Sennacherib 004
Obverse | ||
11 | mdEN.ZU-ŠEŠ.MEŠ-eri-ba LUGAL GAL-ú LUGAL dan-nu LUGAL kiš-šá-ti LUGAL KUR aš-šur.KI LUGAL la šá-na-an RE.É.UM mut-nen-nu-ú pa-liḫ DINGIR.MEŠ GAL.MEŠ1 | (1) Sennacherib, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, unrivalled king, pious shepherd who reveres the great gods, guardian of truth who loves justice, renders assistance, goes to the aid of the weak, (and) strives after good deeds, perfect man, virile warrior, foremost of all rulers, the bridle that controls the insubmissive, (and) the one who strikes enemies with lightning: |
22 | na-ṣir kit-ti ra-ʾi-im mi-šá-ri e-piš ú-sa-a-ti a-lik tap-pu-ut a-ki-i sa-ḫi-ru dam-qa-a-ti | |
33 | eṭ-lu gít-ma-lum zi-ka-ru qar-du a-šá-red kal ma-al-ki rap-pu la-ʾi-iṭ la ma-gi-ri mu-šab-ri-qu za-ma-a-ni | |
44 | daš-šur KUR-ú GAL-ú LUGAL-ut la šá-na-an ú-šat-li-ma-an-ni-ma UGU gi-mir a-šib pa-rak-ki ú-šar-ba-a GIŠ.TUKUL.MEŠ-ia | (4) The god Aššur, the great mountain, granted to me unrivalled sovereignty and made my weapons greater than (those of) all who sit on (royal) daises. |
55 | i-na maḫ-re-e ger-ri-ia ša mdAMAR.UTU-IBILA-SUM.NA LUGAL KUR.kár-dun-ia-áš a-di ERIM.ḪI.A ELAM.MA.KI re-ṣi-šú i-na ta-mir-ti kiš.KI áš-ta-kan BAD₅.BAD₅-šu2 | (5) On my first campaign, I brought about the defeat of Marduk-apla-iddina (II) (Merodach-baladan), king of Karduniaš (Babylonia), together with the troops of (the land) Elam, his allies, in the plain of Kish. In the midst of that battle he abandoned his camp, fled alone, and (thereby) saved his life. I seized the chariots, horses, wagons, (and) mules that he had abandoned in the thick of battle. |
66 | i-na MURUB₄ tam-ḫa-ri šu-a-tu e-zib KARAŠ-su e-diš ip-par-šid-ma na-piš-tuš e-ṭí-ir GIŠ.GIGIR.MEŠ ANŠE.KUR.RA.MEŠ GIŠ.ṣu-um-bi ANŠE.KUNGA.MEŠ ša ina qit-ru-ub ta-ḫa-zi ú-maš-ši-ru ik-šu-da ŠU.II-a-a3 | |
77 | a-na É.GAL-šu ša qé-reb KÁ.DINGIR.RA.KI ḫa-diš e-ru-um-ma ap-te-e-ma É ni-ṣir-ti-šú KÙ.GI KÙ.BABBAR ú-nu-ut KÙ.GI KÙ.BABBAR NA₄ a-qar-tu mim-ma šum-šú NÍG.ŠU NÍG.GA ni-ṣir-tu ka-bit-tu4 | (7) I joyfully entered his palace, which is in Babylon, then I opened his treasury and brought out gold, silver, gold (and) silver utensils, precious stones, all kinds of possessions (and) property, a substantial treasure, (together with) his wife, his palace women, courtiers, attendants, all of the craftsmen, as many as there were, (and) his palace attendants, and I counted (them) as booty. |
88 | DAM-su MUNUS.UN.MEŠ É.GAL.MEŠ-šú LÚ.TIRUM.MEŠ LÚ.man-za-az pa-ni si-ḫir-ti um-ma-a-ni ma-la ba-šu-ú mut-tab-bi-lu-tú É.GAL-uš ú-še-ṣa-am-ma šal-la-tiš am-nu5 | |
99 | i-na e-muq daš-šur EN-ia 89 URU.MEŠ-šú dan-nu-ti É BÀD.MEŠ ša KUR.kal-di ù 6 ME 20 URU.MEŠ TUR.MEŠ ša li-me-ti-šú-nu al-me KUR-ud áš-lu-la šal-la-su-un6 | (9) With the strength of the god Aššur, my lord, I surrounded, conquered, (and) plundered 89 of his fortified cities, fortresses of Chaldea, and 620 small(er) settlements in their environs. I brought out the auxiliary forces of the Arameans (and) Chaldeans who were in Uruk, Nippur, Kish, Ḫursagkalamma, Cutha, (and) Sippar, together with the guilty citizens, and I counted (them) as booty. |
1010 | LÚ.úr-bi LÚ.a-ra-mu LÚ.kal-du ša qé-reb UNUG.KI NIBRU.KI kiš.KI ḫur-sag-kalam-ma.KI GÚ.DU₈.A.KI ZIMBIR.KI EN DUMU.MEŠ URU EN ḫi-iṭ-ṭi ú-še-ṣa-am-ma šal-la-tiš am-nu | |
1111 | mEN-DÙ DUMU LÚ.GAL-DÙ i-na GIŠ.GU.ZA LUGAL-ti-šú ú-še-šib UN.MEŠ KUR URI.KI ú-šad-gil pa-nu-uš-šú UGU gi-mir na-ge-e KUR.kal-di LÚ.šu-ut SAG.MEŠ-ia a-na LÚ.NAM-ti áš-kun-ma ni-ir be-lu-ti-ia e-mid-su-nu-ti7 | (11) I placed Bēl-ibni, a son of a rab banî, on his royal throne (and) entrusted him with the people of Akkad. I appointed my eunuchs to be governors over all of the districts of Chaldea and I imposed the yoke of my lordship upon them. |
