KING OF ASSYRIA · TWO KINGDOMS

Sargon. Named once in Scripture: the king who sent his Tartan against Ashdod.

REIGNEDi

Not given c. 722–705 BC (dates vary)

CAPITAL

Dur-Sharrukin (Khorsabad)

HOUSE

Not stated 3rd of 5 in Assyria

SCRIPTURE SAYS

“In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him,) and fought against…”

PROPHETS

Isaiah

ASSYRIA: 5 RULERS TIGLATH-PILESER → ESARHADDON

ON THE WORLD STAGE

The powers of the day

PHILISTIA

EGYPT AND ETHIOPIA

OUTSIDE THE BIBLE

OUTSIDE THE BIBLE · HIS FIRST YEAR (722–721 BC BY ROGERS)

Sargon's annals: Samaria

OUTSIDE THE BIBLE · HIS SEVENTH YEAR

Arab tribes settled in Samaria

OUTSIDE THE BIBLE · 711 BC (ROGERS)

The revolt of Ashdod

OUTSIDE THE BIBLE · 711 BC (ROGERS)

What the Ashdod records do not say

OUTSIDE THE BIBLE · SARGON'S REIGN

"Subduer of the land of Judah"

OUTSIDE THE BIBLE · 705 BC

Sargon's end

SUCCESSION

Before and after

THE REALM

Dur-Sharrukin (Khorsabad) and the places of the account

Assyria. Only places Scripture names are shown, each where the Atlas puts it.

WHAT SCRIPTURE SAYS

What Scripture says of him

  • "In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him,) and fought against Ashdod, and took it". Isaiah 20:1
  • At that time the LORD told Isaiah to loose the sackcloth from his loins and put off his shoes, "walking naked and barefoot", as a sign that "the king of Assyria" would lead the Egyptians and the Ethiopians away captive. Isaiah 20:2–4

DEALINGS

Dealings with God's people

  • The sign was aimed at those who looked to Ethiopia and Egypt for help: "such is our expectation, whither we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria". Isaiah 20:5–6

EVENTS

Wars, works and turning points

UNDATED IN SCRIPTURE

PROPHETS

The prophets who spoke about him

  • Is Isaiah “So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot”

DATES DIFFER

When was it?

ROGERS (1912)

c. 722–705 BC[80]

SCRIPTURE'S NUMBERS

No years given

Scripture names Sargon once and gives no dates for him (Isa 20:1).

SKINNER (1896–98)

c. 722–705 BC[53]

THE BABYLONIAN CHRONICLE AND EPONYM LIST

No years given[72][74]

He took the throne on the twelfth of Tebet after Shalmaneser's death; Sennacherib took the throne on the twelfth of Ab, 705 BC.

Another name of Sennacherib

the Geneva Bible notes (1599); John Gill (1748–63)

The Geneva note says "The Hebrews write that Sennacherib was so called". Gill: Sargon "is generally thought to be the same with Sennacherib, since Tartan was one of his generals" (2 Kings 18:17). Isaiah 20:1 2 Kings 18:17 [43][58]

Shalmaneser, Sennacherib or Esarhaddon

Matthew Poole (1683–85)

Poole, noting that kings often had several names, offers three candidates: Shalmaneser, Sennacherib, or Esarhaddon, whose name he thought might be shortened to Sargon. Isaiah 20:1 [63]

A king of his own, Sennacherib's father

J. Skinner (1896–98); R. W. Rogers (1912)

Skinner: the guess of a few scholars that Sargon was "an intermediate king" had been "amply verified by the progress of Assyriology"; he reigned 722–705. Rogers writes that Sennacherib, Sargon's son, took the throne in the month Sargon died. Isaiah 20:1 [53][82]

IN SCRIPTURE

Every passage

CHAPTERS · 1

Isaiah 20

PASSAGES · 1

Isaiah 20:1–6

WHAT SCRIPTURE DOES NOT SAY

  • Scripture names Sargon once and records nothing else he did.
  • Isaiah 20 does not say whether Judah joined Ashdod's revolt.
  • Scripture does not connect Sargon with the fall of Samaria; that claim is in his own inscriptions.
  • Scripture does not say how Sargon died.

