Sárospataki Füzetek 18. (2014)
2014 / 1. szám - TANULMÁNYOK - Jacob J. T. Doedens: The Return of YHWH and the End of the Exile
Jacob J.T. Doedens ed to Assyria12 and that the entire country was repopulated with other peoples.13 However, based on cuneiform sources, it turns out that even the Assyrians were selective in their deportations and did not deport entire peoples, interestingly, deportation could even be seen - from the viewpoint of the victor - as a form of pardoning’ rebels.14 Sargon II mentions about Samaria: I fought against them with the power of the great gods, my lords. I counted as spoil 27,280 people, together with their chariots, and gods, in which they trusted. I formed a unit with 200 of [their] chariots for my royal force. I settled the rest of them in the midst of Assyria. I repopulated Samerina more than before. I brought into it people from countries conquered by my hands.15 The same fact is related in an inscription from the walls of Sargons palace: I besieged and conquered Samerina. I took as booty 27,290 people who lived there. I gathered 50 chariots from them. I taught the rest (of the deportees) their skills. I set my eunuch over them, and imposed upon them the (same) tribute as the previous king (i.e. Shalmaneser V).16 According to another inscription from the palace of Sargon, the Assyrians took spoils of the Northern Kingdom with them: I plundered ... Samerina and the entire land of Bit-Humria (Israel).17 Even if the number of 27,280/27,290 captives would be exaggerated, the total population of Israel must have been more than 30,000.18 reign of Shalmaneser. When, in 722, Shalmaneser died, Sargon usurped the Assyrian throne, and, understandably, claimed the conquest of Samaria for himself. 12 Cf. 2 Kgs 17:6. 13 Cf. 2 Kgs 17:24. Sargon II mentions in his annals the repopulation of Samaria with Arabians: "The Tamudi, the Ibadidi, the Marsima[ni] and Hayappä, who live in distant Arabia, in the desert, who knew neither overseer nor commander, who never brought tribute to any king - with the help of Assur, my lord, I defeated them. I deported the rest of them. I settled them in Sa- maria/Samerina."See"The Annals," translated by K. Lawson Younger, Jr. (COS 2.118A:293). 14 For example, the Borowski Stela relates how Sargon II pardoned 6,300'guilty Assyrians', probably people who revolted against him when he succeeded Shalmaneser V. "In his mercy", he deported them to Hamath, cf. "The Borowski Stela," translated by K. Lawson Younger, Jr. (COS 2.118B:294). 15 "Nimrud Prisms D & E," translated by K. Lawson Younger, Jr. (COS 2.118D:295-296). 16 "The Great'Summary'Inscription," translated by K. Lawson Younger, Jr. (COS 2.118E:296). 17 "The Small 'Summary'lnscription,"translated by K. Lawson Younger, Jr. (COS 2.118F:297). 18 Cf. H. Jagersma, Geschiedenis van Israel in het oudtestamentisch tijdvak (Kämpen: Kok, 1984), 224. 30 Sárospataki Füzetek 17. évfolyam | 2014 | 1
