The Coups of Hazael and Jehu: Building an Historical Narrative

199 Pages·2008·41.535 MB·English

by  D. Matthew Stith

(Sorgïns Dissertations
Siblicol Sludic*
7,7
The Coups o f Hazael
and J ehu
Building an I Iistorical Narrative
D. Matthew S rit h
ijorjjias press
The Coups of Hazael and Jehu
G orgias D issertation s
37
Biblical Studies 3
The Coups of Hazael and Jehu
Building an Historical Narrative
D. M atthew Stith
•A*
ψ
G orgias Press
2008
First Gorgias Press Edition, 2008
Copyright © 2008 by Gorgias Press LLC
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Published in the United States of America by Gorgias Press LLC, New Jersey
ISBN 978-1-59333-833-6
%
Gorgias Press
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Stith, D. Matthew, 1971-
The coups of llazael and Jehu : building an historical narrative / D. Matthew
Stith. -- 1 st Gorgias Press ed.
p. cm. — (Gorgias dissertations ; 37) (Biblical studies ; 3)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-59333-833-6 (alk. paper)
1. Hazael, King of Aram-Damascus, ca. 842-798 B.C.E. 2. Jehu, King of Israel.
3. Syria—History—To 333 B.C. 4. Palestine—History—To 70 A.D. 5. Bible. O.T.
Kings-History of Biblical events. 6. Bible. O.T. Kings-History of contemporary
events. I. Title.
DS62.23.S845 2008
933'.03—dc22
2008023546
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the
American National Standards.
Printed in the United States of America
Table of Contents
Tabic of Contents...................................................................................................................v
Preface........................................................................................................................................ix
Abbreviations..........................................................................................................................xi
Introduction..............................................................................................................................1
Reconstruction.......................................................................................................................21
Ramoth-gilead, late summer, 842 B.C.E..............................................................21
Samaria, autumn, 842 B.C.E....................................................................................25
Damascus, winter, late 841 B.C.F..........................................................................27
Samaria, winter, early 840 B.C.E............................................................................31
The walls of Damascus, late summer, 837 B.C.E...........................................32
Samaria, winter, 817 B.C.E.......................................................................................32
Epilogue-Dan, spring, 795 B.C.E..........................................................................35
Analysis....................................................................................................................................37
I. Chronological Framework..................................................................................37
I.A. Assyrian Evidence..................................................................................37
1.13. Biblical Evidence....................................................................................38
II. HazaeFs Accession, 844/843 B.C.E..................................................................41
II.A. Aramean Evidence...............................................................................41
II.B. Biblical Evidence..................................................................................45
II.C. Assyrian Evidence................................................................................51
II.D. Synthesis..................................................................................................53
III. The Battle of Ramoth-gilead, 842 B.C.E......................................................61
III.A. Biblical Evidence................................................................................61
111.13. Assyrian Evidcncc..............................................................................62
III.C. Archaeological and Geographic Background...........................63
III.D. Synthesis...............................................................................................64
IV. Jehu’s Coup, 842 B.C.E.....................................................................................67
IV.A. Biblical Evidence...............................................................................67
IV.B. Aramean Evidence.............................................................................88
IV.C. Assyrian Evidence..............................................................................89
v i Τι ill Coups o r H azael and Jehu
IV.D. Synthesis...............................................................................................90
V. The Campaign of 841 B.C.E...........................................................................102
V.A. Assyrian Evidence.............................................................................102
V.B. Geographic Background..................................................................103
V.C. Synthesis.................................................................................................106
VI. Aftermath, 840 - c. 800 B.C.E.....................................................................110
VI.A. Biblical Evidence.............................................................................110
VI.B. Assyrian Evidence.............................................................................111
VI.C. Aramean Evidence...........................................................................112
VI.D. Archaeological Evidence..............................................................114
VLE. Synthesis..............................................................................................114
Appendix 1: Archaeological and Geographic Background..............................119
Northern Zone.........................................................................................................122
Central Zone.............................................................................................................127
Southern Zone..........................................................................................................134
Synopsis........................................................................................................................139
Appendix 2: Selected Extra-biblical Texts................................................................141
Assyrian Inscriptions...............................................................................................141
Assur-Nasirpal II..........................................................................................141
Shalmaneser III.............................................................................................142
Adad-Nirari III...............................................................................................151
Tiglath-Pileser III..........................................................................................151
Sargon II...........................................................................................................152
Esarhaddon.....................................................................................................153
Non-Royal Text............................................................................................155
Other Cuneiform Inscriptions............................................................................155
Mari....................................................................................................................155
Hittite.................................................................................................................157
West Semitic Inscriptions.....................................................................................158
Aramaic............................................................................................................158
Moabite.............................................................................................................160
Phoenician........................................................................................................161
Maps........................................................................................................................................163
Map 1............................................................................................................................163
Map 2: The Campaign of 841 B.C.E..............................................................164
Map 3: Trade Routes and Sites..........................................................................165
Map 4: Zones of Investigation..........................................................................166
Map 5: Northern Zone.........................................................................................167
Map 6: Northern Zone, Early to Mid-ninth Century..............................167
Map 7: Northern Zone, Mid-ninth Century.................................................168
Map 8: Northern Zone, late Ninth Century................................................168
Map 9: Northern Zone, Early Eighth Century.............................................169
Map 10: Central Zone...........................................................................................169
Map 11: Central Zone, Early Ninth Century..............................................170
Map 12: Central Zone, Early to Mid-ninth Century...............................170
Map 13: Central Zone, Mid- to Late Ninth Century'................................171
Map 14: Southern Zone.......................................................................................171
Map 15: Southern Zone, Early and Mid-ninth Century..........................172
Map 16: Southern Zone, Late Ninth Century............................................172
Bibliography.........................................................................................................................173
Index........................................................................................................................................185

PREFACE
This book is based on my Ph.D. dissertation, submitted to Princeton Theo­
logical Seminar}· in 2004. To list here the many teachers, colleagues, friends,
family members and institutions whose support, inspiration, and encour­
agement made both the original work and the present one possible would
require more space than the Press would allow or the reader would tolerate,
but their contributions are gratefully acknowledged. Special thanks are due,
however, to Steve Wiggins, George Kiraz, and everyone at Gorgias Press
for leading me through the publishing process.
Of course, I also wish to recognize my family, Toni, Mayim, and Jo-
ram, who as usual bore the brunt of my preoccupation with this project.
Dedicating this book to them is a vastly inadequate expression of my grati­
tude and love. And, finally, thanks are due to God, who alone equips me
for the work to which I am called. Any glory that derives from this project
is his alone, though its flaws are entirely mine.
Matt Stith
Pentecost, 2008