IDENTIFICATIONS THIS PAGE RELIES ON

  • Scholars' viewScripture names Sargon only in Isaiah 20:1. Older writers often took the name for another name of Sennacherib or of another king; the Assyrian records show him as a king in his own right, the father of Sennacherib (see the question below). Isaiah 20:1 [53][82]
  • Scholars' view"Tartan" is a title, the Assyrian commander next to the king. The site's person record for Tartan joins the Tartan of Isaiah 20:1 with Sennacherib's Tartan (2 Kings 18:17); Ellicott's commentary says the two "may, or may not" be the same man. Isaiah 20:1 2 Kings 18:17 [12]

SOURCES

Where this page comes from

  • A. K. Grayson, Assyrian and Babylonian Chronicles (facts only) (1975), Chronicle 5.
  • A. K. Grayson, Assyrian and Babylonian Chronicles, Chronicle 1 (facts only; read in Livius's reproduction) (1975), Chronicle 1, column i, lines 27–28.
  • C. F. Keil, tr. A. Harper, The Books of the Chronicles (Keil and Delitzsch) (1872), note on 1 Chr 5:26 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. F. Keil, tr. J. Martin, The Twelve Minor Prophets (Keil and Delitzsch) (1868), note on Hos 10:14 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. F. Keil, tr. J. Martin, The Twelve Minor Prophets (Keil and Delitzsch) (1868), note on Hos 5:13 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on 1 Chr 5:26 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on 2 Chr 33:11 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on 2 Kgs 20:12 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on Dan 1:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on Dan 4:33 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on Hos 10:14 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on Isa 20:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, The Annals of Sennacherib (Oriental Institute Publications 2) (1924), p. 156, "Epigraph: Sennacherib at Lachish".
  • D. D. Luckenbill, The Annals of Sennacherib (Oriental Institute Publications 2) (1924), pp. 32–34 (Oriental Institute Prism, col. III).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, The Annals of Sennacherib (Oriental Institute Publications 2) (1924), Introduction, pp. 11–13.
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. I (1926), §761, p. 269 (Tiglath-pileser's annals; reign 745–727 B.C.).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. I (1926), §772, p. 276 (annals: tribute list).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. I (1926), §777, p. 279 (annals: Hadaru, the 591 cities of Aram).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. I (1926), §801, p. 287 (Nimrud tablet: tribute list).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. I (1926), §§815–816, pp. 292–293 (fragmentary annals text).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. I (1926), §§828–830, p. 297 (Shalmaneser V).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §1198, pp. 436–438 (eponym list with notes).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §137, pp. 71–72 (Sargon's Nimrud inscription).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §17, p. 7 (Sargon's annals: Arab tribes settled in Samaria).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §§193–195, pp. 105–106 (Sargon: prism fragment on Ashdod).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §231, p. 115 (Sennacherib: reign 705–681 B.C.).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §234, pp. 116–117 (Sennacherib's first campaign).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §240, pp. 119–121 (Sennacherib's third campaign).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §§242–243, pp. 121–122 (Sennacherib's fourth campaign).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §§30–31, pp. 13–14 (Sargon's annals, years 11 and 12).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §4, p. 2 (Sargon's annals, year 1).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §497, p. 199 (Esarhaddon: reign 680–669 B.C.).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §§501–506, pp. 200–202 (Esarhaddon's accession).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §55, p. 26 (Sargon's display inscription).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §580, pp. 226–227 (Esarhaddon's stele from Senjirli).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §66, pp. 33–34 (Sargon's display inscription: Merodach-baladan).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §690, pp. 265–266 (Esarhaddon's prism).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §876, p. 340 (Ashurbanipal's cylinder C).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), List of Assyrian kings, pp. 439–442.
  • D. J. Wiseman, Chronicles of Chaldaean Kings (626–556 B.C.) in the British Museum (facts only) (1956), BM 21946.
  • E. F. Weidner, "Jojachin, König von Juda, in babylonischen Keilschrifttexten", Mélanges syriens offerts à M. René Dussaud, vol. II (facts only) (1939), pp. 923–935.
  • Geneva Bible translators, Geneva Bible marginal notes (1599), note on Dan 5:2 (read on Bible Hub).
  • Geneva Bible translators, Geneva Bible marginal notes (1599), note on Isa 20:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • H. D. M. Spence and J. S. Exell (eds.), The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1897), note on 1 Chr 5:26 (read on Bible Hub).
  • H. D. M. Spence and J. S. Exell (eds.), The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1897), note on 2 Chr 33:11 (read on Bible Hub).
  • H. D. M. Spence and J. S. Exell (eds.), The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1897), note on 2 Kgs 20:12 (read on Bible Hub).
  • H. D. M. Spence and J. S. Exell (eds.), The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1897), note on Hos 10:14 (read on Bible Hub).
  • H. D. M. Spence and J. S. Exell (eds.), The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1897), note on Hos 5:13 (read on Bible Hub).
