Salmanasar
Biblical Narrative of Shalmaneser V
Shalmaneser V (727–722 BC), referred to as Salmanasar in 2 Esdras 13:40, was the Assyrian king who conquered the northern kingdom of Israel. The primary biblical account is found in 2 Kings 17:3-6 and 18:9-12. King Hoshea of Israel, who had been a vassal to Assyria, conspired against Shalmaneser by seeking an alliance with Egypt and withholding tribute. In response, Shalmaneser invaded Israel, besieged its capital Samaria for three years, and ultimately captured the city.
The Fall of Samaria and Its Aftermath
The conquest resulted in the exile of the Israelite population to Assyria, as foretold by prophets like Hosea and Amos. The people were resettled "in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes" (2 Kings 17:6). This event marked the permanent end of the northern kingdom as a political entity, fulfilling prophetic warnings about the consequences of idolatry and social injustice (Amos 5:27; Hosea 10:6-7). The land was subsequently repopulated with people from other conquered nations, leading to the mixed population of Samaritans.
Historical and Archaeological Context
Historically, Shalmaneser V was the son and successor of Tiglath-Pileser III, who had previously subjugated much of Israel (2 Kings 15:29). Extra-biblical records, though sparse for his reign, confirm his campaign against Samaria. The Babylonian Chronicle notes the capture of the city. His reign was short, and he was succeeded by Sargon II, who claimed credit for the conquest in his own inscriptions, though the Bible attributes it to Shalmaneser.
Theological Significance of the Conquest
The fall of Samaria under Salmanasar/Shalmaneser is a pivotal theological event. It demonstrates God's faithfulness to his covenant warnings (Deuteronomy 28:36-37, 64-65). The Assyrian king, though acting on his own imperial ambitions, served as an unwitting instrument of divine judgment against Israel's persistent idolatry and rebellion (Isaiah 10:5-6). This event underscores the biblical theme that God is sovereign over the nations and uses even pagan empires to accomplish his purposes of justice and, ultimately, redemption.
Biblical Context
The name Salmanasar appears once in the Apocrypha (2 Esdras 13:40). The historical figure is central to the narrative in 2 Kings 17:3-6 and 18:9-12, which detail his siege of Samaria and the subsequent exile of the northern kingdom of Israel. He is also referenced indirectly in prophetic books like Hosea and Amos, which pronounce judgment leading to this exile.
Theological Significance
The reign of Salmanasar/Shalmaneser V is a stark demonstration of God's covenant justice. It shows that God holds his people accountable for idolatry and social sin, using foreign nations as instruments of discipline. This event reinforces the sovereignty of God over history and the truth of prophetic revelation, while also setting the stage for the later hope of restoration and the lessons Judah was meant to learn.
Historical Background
Shalmaneser V (Akkadian: Shulmanu-asharidu) ruled the Neo-Assyrian Empire from 727 to 722 BC. He was the son of Tiglath-Pileser III. While contemporary Assyrian records from his reign are limited, later sources and the Babylonian Chronicle confirm his role in the conquest of Samaria. His death shortly after the city's fall led to a succession struggle, with Sargon II taking the throne and claiming the victory for himself in his annals.