1212 | i-na ta-a-a-ar-ti-ia LÚ.tu-uʾ-mu-na LÚ.ri-ḫi-ḫu LÚ.ia-daq-qu LÚ.ú-bu-du LÚ.gib-re-e LÚ.ma-li-ḫu LÚ.gu-ru-mu LÚ.ú-bu-lum LÚ.da-mu-nu | (12) On my return march, I defeated all together the Tuʾmūna, Riḫiḫu, Yadaqqu, Ubudu, Gibrê, Maliḫu (Malaḫu), Gurumu, Ubulu, Damunu, Gambulu, Ḫindaru, Ruʾuʾa, Puqudu, Ḫamrānu, Ḫagarānu, Nabatu, (and) Liʾtaʾu, insubmissive Arameans. I carried off into Assyria a substantial booty (consisting of) 208,000 people, young (and) old, male and female, 7,200 horses (and) mules, 11,073 donkeys, 5,230 camels, 80,100 oxen, (and) 600,600 sheep and goats. |
1313 | LÚ.gam-bu-lum LÚ.ḫi-in-da-ru LÚ.ru-ʾu-u-a LÚ.pu-qu-du LÚ.ḫa-am-ra-nu LÚ.ḫa-ga-ra-nu LÚ.na-ba-tu LÚ.li-iʾ-ta-a-ú LÚ.a-ra-mu la kan-šu mit-ḫa-riš ak-šudud | |
1414 | 2 ME 8 LIM UN.MEŠ TUR GAL NITA u MUNUS 7 LIM 2 ME ANŠE.KUR.RA.MEŠ ANŠE.KUNGA.MEŠ 11 LIM 73 ANŠE.MEŠ 5 LIM 2 ME 30 ANŠE.GAM.MAL.MEŠ 80 LIM 1 ME GU₄.MEŠ 6 ME LIM 6 ME US₅.UDU.ḪI.A šal-la-tu ka-bit-tu áš-lu-la a-na qé-reb KUR aš-šur.KI8 | |
1515 | i-na me-ti-iq ger-ri-ia ša mdAG-EN-MU.MEŠ LÚ.qí-pi URU.ḫa-ra-ra-te KÙ.GI KÙ.BABBAR GIŠ.mu-suk-kan-ni GAL.MEŠ ANŠE.MEŠ ANŠE.GAM.MAL.MEŠ GU₄.MEŠ ù US₅.UDU.ḪI.A ta-mar-ta-šú ka-bit-tú am-ḫur9 | (15) In the course of my campaign, I received a substantial audience gift from Nabû-bēl-šumāti, the official in charge of the city Ḫararatu (Ḫarutu): gold, silver, large musukkannu-trees, donkeys, camels, oxen, and sheep and goats. |
1616 | ba-ḫu-la-ti URU.ḫi-rim-me LÚ.KÚR ak-ṣi i-na GIŠ.TUKUL ú-šam-qit-ma e-du ul e-zib pag-ri-šú-un i-na ga-ši-ši a-lul-ma si-ḫir-ti URU ú-šal-me10 | (16) I put to the sword the population of the city Ḫirimmu, a dangerous enemy, and I did not spare a single one. I hung their corpses on poles and placed (them) around the city. I reorganized that district (and) imposed for eternity one ox, ten sheep, ten homers of wine, (and) twenty homers of dates as his first-fruits offerings to the gods of Assyria, my lords. |
1717 | na-gu-ú šu-a-tu a-na eš-šu-ti aṣ-bat 1-en GU₄ 10 UDU.NÍTA.MEŠ 10 ANŠE GIŠ.GEŠTIN.MEŠ 20 ANŠE ZÚ.LUM.MA re-še-te-šú a-na DINGIR.MEŠ-ni KUR aš-šur.KI EN.MEŠ-ia ú-kin dà-ri-šam | |
1818 | i-na 2-e ger-ri-ia daš-šur be-lí ú-tak-kil-an-ni-ma a-na KUR LÚ.kaš-ši-i ù KUR ia-su-bi-gal-la-a-a ša ul-tu ul-la a-na LUGAL.MEŠ-ni AD.MEŠ-ia la kit-nu-šú lu al-lik11 | (18) On my second campaign, the god Aššur, my lord, encouraged me and I marched to the land of the Kassites and the land of the Yasubigallians, who since time immemorial had not submitted to the kings, my ancestors. In the high mountains, difficult terrain, I rode on horseback and had my personal chariot carried on (men’s) necks. In very rugged terrain I roamed about on foot like a wild bull. (20) I surrounded (and) conquered the cities Bīt-Kilamzaḫ, Ḫardišpu, (and) Bīt-Kubatti, their fortified walled cities. I brought out from them people, horses, mules, donkeys, oxen, and sheep and goats, and I counted (them) as booty. Moreover, I destroyed, devastated, (and) turned into ruins their small(er) settlements, which were without number. I burned with fire pavilions (and) tents, their abodes, and reduced (them) to ashes. |
1919 | qé-reb ḫur-šá-a-ni zaq-ru-ti A.ŠÀ nam-ra-ṣi i-na ANŠE.KUR.RA ar-kab-ma GIŠ.GIGIR GÌR.II-ia i-na ti-ik-ka-ti ú-šá-áš-ši áš-ru šup-šu-qu i-na GÌR.II-ia ri-ma-niš at-tag-giš | |
