Sennacherib's campaign in the Levant

Sennacherib's campaign in the Levant took place in 701 BCE, when Sennacherib turned from Babylonia to the western part of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, where Hezekiah of Judah, incited by Egypt and Marduk-apla-iddina II, had renounced Assyrian allegiance. The rebellion involved various small states in the area: Sidon and Ashkelon were taken by force and a string of other cities and states, including Byblos, Ashdod, Ammon, Moab and Edom then paid tribute without resistance. Ekron called on Egypt for help but the Egyptians were defeated. Sennacherib then turned on Jerusalem, Hezekiah's capital. He besieged the city and gave its surrounding towns to Assyrian vassal rulers in Ekron, Gaza and Ashdod. However, Sennacherib did not breach the city,[2] and Hezekiah remained on his throne as a vassal ruler.[3]

Sennacherib's campaign in the Levant
Part of Sennacherib's campaigns
Lachish relief showing the Siege of Lachish. Assyrian siege-engine attacking the city wall of Lachish, part of the ascending assaulting wave. Detail of a wall relief dating back to the reign of Sennacherib, 700-692 BCE. From Nineveh, Iraq, currently housed in the British Museum.
Date 701 BCE Location Judah, Phoenicia, Philistia (the Levant) Result Judah remains an Assyrian vassal kingdom, Sidon and Ashkelon defeated
Belligerents
Kingdom of Judah Phoenicia Philistia Supported by Kushite Egypt	Neo-Assyrian Empire
Commanders and leaders
King Hezekiah Isaiah Ben-Amotz Eliakim Ben-Hilkiah Joahe Ben-Asaph Shebna Supported by Taharqa	Sennacherib Rabshakeh Rabsaris Tartan
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Many killed 200,150 Judeans exiled, 46 walled cities and many other towns destroyed[1]

Timeline

Phoenicia, Philistia and Transjordan

The rebellion involved various small states in the area: Sidon and Ashkelon were taken by force and a string of other cities and states, including Byblos, Ashdod, Ammon, Moab and Edom then paid tribute without resistance. Ekron called on Egypt for help but the Egyptians were defeated.

Kingdom of Judah

Sennacherib then turned on Jerusalem, Hezekiah's capital. He besieged the city and gave its surrounding towns to Assyrian vassal rulers in Ekron, Gaza and Ashdod. However, Sennacherib did not breach the city,[2] and Hezekiah remained on his throne as a vassal ruler.[3]

References

1. "Sennacherib's Annals". Retrieved 1 April 2018.
2. Grayson 1991, p. 110.
3. Grabbe 2003, p. 314.

Cited bibliography

• Grayson, A.K. (2003) [1991]. "Assyria: Sennacherib and Essarhaddon". In Boardman, John; Edwards, I. E. S. (eds.). The Cambridge Ancient History, Volume III Part II. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521227179.
• Grabbe, Lester (2003). Like a Bird in a Cage: The Invasion of Sennacherib in 701 BCE. A&C Black. ISBN 9780826462152.