שַׁלְמַנְאֶסֶר
Shalmaneser, an Assyrian king
Definition
Shalmaneser is the name of an Assyrian king who appears in the historical accounts of 2 Kings. He is specifically Shalmaneser V, who reigned from 727–722 BC and was the successor to Tiglath-Pileser III. His primary biblical role is as the king who besieged the northern kingdom of Israel, leading to the eventual capture of its capital, Samaria, by his successor, Sargon II (2 Kings 17:3-6, 18:9-10). The name itself is a Hebrew transliteration of the Akkadian royal name 'Shulmanu-ashared,' meaning 'the god Shulmanu is preeminent.'
Biblical Usage
The name Shalmaneser is used exclusively in the historical narratives of 2 Kings, appearing only twice. Both occurrences are in the context of his military campaign against Hoshea, the last king of Israel. In 2 Kings 17:3, Shalmaneser marches against Hoshea, who becomes his vassal. In 2 Kings 18:9, the text records that Shalmaneser came up and besieged Samaria. His actions directly lead to the fall of the northern kingdom, a pivotal event in Israel's history.
Etymology
The word is a direct transliteration into Hebrew of the Akkadian (Assyrian) royal name Shulmanu-ashared. It is of foreign derivation, meaning 'the god Shulmanu is preeminent.' Shulmanu was an Assyrian deity associated with the underworld and fertility. The Hebrew form shows typical adaptation of foreign sounds, and it is compared in the KJV to the similar name Shalman (H8020), which may refer to a Moabite king or be a shortened form of Shalmaneser.
Semantic Range
Shalmaneser serves as a key instrument of God's judgment against the northern kingdom of Israel for its persistent idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness (2 Kings 17:7-23). His appearance underscores the biblical theme that God sovereignly uses pagan nations and rulers to accomplish His purposes of discipline. Understanding this name enriches the reading of the prophets, as the Assyrian threat is a backdrop for the messages of judgment and hope delivered by Isaiah, Hosea, and Micah.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, Shalmaneser V was a powerful Assyrian emperor, and his name would have evoked fear and the reality of imperial domination. The Assyrian Empire was known for its brutal military tactics and efficient administration. For the original Israelite audience, recording his name was a way of documenting their national catastrophe and acknowledging the human agent behind their exile, all within the framework of divine sovereignty.
Shalman (H8020) — Possibly a shortened form or a reference to a different king, mentioned in Hosea 10:14 in a context of destruction.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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