2020 | URU.É-mki-lam-za-aḫ URU.ḫa-ar-diš-pi URU.É-mku-bat-ti URU.MEŠ-ni-šú-nu É BÀD.MEŠ dan-nu-ti al-me KUR-ud UN.MEŠ ANŠE.KUR.RA.MEŠ ANŠE.KUNGA.MEŠ ANŠE.MEŠ GU₄.MEŠ ù US₅.UDU.ḪI.A ul-tu qer-bi-šú-un ú-še-ṣa-am-ma šal-la-tiš am-nu12 | |
2121 | ù URU.MEŠ-šú-nu TUR.MEŠ ša ni-ba la i-šu-ú ap-pul aq-qur ú-še-me kar-meš É EDIN kul-ta-ri mu-šá-bi-šú-nu i-na dGIŠ.BAR aq-mu-ma di-tal-liš ú-še-mi13 | |
2222 | ú-ter-ma URU.É-mki-lam-za-aḫ šu-a-tu a-na bir-tu-ti aṣ-bat UGU ša u₄-me pa-ni BÀD.MEŠ-šú ú-dan-nin-ma UN.MEŠ KUR.KUR ki-šit-ti ŠU.II-ia ina lìb-bi ú-še-šib14 | (22) I made that city Bīt-Kilamzaḫ a fortress again (and) I strengthened its walls more than before, then I settled therein the people of the lands that I had conquered. I brought down from the mountains the people of the land of the Kassites and the land of the Yasubigallians who had fled from my weapons and I made (them) dwell in the cities Ḫardišpu (and) Bīt-Kubatti. I placed them under the authority of a eunuch of mine, the governor of the city Arrapḫa. I had a stele made, had all the victorious conquests that I achieved over them written on it, and I erected (it) in (that) city. |
2323 | UN.MEŠ KUR LÚ.kaš-ši-i ù KUR LÚ.ia-su-bi-gal-la-a-a ša la-pa-an GIŠ.TUKUL.MEŠ-ia ip-par-ši-du ul-tu qé-reb KUR-i ú-še-ri-dam-ma ina URU.ḫar-diš-pi URU.É-mku-bat-ti ú-šar-me | |
2424 | i-na ŠU.II LÚ.šu-ut SAG-ia LÚ.EN.NAM URU.ar-rap-ḫa am-nu-šú-nu-ti NA₄.NA.RÚ.A ú-še-piš-ma li-i-tú ki-šit-ti ŠU.II ša UGU-šú-un áš-tak-ka-nu ṣe-ru-uš-šú ú-šá-áš-ṭir-ma i-na qé-reb URU ul-ziz | |
2525 | pa-an ni-ri-ia ú-ter-ma a-na KUR.el-li-pi aṣ-ṣa-bat ḫar-ra-nu el-la-mu-u-a mis-pa-ba-a-ra LUGAL-šú-un URU.MEŠ-šú dan-nu-ti É ni-ṣir-ti-šú ú-maš-šir-ma a-na ru-qé-e-ti in-na-bit | (25) I turned around (lit. “I turned the front of my yoke”) and took the road to the land Ellipi. Before my arrival, Ispabāra, their king, abandoned his fortified cities (and) his treasury and fled far away. I overwhelmed all of his wide land like a fog. I surrounded, conquered, destroyed, devastated, (and) burned with fire the cities Marubištu (and) Akkuddu, cities of his royal house, together with thirty-four small(er) settlements in their environs. |
2626 | gim-ri KUR-šu DAGAL-ti GIM MURU₉ as-ḫu-up URU.mar-ú-biš-ti URU.ak-ku-ud-du URU.MEŠ É LUGAL-ti-šú a-di 34 URU.MEŠ TUR.MEŠ ša li-me-ti-šú-nu al-me KUR-ud ap-pul aq-qur ina dGIŠ.BAR aq-mu15 | |
2727 | UN.MEŠ TUR GAL NITA u MUNUS ANŠE.KUR.RA.MEŠ ANŠE.KUNGA.MEŠ ANŠE.MEŠ ANŠE.GAM.MAL.MEŠ GU₄.MEŠ ù US₅.UDU.ḪI.A la mi-nam áš-lu-lam-ma a-di la ba-ši-i ú-šá-lik-šú-ma ú-ṣa-aḫ-ḫi-ir ma-a-su | (27) I carried off people, young (and) old, male and female, horses, mules, donkeys, camels, oxen, and sheep and goats without number, then I brought him (Ispabāra) to nought and made his land smaller. I detached from his land the cities Ṣi(ṣ)ṣirtu (and) Kummaḫlum, fortified cities, together with the small(er) settlements in their environs (and) the district of the land Bīt-Barrû in its entirety, and I added (this area) to the territory of Assyria. |
2828 | URU.ṣi-ṣi-ir-tú URU.ku-um-ma-aḫ-lum URU.MEŠ dan-nu-ti a-di URU.MEŠ TUR.MEŠ ša li-me-ti-šú-nu KUR.É-mba-ar-ru-u na-gu-u a-na gi-mir-ti-šú ul-tu qé-reb KUR-šú ab-tuq-ma UGU mi-ṣir KUR aš-šur.KI ú-rad-di | |
2929 | URU.el-en-za-áš a-na URU LUGAL-ti ù dan-na-at na-ge-e šu-a-tu aṣ-bat-ma MU-šú maḫ-ra-a ú-nak-kir-ma URU.kar-mdEN.ZU-ŠEŠ.MEŠ-eri-ba at-ta-bi ni-bit-su | (29) I took the city Elenzaš as a royal city and a fortress for that district, then I changed its former name and called it Kār-Sennacherib. (30) I settled therein the people of the lands that I had conquered. I placed (it) under the authority of a eunuch of mine, the governor of the city Ḫarḫar, and (thus) enlarged my land. |