  • H. D. M. Spence and J. S. Exell (eds.), The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1897), note on Isa 20:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • Herodotus, tr. G. C. Macaulay, The History of Herodotus, vol. 1 (1890), Book I, §§188 and 191.
  • Herodotus, tr. G. C. Macaulay, The History of Herodotus, vol. 1 (1890), Book II, §141.
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  • John Gill, An Exposition of the Old Testament (1748–1763), note on 1 Chr 5:26 (read on Bible Hub).
  • John Gill, An Exposition of the Old Testament (1748–1763), note on 2 Chr 33:11 (read on Bible Hub).
  • John Gill, An Exposition of the Old Testament (1748–1763), note on Dan 1:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • John Gill, An Exposition of the Old Testament (1748–1763), note on Hos 10:14 (read on Bible Hub).
  • John Gill, An Exposition of the Old Testament (1748–1763), note on Isa 20:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • Joseph Benson, Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818), note on Dan 5:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • Matthew Poole, Annotations upon the Holy Bible (1683–1685), note on Dan 5:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • Matthew Poole, Annotations upon the Holy Bible (1683–1685), note on Hos 10:14 (read on Bible Hub).
  • Matthew Poole, Annotations upon the Holy Bible (1683–1685), note on Hos 5:13 (read on Bible Hub).
  • Matthew Poole, Annotations upon the Holy Bible (1683–1685), note on Isa 20:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • R. D. Wilson, "Belshazzar", International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915).
  • R. Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and D. Brown, A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory, on the Whole Bible (1871), note on 2 Chr 33:11 (read on Bible Hub).
  • R. P. Dougherty, Nabonidus and Belshazzar (Yale Oriental Series, Researches XV) (1929), p. 106 (the 'Verse Account', col. II, lines 18–20).
  • R. P. Dougherty, Nabonidus and Belshazzar (Yale Oriental Series, Researches XV) (1929), pp. 172–174 (the Nabonidus Chronicle on the fall of Babylon).
  • R. P. Dougherty, Nabonidus and Belshazzar (Yale Oriental Series, Researches XV) (1929), pp. 196–197, with notes 649, 652 and 654.
  • R. P. Dougherty, Nabonidus and Belshazzar (Yale Oriental Series, Researches XV) (1929), pp. 60–62.
  • R. P. Dougherty, Nabonidus and Belshazzar (Yale Oriental Series, Researches XV) (1929), pp. 6–7 (the Neo-Babylonian kings in the cuneiform texts).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), p. 202 (Babylonian king list).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 208–212 (the Babylonian Chronicle, cols. I–II).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 215–217 (the Babylonian Chronicle, cols. III–IV).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 237–238 (eponym lists, 708–704 B.C.).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), p. 239 (the Ptolemaic Canon).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 308–313 (Tiglathpileser IV, introduction).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), p. 316 (Tiglathpileser's annals, line 150).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 319–321 (Tiglathpileser on Pekah and Hoshea).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), p. 322 (Nimroud tablet, with note).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 323–326 (Sargon II, introduction; annals on Samaria).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 328–331 (Sargon: the campaign against Ashdod).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 332–333 (Sennacherib, introduction).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 343–345 (Sennacherib against Jerusalem).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 347–348 (Polyhistor and Abydenus).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 349–352 (Esarhaddon, introduction).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), p. 356 (Esarhaddon, Prism B).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 360–364 (Nebuchadrezzar, introduction).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), p. 367 (Nebuchadrezzar's campaign against Egypt).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 368–369 (building inscription of Nebuchadrezzar).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 371–378 (Nabonidus, Belshazzar and Cyrus, introduction).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 378–379 (the four clay cylinders of Nabonidus, col. II).
  • S. R. Driver, The Book of Daniel (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) (1900), note on Dan 1:1, pp. 1–2.
  • S. R. Driver, The Book of Daniel (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) (1900), Introduction to ch. V, p. 60.
  • S. R. Driver, The Book of Daniel (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) (1900), Additional note on Nebuchadnezzar's madness, pp. 58–60.
  • S. R. Driver, The Book of Daniel (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) (1900), Introduction, pp. l–li.
  • T. K. Cheyne, Hosea (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) (1884), note on Hos 10:14 (read on Bible Hub).
  • T. K. Cheyne, Hosea (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) (1884), note on Hos 5:13 (read on Bible Hub).
  • W. E. Barnes, The Books of Chronicles (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) (1899), note on 1 Chr 5:26 (read on Bible Hub).
  • W. E. Barnes, The Books of Chronicles (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) (1899), note on 2 Chr 33:11 (read on Bible Hub).
  • Xenophon, tr. H. G. Dakyns, Cyropaedia: The Education of Cyrus (1914), Book VII, ch. 5, §§15–33.

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