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This is part 4 in a series about Judah
Tiglath Pileser III (745-727BC) expanded the kingdom of Assyria into the first of the great Empires of Middle Eastern Antiquity. The ancient kingdom of Assyria had gone through a period of recession and corruption until Tiglath Pileser III made changes so profound that he became know as the founder of the Assyrian Empire. He expanded into lower Mesopotamia and Upper Mesopotamia he them took tribute from the Phoenician cities on the Mediterranean coast which renewed Assyrian control over the trade throughout Mesopotamia. He took 1000 talents of silver from King Menahem of the Northern kingdom of Israel. He then annexed the Syro-Hittite states of northern Syria which were left over from the collapse of the Hittite Empire. He then went to the Levant and put down a revolt lead by Resin, king of Damascus and Pekah King of Israel. The kings of the Levant had formed a coalition hoping to be backed by Egypt their former overlord. King Ahaz of Judah had stood alone as an ally of Assyria.
First Tiglath Pileser III marched down the Mediterranean coast taking city by city until he took the Philistine cities of Ashkelon and Gaza. He then marched on Damascus killing king Resin he also invaded the lands east of the Jordan river taking Gilead, Ammon and Moab displacing these nations as slaves to other places. He then moved other captured peoples into the area and set governors over them as provinces of Assyria. He then took Galilee and Naphtali from Israel until king Pekah was killed in a place coup and king Hoshea paid tribute and homage to the king of Assyria.

Tiglath Pileser III then returned to Shinar to put down a revolt after his vassal king over Babylon had been assassinated. He then took the entire land of Shinar under Assyrian rule. In a New Years day ceremony he took the hand of Bel, the patron god of Babylon, this made him the king of Babylon as well as Assyria.

Shalmaneser V (727-722BC) Took the throne of Assyria and Babylon upon the death of his father. Upon his ascension the northern kingdom of Israel revolted from paying tribute under king Hoshea. Shalmaneser then besieged Samaria, the capital of Israel for 2 years.

Sargon II (721-705BC) Took the city of Samaria and took the northern kingdom of Israel into captivity (lost 10 tribes) replacing them with the people who came to be known as Samaritans. Assyria Babylon now had full control over trade through the Middle East. Both Egypt and Elam were weakened.

While Sargon II was in the west a usurper named Merodach Baladan led a revolt in Babylon backed by Elam. Sargon II went to battle with Babylon and Elam which ended in a stalemate. Sargon II turned his attention to Anatolia to put down a revolt among the Urartu. At this time Egypt had been forming a conspiracy in the Levant. King Hezekiah of Judah alone stayed loyal to Assyria while the king of Ashdod of the Phillistines lead a revolt. Sargon's general Tarton lead a campaign to quell the revolt in 720 beginning with the overthrow of Ashdod. Tarton set a king over Ashdod who was loyal to Assyria. As soon as Tarton left Ashdod again revolted. The prophet Isaiah walked naked for 3 years warning the people not to join the revolt because the Egyptians were going to be as he was, naked. Sargon II himself then visited Ashdod. The king of Ashdod fled into Egypt for protection but Egypt handed him over to Sargon II to avoid conflict. Phillistia was turned into an Assyrian province with a governor.

Sargon II then besieged Merodach Baladan in Babylon for 2 years. Merodach Baladan escaped to Elam for protection. Sargon II then took the hand of Bel in Babylon but proclaimed himself governor making Babylon a province of Assyria. 3 years later Sargon II died in battle in Anatolia.

Sennacherib (705-681BC) When Sennacherib, son of Sargon II took the throne both Anatolia and Elam were busy fighting Cimmerion raiders from the north. Merodach Baladin return from Elam and lead a revolt in Babylon. The Phoenician cities of Sidon and Askelon, as well as Hezekiah of Judah revolted against Assyria joining a new Egyptian conspiracy. Sennacherib first moved against Babylon installing his own king there. Merodach Baladin had escaped into the marshes of lower Mesopotamia.

Sennacherib then marched down the Phoenician coast taking city by city until he reached Phillistia retaking Askelon and routing Egyptian forces at Raphia. He failed at taking the city of Tyre even after attacking them with 60 ships from the conquered island of Cyprus.
Sennacherib then turn his attention towards Judah attacking the city of Lachish taking it along with it's surrounding towns. Hezekiah then reconsidered his position and sent him the silver and gold from the temple, even cutting the gold from the doors of the temple.
Sennacherib then besieged Jerusalem.
The Assyrians taunted the Jews from outside the walls they also taunted the God of Jerusalem YHWH.17:52

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