3030 | UN.MEŠ KUR.KUR ki-šit-ti ŠU.II-ia i-na lìb-bi ú-še-šib i-na ŠU.II LÚ.šu-ut SAG-ia LÚ.EN.NAM URU.ḫar-ḫar am-nu-ma ú-rap-piš ma-a-ti16 | |
3131 | i-na ta-a-a-ar-ti-ia ša KUR.ma-da-a-a ru-qu-ti ša i-na LUGAL.MEŠ-ni AD.MEŠ-ia ma-am-man la iš-mu-ú zi-kir KUR-ti-šú-un man-da-at-ta-šú-nu ka-bit-tu am-ḫur a-na ni-ri be-lu-ti-ia ú-šak-ni-su-nu-ti | (31) On my return march, I received a substantial payment from the distant Medes, of whose land none of the kings, my ancestors, had heard mention. (Thus) I made them bow down to the yoke of my lordship. |
3232 | i-na šal-ši ger-ri-ia a-na KUR.ḫa-at-ti lu al-lik mlu-li-i LUGAL URU.ṣi-du-un-ni pul-ḫi me-lam-me be-lu-ti-ia is-ḫu-pu-šu-ma a-na ru-uq-qí MURUB₄ tam-tim in-na-bit17 | (32) On my third campaign, I marched to the land Ḫatti. Fear of my lordly brilliance overwhelmed Lulî, the king of the city Sidon, and he fled afar into the midst of the sea. The awesome terror of the weapon of the god Aššur, my lord, overwhelmed the cities Great Sidon, Lesser Sidon, Bīt-Zitti, Ṣarepta, Maḫalliba, Ušû, Akzibu, (and) Acco, his fortified cities (and) fortresses, an area of pasture(s) and water-place(s), resources upon which he relied, and they bowed down at my feet. |
3333 | URU.ṣi-du-un-nu GAL-ú URU.ṣi-du-un-nu ṣe-eḫ-ru URU.É-zi-it-te URU.ṣa-ri-ip-tu URU.ma-ḫal-li-ba URU.ú-šu-ú URU.ak-zi-ba URU.ak-ku-ú | |
3434 | URU.MEŠ-šú dan-nu-ti É BÀD.MEŠ-ni a-šar ri-i-ti ù maš-qí-ti É tuk-la-ti-šú ra-šub-bat GIŠ.TUKUL daš-šur EN-ia is-ḫu-pu-šú-nu-ti-ma ik-nu-šú še-pu-u-a | |
3535 | mtu-ba-aʾ-lu i-na GIŠ.GU.ZA LUGAL-ti-šú UGU-šú-un ú-še-šib-ma GUN man-da-at-tú be-lu-ti-ia šat-ti-šam la ba-aṭ-lu ú-kin ṣe-ru-uš-šú | (35) I placed Tu-Baʾlu on his royal throne over them and imposed upon him tribute (and) payment (in recognition) of my overlordship (to be delivered) yearly (and) without interruption. |
3636 | ša mmi-nu-ḫi-im-mu URU.sam-si-mu-ru-na-a-a mtu-ba-aʾ-lu URU.ṣi-du-un-na-a-a mab-di-li-iʾ-ti URU.a-ru-da-a-a mú-ru-mil-ki URU.gu-ub-la-a-a | (36) As for Minuḫimmu of the city Samsimuruna, Tu-Baʾlu of the city Sidon, Abdi-Liʾti of the city Arwad, Ūru-Milki of the city Byblos, Mitinti of the city Ashdod, Būdi-il of the city Bīt-Ammon, Kammūsu-nadbi of the land Moab, Aya-rāmu of the land Edom, all of the kings of the land Amurru, they brought extensive gifts, four times (the normal amount), as their substantial audience gift before me and kissed my feet. |
3737 | mmi-ti-in-ti URU.as-du-da-a-a mbu-du-DINGIR KUR.É-am-ma-na-a-a mkam-mu-su-na-ad-bi KUR.ma-ʾa-ba-a-a mda-a-ram-mu KUR.ú-du-um-ma-a-a18 | |
3838 | LUGAL.MEŠ-ni KUR MAR.TU.KI ka-li-šú-nu IGI.SÁ-e šad-lu-ti ta-mar-ta-šú-nu ka-bit-tu a-di 4-šú a-na maḫ-ri-ia iš-šu-nim-ma iš-ši-qu GÌR.II-ia19 | |
3939 | ù mṣi-id-qa-a LUGAL URU.is-qa-lu-na ša la ik-nu-šú a-na ni-ri-ia DINGIR.MEŠ É AD-šú šá-a-šú DAM-su DUMU.MEŠ-šú DUMU.MUNUS.MEŠ-šú ŠEŠ.MEŠ-šú NUMUN É AD-šú as-su-ḫa-am-ma a-na KUR aš-šur.KI ú-ra-áš-šú | (39) Moreover, (as for) Ṣidqâ, the king of the city Ashkelon who had not bowed down to my yoke, I forcibly removed the gods of his father’s house, himself, his wife, his sons, his daughters, his brothers, (and other) offspring of his father’s house and took him to Assyria. |
4040 | mLUGAL-lu-dà-ri DUMU mru-kib-ti LUGAL-šú-nu maḫ-ru-ú UGU UN.MEŠ URU.is-qa-lu-na áš-kun-ma na-dan GUN kàd-re-e be-lu-ti-ia e-mì-su-ma i-šá-ṭa ab-šá-a-ni | (40) I set Šarru-lū-dāri, son of Rūkibtu, their former king, over the people of the city Ashkelon and imposed upon him the payment of tribute (and) gifts (in recognition) of my overlordship so that he (now) pulls my yoke. |
