Shalmaneser שַׁלְמַנְאֶ֫סֶר
Assyrian king who conquered Samaria and exiled Israelites
Who is Shalmaneser in the Bible?
Shalmaneser was an Assyrian king who conquered the northern kingdom of Israel during the reign of King Hoshea (2 Kings 17:3, 18:9). After Hoshea rebelled against Assyrian rule by seeking Egyptian assistance, Shalmaneser besieged Samaria, the capital of Israel, for three years before finally capturing it and exiling the Israelites throughout the Assyrian empire. This conquest effectively ended the existence of the northern kingdom of Israel and fulfilled God's prophetic judgment against the nation for its persistent idolatry and disobedience. The fall of Israel under Shalmaneser stands as a pivotal moment in biblical history, demonstrating the consequences of turning away from God and breaking covenant obligations.
Biography
Shalmaneser, also referred to as Shalman, was an Assyrian king mentioned in 2Ki.17.3, 2 Kings 2Ki.18.9, and Hos.10.14. He played a significant role in the history of the northern kingdom of Israel. During the reign of Hoshea, the last king of Israel, Shalmaneser attacked the kingdom and forced Hoshea to become his vassal. However, when Hoshea conspired against Shalmaneser by seeking help from Egypt, the Assyrian king besieged Samaria, the capital of Israel. After a three-year siege, Shalmaneser captured the city and exiled the Israelites to various parts of the Assyrian empire, effectively ending the northern kingdom. The conquest of Israel by Shalmaneser fulfilled the prophetic warnings of judgment against the nation for their persistent idolatry and disobedience to God. In Hos.10.14, the prophet likens the destruction that would come upon Israel to the devastation caused by Shalman, possibly referring to Shalmaneser's campaign against Samaria.
In Scripture
2 biblical books ; 1 with study content2 Kings 2 verses
- 2 Kings 17:3
"Shalmaneser king of Assyria attacked him, and Hoshea became his vassal and paid him tribute."
- 2 Kings 18:9
"In the fourth year of Hezekiah’s reign, which was the seventh year of the reign of Hoshea son of Elah over Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against Samaria and besieged it."
Hosea 1 verse
- Hosea 10:14
"the roar of battle will rise against your people, so that all your fortresses will be demolished as Shalman devastated Beth-arbel in the day of battle, when mothers were dashed to pieces along with their children."
Study Hosea →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | שַׁלְמַנְאֶ֫סֶר |
| Named | Hebrew | שַׁלְמַן |
Encyclopedia Article
ISBE 1915 (Public Domain) Shalmaneser
IV who is mentioned in the Biblical history (2Ki 17:3; 18:9). He succeeded Tiglathpileser on the throne in 727 BC, but whether he was a son of his predecessor, or a usurper, is not apparent. His reign was short, and, as no annals of it have come to light, we have only the accounts contained in 2 Kings for his history. In the passages referred to above, we learn that Hoshea, king of Israel, who had become his vassal, refused to continue the payment of tribute, relying upon help from So, king of Egypt. No help, however, came from Egypt, and Hoshea had to face the chastising forces of his suzerain with his own unaided resources, the result being that he was taken prisoner outside Samaria and most likely carried away to Nineveh. The Biblical narrative goes on to say that the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria and besieged it 3 years. There is reason to believe that, as the siege of Samaria was proceeding, Shalmaneser retired to Nineveh and died, for, when the city was taken in 722 BC, it is Sargon who claims, in his copious annals, to have captured it and carried its inhabitants into captivity. It is just possible that Shalman (Ho 10:14) is a contraction for Shalmaneser, but the identity of Shalman and of Beth-arbel named in the same passage is not sufficiently made out.
Literature
Schrader, COT, I, 258 ff; McCurdy, HPM, I, 387 ff.
T. Nicol
sha'-ma (shama`): One of David's heroes (1Ch 11:44).
sham'-a-i.
See SALMAI.
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