The Bible in the British Museum

The Black Obelisk

The Black Obelisk, housed in the British Museum is famous for it’s representation of the likeness of a Hebrew king. It was found by Henry Layard in 1846 at the site Nimrud. It was set up in Shalmaneser’s 32nd year, near the time of his death. This was a period of civil war in Assyria and the monument was probably designed to emphasis the power and prowess of Shalmaneser III. On one of the panels detailing tribute brought from Israel, there is an image of King Jehu of Israel (or one of his ambassadors) who is mentioned in the second book of book of Kings (Chapters 9 & 10). The event portrayed is not referred to in the bible record, however the timing of the event is very useful in confirming the biblical chronology as it both verifies the dating method used and fixes in time the reigns of Jehu and the earlier king Ahab of Israel. The tribute Jehu brought was delivered in his first year on the throne of Israel. Follow this link for more detail.

Follow these links to see more detail: Front Panel, Right Panel, Rear Panel, Left Panel, Translation.

The text itself does not say when Jehu paid tribute to Shalmaneser III, however there are other copies of the annuls, three of which state that Jehu paid tribute in the 18th year of Shalmaneser III.

The kurba ‘il Statue, housed in the Iraq museum records the events from Shalmaneser’s 18th, 19th and 20th years. The record for the 18th year is as follows:

"In the 18th year of my reign I crossed the Euphrates for the sixteenth time. Hazael of Damascus trusted in the power of his forces, marshalled his troops in full strength. He made Senir (Mt. Hermon), the summit of the mountain opposite Lebanon, his stronghold. With him I fought, and defeated him. Six thousand of his soldiers I brought down with weapons; 1121 of his chariots, 470 of his horses, together with his camp, I took from him. To save his life he fled; I pursued him; in Damascus, his royal city, I shut him up. His plantations I destroyed. As far as the mountains of Hauran I marched. Towns without number I laid waste, razed, and burnt with fire. There innumerable spoil I carried away. As far as to the mountains of Baal-rasi situated close to the sea (the head land at Dog River), I marched. My royal image I set up in that place. At that time I received the tribute of the Tyrians and Sidonians, and of Jehu the son of Omri."

Compare that with the summary written on the Black Obelisk which reads:

“In the eighteenth year of my reign, I crossed the Euphrates for the sixteenth time. Hazael of Aram came out in battle. I captured from him: 1121 of his chariots, 470 of his cavalry, together with his camp.”

A full translation of the Obelisk is available here.

The Obelisk has less detail and lists 32 years of Shalmaneser’s reign. The Kurba’il text and other texts give more detail but are clearly the same events. The five tributes represented on the Obelisk are from the farthest reaches of the Assyrian empire and are designed to demonstrate Shalmaneser’s power and prowess.

It seems reasonable to assume that Jehu brought the tribute to Shalmaneser whilst the Assyrians were in the area of Syria. The tribute (along with that of the Tyrians and the Sidonians) being a means of avoiding an attack by the Assyrian army into Israel itself. Effectively buying peace from Assyria.