4141 | i-na me-ti-iq ger-ri-ia URU.É-da-gan-na URU.ia-pu-u URU.ba-na-a-a-bar-qa URU.a-zu-ru URU.MEŠ ša mṣi-id-qa-a ša a-na GÌR.II-ia ár-ḫiš la ik-nu-šú al-me KUR-ud áš-lu-la šal-la-su-un | (41) In the course of my campaign, I surrounded, conquered, (and) plundered the cities Bīt-Daganna, Joppa, Banayabarqa, (and) Azuru, the cities of Ṣidqâ that had not submitted to me quickly. |
4242 | LÚ.GÌR.NÍTA.MEŠ LÚ.NUN.MEŠ ù UN.MEŠ URU.am-qar-ru-na ša mpa-di-i LUGAL-šú-nu EN a-di-i ù ma-mit šá KUR aš-šur.KI bi-re-tú AN.BAR id-du-ma a-na mḫa-za-qi-a-ú KUR.ia-ú-da-a-a id-di-nu-šú nak-riš20 | (42) (As for) the governors, the nobles, and the people of the city Ekron who had thrown Padî, their king who was bound by treaty and oaths to Assyria, into iron fetters and who had handed him over to Hezekiah of the land Judah in a hostile manner, they became frightened on account of the villainous acts they had committed. They formed a confederation with the kings of Egypt (and) the archers, chariots, (and) horses of the king of the land Meluḫḫa, forces without number, and they came to their aid. |
4343 | a-na an-zil-li e-pu-šu ip-làḫ lìb-ba-šú-un LUGAL.MEŠ KUR.mu-ṣu-ri LÚ.ERIM.MEŠ GIŠ.PAN GIŠ.GIGIR.MEŠ ANŠE.KUR.RA.MEŠ ša LUGAL KUR.me-luḫ-ḫa e-mu-qí la ni-bi ik-te-ru-nim-ma il-li-ku re-ṣu-su-un21 | |
4444 | i-na ta-mir-ti URU.al-ta-qu-u el-la-mu-u-a si-id-ru šit-ku-nu ú-šá-ʾa-lu GIŠ.TUKUL.MEŠ-šú-un i-na tukul-ti aš-šur EN-ia it-ti-šú-un am-da-ḫi-iṣ-ma áš-ta-kan BAD₅.BAD₅-šú-un | (44) In the plain of the city Eltekeh, they sharpened their weapons while drawing up in battleline before me. With the support of (the god) Aššur, my lord, I fought with them and defeated them. (45) In the thick of battle, I captured alive the Egyptian charioteers (and) princes (lit. “the sons of the kings”), together with the charioteers of the king of the land Meluḫḫa. |
4545 | LÚ.EN GIŠ.GIGIR.MEŠ ù DUMU.MEŠ LUGAL.MEŠ KUR.mu-ṣu-ra-a-a a-di LÚ.EN GIŠ.GIGIR.MEŠ ša LUGAL KUR.me-luḫ-ḫa bal-ṭu-su-un i-na MURUB₄ tam-ḫa-ri ik-šu-da ŠU.II-a-a22 | |
4646 | URU.al-ta-qu-ú URU.ta-am-na-a al-me KUR-ud áš-lu-la šal-la-su-un a-na URU.am-qar-ru-na aq-rib-ma LÚ.GÌR.NÍTA.MEŠ LÚ.NUN.MEŠ ša ḫi-iṭ-ṭu ú-šab-šu-ú a-duk-ma ina di-ma-a-ti si-ḫir-ti URU a-lul pag-ri-šú-un23 | (46) I surrounded, conquered, (and) plundered the cities Eltekeh (and) Tamnâ. I approached the city Ekron and I killed the governors (and) nobles who had committed crime(s) and hung their corpses on towers around the city; I counted the citizens who had committed the criminal acts as booty; (and) I commanded that the rest of them, (those) who were not guilty of crimes or wrongdoing, (to) whom no penalty was due, be allowed to go free. |
4747 | DUMU.MEŠ URU e-piš an-ni ù gíl-la-ti a-na šal-la-ti am-nu si-it-tu-te-šú-nu la ba-bil ḫi-ṭi-ti ù gul-lul-ti ša a-ra-an-šú-nu la ib-šu-ú uš-šur-šu-un aq-bi24 | |
4848 | mpa-di-i LUGAL-šú-nu ul-tu qé-reb URU.ur-sa-li-im-mu ú-še-ṣa-am-ma i-na GIŠ.GU.ZA be-lu-ti UGU-šú-un ú-še-šib-ma man-da-at-tú be-lu-ti-ia ú-kin ṣe-ru-uš-šú | (48) I brought out Padî, their king, from the city Jerusalem and placed (him) on the lordly throne over them, then I imposed upon him payment (in recognition) of my overlordship. |
