah's overthrow, Hoshea's appointment, and 'Jehoahaz of Judah'

Israel & Judah · royal annal, inscription, relief · Accepted by scholars · found 1845

Alabaster relief of an Assyrian king in profile
Photo: Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin FRCP(Glasg) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons — Relief of Tiglath-Pileser III from his Central Palace at Nimrud, British Museum.

Found 1845 — Austen Henry Layard (Nimrud Central Palace slabs); further texts from Nimrud, Iran and the antiquities market

Where Nimrud (ancient Kalhu), Iraq (Iraq)

Dates from c. 743–727 BCE · Neo-Assyrian · Divided Kingdom (Menahem, Pekah, Hoshea; Ahaz of Judah)

Now at British Museum, London (Nimrud slabs); Israel Museum, Jerusalem (Iran Stele fragments)

Names a biblical person Tiglath-Pileser (Pul), Menahem, Ahaz (Jehoahaz), Pekah, Hoshea, Rezin

How Annals of Tiglath-Pileser III was found

Inscribed wall slabs from Tiglath-Pileser's palace at Kalhu, many of which had been torn out and reused by Esarhaddon; supplemented by summary inscriptions and the Iran Stele.

What it is

Cuneiform annals and summary texts of Tiglath-Pileser III (Pul). They record tribute from 'Menahem of Samaria' (c. 738 BCE); the conquest of Galilee and Gilead and deportation of their people; that the Israelites 'overthrew their king Pekah' and he 'placed Hoshea as king over them'; and tribute from 'Jehoahaz (Ia-u-ha-zi) of Judah', that is Ahaz.

Why it matters for the Bible

No other single group of texts touches so many biblical kings. They match 2 Kings 15–16 point for point: Menahem's payment to 'Pul', the fall of Galilee, Pekah's murder and Hoshea's rise, and Ahaz's appeal to Assyria. They also show Ahaz's full name, Jehoahaz, which the Bible shortens.

The Hebrew word: Pool

פּוּל

פּוּל is pronounced Pool and means Pul, the Babylonian throne-name of Tiglath-Pileser III (Strong's H6322).

People this discovery connects to

Places

Events

Menahem's tribute to Pul · Fall of Galilee and first deportation (732 BCE) · Pekah killed, Hoshea installed

Annals of Tiglath-Pileser III in Scripture

2 Kings 15:19-20 Menahem pays Pul a thousand talents of silver; the annals list 'Menahem of Samaria' among tributaries. (First mention of Tiglath-pileser.)

2 Kings 15:29-30 Tiglath-Pileser takes Galilee and Gilead and Hoshea kills Pekah; the annals claim Assyria installed Hoshea.

2 Kings 16:7-8 Ahaz sends tribute and pleads for help; the annals name 'Jehoahaz of Judah' among the payers.

Questions people ask

What is Annals of Tiglath-Pileser III?
Cuneiform annals and summary texts of Tiglath-Pileser III (Pul). They record tribute from 'Menahem of Samaria' (c. 738 BCE); the conquest of Galilee and Gilead and deportation of their people; that the Israelites 'overthrew their king Pekah' and he 'placed Hoshea as king over them'; and tribute from 'Jehoahaz (Ia-u-ha-zi) of Judah', that is Ahaz.

When was Annals of Tiglath-Pileser III discovered?
It was found in 1845 by Austen Henry Layard (Nimrud Central Palace slabs); further texts from Nimrud, Iran and the antiquities market, at Nimrud (ancient Kalhu), Iraq.

Where is Annals of Tiglath-Pileser III today?
British Museum, London (Nimrud slabs); Israel Museum, Jerusalem (Iran Stele fragments).

Which Bible verses does Annals of Tiglath-Pileser III relate to?
2 Kings 15:19-20, 2 Kings 15:29-30, 2 Kings 16:7-8.

Related discoveries

Sources

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