4949 | ša mḫa-za-qi-a-ú KUR.ia-ú-da-a-a 46 URU.MEŠ-šú É BÀD.MEŠ dan-nu-ti ù URU.MEŠ TUR.MEŠ ša li-me-ti-šú-nu ša ni-ba la i-šu-ú25 | (49) (As for) Hezekiah of the land Judah, I surrounded (and) conquered forty-six of his fortified walled cities and small(er) settlements in their environs, which were without number, (50) by having ramps trodden down and battering rams brought up, the assault of foot soldiers, sapping, breaching, and siege engines. I brought out of them 200,150 people, young (and) old, male and female, horses, mules, donkeys, camels, oxen, and sheep and goats, which were without number, and I counted (them) as booty. |
5050 | i-na šuk-bu-us a-ram-me ù qur-ru-ub šu-pe-e mit-ḫu-uṣ zu-uk GÌR.II pil-ši nik-si ù kal-ba-na-ti al-me ak-šudud26 | |
5151 | 2 ME LIM 1 ME 50 UN.MEŠ TUR GAL NITA u MUNUS ANŠE.KUR.RA.MEŠ ANŠE.KUNGA.MEŠ ANŠE.MEŠ ANŠE.GAM.MAL.MEŠ GU₄.MEŠ ù US₅.UDU.ḪI.A šá la ni-bi ul-tu qer-bi-šú-un ú-še-ṣa-am-ma šal-la-tiš am-nu | |
5252 | šá-a-šú GIM MUŠEN qu-up-pi qé-reb URU.ur-sa-li-im-ma URU LUGAL-ti-šú e-sír-šu URU.ḪAL.ṢU.MEŠ UGU-šú ú-rak-kis-ma a-ṣe-e KÁ.GAL URU-šú ú-ter-ra ik-ki-bu-uš27 | (52) As for him (Hezekiah), I confined him inside the city Jerusalem, his royal city, like a bird in a cage. I set up blockades against him and made him dread exiting his city gate. I detached from his land the cities of his that I had plundered and I gave (them) to Mitinti, the king of the city Ashdod, and Padî, the king of the city Ekron, (and) Ṣilli-Bēl, the king of the land Gaza, (and thereby) made his land smaller. To the former tribute, their annual giving, I added the payment (of) gifts (in recognition) of my overlordship and imposed (it) upon them. |
5353 | URU.MEŠ-šú ša áš-lu-la ul-tu qé-reb KUR-šú ab-tuq-ma a-na mmi-ti-in-ti LUGAL URU.as-du-di ù mpa-di-i LUGAL URU.am-qar-ru-na mGISSU-EN LUGAL KUR.ḫa-zi-ti ad-din ú-ṣa-aḫ-ḫi-ir KUR-su | |
5454 | e-li GUN maḫ-ri-ti na-da-an šat-ti-šú-un man-da-at-ti kàd-re-e be-lu-ti-ia ú-rad-di-ma ú-kin ṣe-ru-uš-šú-un28 | |
5555 | šu-ú mḫa-za-qi-a-ú pu-ul-ḫi me-lam-me be-lu-ti-ia is-ḫu-pu-šú-ma LÚ.úr-bi LÚ.ERIM.MEŠ-šú SIG₅.MEŠ ša a-na dun-nu-un URU.ur-sa-li-im-mu URU LUGAL-ti-šú ú-še-ri-bu-ma ir-šu-u til-la-a-te29 | (55) As for him, Hezekiah, fear of my lordly brilliance overwhelmed him and, after my (departure), he had the auxiliary forces (and) his elite troops whom he had brought inside to strengthen the city Jerusalem, his royal city, thereby gaining reinforcements, (along with) 30 talents of gold, 800 talents of silver, choice antimony, large blocks of ..., ivory beds, armchairs of ivory, elephant hide(s), elephant ivory, ebony, boxwood, garments with multi-colored trim, linen garments, blue-purple wool, red-purple wool, utensils of bronze, iron, copper, tin, (and) iron, chariots, shields, lances, armor, iron belt-daggers, bows and uṣṣu-arrows, equipment, (and) implements of war, (all of) which were without number, together with his daughters, his palace women, male singers, (and) female singers brought into Nineveh, my capital city, and he sent a mounted messenger of his to me to deliver (this) payment and to do obeisance. |
5656 | 30 GUN KÙ.GI 8 ME GUN KÙ.BABBAR ni-siq-ti gu-uḫ-li ták-kàs-si NA₄.AN.ZA.GUL.ME GAL.MEŠ GIŠ.NÁ.MEŠ ZÚ GIŠ.GU.ZA.MEŠ né-me-di ZÚ KUŠ AM.SI ZÚ AM.SI GIŠ.ESI GIŠ.TÚG lu-bul-ti bir-me TÚG.GADA SÍG.ta-kil-tú SÍG.ar-ga-man-nu30 | |
5757 | ú-nu-ut ZABAR AN.BAR URUDU AN.NA AN.BAR GIŠ.GIGIR.MEŠ ga-ba-bi az-ma-re-e si-ri-ia-am GÍR.MEŠ AN.BAR šib-bi til-pa-ni u uṣ-ṣi til-li ú-nu-ut ta-ḫa-zi šá ni-ba la i-šu-ú31 | |
5858 | it-ti DUMU.MUNUS.MEŠ-šú MUNUS.UN.MEŠ É.GAL-šú LÚ.NAR.MEŠ MUNUS.NAR.MEŠ a-na qé-reb NINA.KI URU be-lu-ti-ia EGIR-ia ú-še-bi-lam-ma a-na na-dan man-da-at-ti ù e-peš ARAD-ú-ti iš-pu-ra rak-bu-šú32 | |
5959 | i-na šal-la-at KUR.MEŠ šá-ti-na ša áš-lu-la 10 LIM GIŠ.PAN 10 LIM GIŠ.a-ri-tú ina lìb-bi-šú-nu ak-ṣur-ma UGU ki-ṣir LUGAL-ti-ia ú-rad-di33 | (59) From the booty of those lands that I had plundered, I conscripted 10,000 archers (and) 10,000 shield bearers and added (them) to my royal contingent. (60) I divided up the rest of the substantial enemy booty like sheep and goats among my entire camp and my governors, (and) the people of my great cult centers. |
6060 | si-it-ti šal-la-ti na-ki-ri ka-bit-tu a-na gi-mir KARAŠ-ia ù LÚ.EN.NAM.MEŠ-ia UN.MEŠ ma-ḫa-za-ni-ia GAL.MEŠ ki-ma ṣe-e-ni lu ú-za-ʾi-iz34 | |
6161 | i-na u₄-me-šu-ma NINA.KI ma-ḫa-zu ṣi-i-ru URU na-ram diš-tar ša nap-ḫar ki-du-de-e DINGIR.MEŠ ù dIŠ.TAR.MEŠ ba-šu-u qé-reb-šu35 | (61) At that time, Nineveh, the exalted cult center, the city loved by the goddess Ištar in which all of the rituals for gods and goddesses are present; the enduring foundation (and) eternal base whose plan had been designed by the stars (lit. “writing”) of the firmament and whose arrangement was made manifest since time immemorial; a sophisticated place (and) site of secret lore in which every kind of skilled craftsmanship, all of the rituals, (and) the secret(s) of the lalgar (cosmic subterranean water) are apprehended; |
6262 | tem-me-en-nu da-ru-ú du-ru-uš ṣa-a-ti ša ul-tu ul-la it-ti ši-ṭir bu-ru-ú-me eṣ-rat-su eṣ-ret-ma šu-pu-ú ṣi-in-du-šu36 | |
6363 | áš-ru nak-lu šu-bat pi-riš-ti ša mim-ma šum-šu ši-pir ni-kil-ti gi-mir pel-lu-de-e ni-ṣir-ti làl-gar šu-ta-bu-la qé-reb-šu | |
6464 | ša ul-tu ul-la LUGAL.MEŠ-ni a-li-kut maḫ-ri AD.MEŠ-ia ul-la-nu-u-a be-lu-ti KUR aš-šur.KI e-pu-šu-ma ú-ma-ʾe-er ba-ʾu-lat dEN.LÍL | (64) in which since time immemorial earlier kings, my ancestors, before me exercised dominion over Assyria and ruled the subjects of the god Enlil, (65) and wherein annually, without interruption, they received an enormous income, the tribute of the rulers of the four quarters (of the world); |
6565 | ù šat-ti-šam la na-par-ka-a e-reb nar-ba-a-ti GUN mal-ki kib-rat ar-ba-ʾi im-da-na-ḫa-ru qé-reb-šu37 | |
6666 | a-a-um-ma ina lìb-bi-šú-nu a-na É.GAL qer-bi-šu kúm-mu ri-mit be-lu-ti ša ṣu-uḫ-ḫu-ru šu-bat-su le-e-su ul id-da-a lib-bu-uš ul iḫ-su-us | (66) (but) not one among them had paid heed to (or) shown interest in the palace inside it, the seat of lordly dwelling whose site had become too small; nor had anyone (of them) conceived of and put his mind towards the straightening of the city’s street(s) and the widening of (its) squares, the dredging of the river, (and) the planting of orchards: |
6767 | a-na šu-te-šur SILA URU ù šum-dul₆ re-ba-a-ti ḫa-re-e ÍD za-qa-ap ṣip-pa-a-ti ú-zu-un-šú ul ib-ši-ma ul uš-ta-bil ka-ras-su | |
6868 | ia-a-ti mdEN.ZU-ŠEŠ.MEŠ-eri-ba LUGAL KUR aš-šur.KI e-peš šip-ri šu-a-tu ki-i ṭè-em DINGIR.MEŠ i-na uz-ni-ia ib-ši-ma ka-bat-ti ub-lam-ma | (68) (But) as for me, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, the performing of this work came to my attention by the will of the gods and I put my mind to it. I forcibly removed the people of Chaldea, Aramean (tribes), the land of the Manneans, the lands Que, Ḫilakku, (and) Philistia, and the land (of the city) Tyre, who had not submitted to my yoke, then I made them carry baskets (of earth) and they made bricks. (70) I cut down canebrakes in Chaldea and I had their splendid reeds hauled (to Nineveh) for its (the palace’s) construction by enemy soldiers whom I had defeated. |
6969 | te-ne-šet KUR.kal-di LÚ.a-ra-me KUR.man-na-a-a KUR.qu-e KUR.ḫi-lak-ku KUR.pi-liš-tu ù KUR.ṣur-ri ša a-na ni-ri-ia la ik-nu-šú as-su-ḫa-am-ma tup-šik-ku ú-šá-áš-ši-šú-nu-ti-ma il-bi-nu SIG₄38 | |
7070 | a-pe ku-pe-e ša qé-reb KUR.kal-di ak-šiṭ-ma ap-pa-ri-šú-un šam-ḫu-ti i-na ba-ḫu-la-ti na-ki-ri ki-šit-ti ŠU.II-ia ú-šal-di-da a-na e-peš šip-ri-šá39 | |
7171 | É.GAL maḫ-ri-tu ša 3 ME 60 ina 1.KÙŠ UŠ tar-ṣi za-me-e É ziq-qur-rat 80 ina 1.KÙŠ DAGAL i-na tar-ṣi É.na-ma-ri É diš-tar 1 ME 34 ina 1.KÙŠ DAGAL i-na tar-ṣi É.na-ma-ri É-kid₉-mu-ri 95 ina 1.KÙŠ DAGAL40 | (71) The former palace, which was 360 cubits long opposite the zamû-wall of the ziggurrat, 80 cubits wide opposite the tower of the temple of the goddess Ištar, 134 cubits wide opposite the tower of the Bīt-Kidmuri, (and) 95 cubits wide (on the other side); which earlier kings, my ancestors, had had constructed for their lordly dwelling, but whose construction they had carried out inexpertly — the Tebilti River, a tempestuous flood (of water) which when it rose had destroyed sacred buildings inside the city and exposed their hidden tombs to the sun, and which had flowed from distant days by the side of the palace and which (thereby) had caused erosion in its foundation when its flood was in full spate (and) had shaken its base: |
7272 | ša LUGAL.MEŠ-ni a-li-kut maḫ-ri AD.MEŠ-ia a-na ri-mit be-lu-ti-šú-un ú-še-pi-šu-ma la ú-nak-ki-lu ši-pir-šá | |
7373 | ÍD.te-bil-ti a-gu-ú šit-mu-ru ša i-na na-ši-šá ge-gu-né-e qa-bal-ti URU ú-ab-bi-tu-ma ki-maḫ-ḫi-šú-un pa-az-ru-ti ú-kal-li-mu dUTU-šú41 | |
7474 | ù ul-tu u₄-me SÙ.MEŠ ṭe-eḫ É.GAL i-ba-ʾu-ú-ma i-na ILLU-šá gap-ši i-na uš-ši-šá ab-bu ú-šab-šu-ú ú-ri-bu tem-me-en-šá | |
7575 | É.GAL.TUR.RA šá-a-tu a-na si-ḫir-ti-šá aq-qur-ma ša ÍD.te-bil-ti ma-lak-šá uš-te-eš-na-a ab-bu uš-ṭib-ma ú-še-šir mu-ṣu-u-šá | (75) I tore down that small palace in its entirety, then I changed the course of the Tebilti River, repaired (the effects of) the erosion, and directed its outflow. |
7676 | qé-reb ka-tim-ti a-sur-rak-ku šap-la-a-nu GI.MEŠ e-la-niš NA₄ KUR-i dan-ni it-ti ESIR.UD.A ak-si-ma A.ŠÀ ul-tu ma-a-me ú-še-lam-ma na-ba-liš ú-ter | (76) In the hidden depths of (its) subterranean waters I bonded together, with bitumen, reeds below (and) strong mountain stone above, then I raised (that) area out of the water and converted (it) to dry land. I filled in and measured a terrace of 700 large aslu-cubits along (its) longer side, 176 large aslu-cubits along (its) upper, northern shorter side, 268 large aslu-cubits along the inner, shorter side, (which is) opposite the zamû-wall of the shrine behind (the temple of) the goddess Ištar, 383 large aslu-cubits along the other, parallel, inner shorter side, (which is) on the west behind the ziggurrat of the temple of the goddess Ištar, (and) 386 large aslu-cubits along the lower, southern shorter side, (which is) beside the Tigris River. (80) In order to prevent its foundation from being weakened over the passage of time by cresting flood(s), I surrounded its base with large limestone slabs (and thereby) reinforced its base. |
7777 | 7 ME ina 1.KÙŠ AS₄.LUM GAL-ti UŠ 1 ME 76 ina AS₄.LUM GAL-ti SAG.KI AN.TA IM.SI.SÁ 2 ME 68 ina AS₄.LUM GAL-ti SAG.KI MURUB₄-ti mé-eḫ-ret za-me-e at-man-ni ku-tal diš-tar42 | |
7878 | 3 ME 83 ina AS₄.LUM GAL-ti SAG.KI qab-li-tum šá-ni-tú mu-uḫ-ḫur-ti šá-a-ri a-mur-ri ku-tal É ziq-qur-rat É diš-tar43 | |
7979 | 3 ME 86 ina AS₄.LUM GAL-ti SAG.KI KI.TA IM.U₁₈.LU ÚS.SA.DU ÍD.IDIGNA tam-la-a ú-mal-li-ma am-šu-uḫ me-ši-iḫ-ta | |
8080 | la-ba-riš u₄-me ina ILLU kiš-šá-ti tem-me-en-šú la e-né-še as-kup-pat NA₄.pi-i-li rab-ba-a-ti ki-is-su-ú-šu ú-šá-as-ḫi-ra ú-dan-ni-na šu-pu-uk-šu44 | |
8181 | MU.SAR-e ši-ṭir šu-mi-ia 1 ME 60 ti-ib-ki tam-li-i qé-reb-šu al-ṭu-ur-ma šap-la-nu ina uš-ši-šu e-zib aḫ-ra-taš | (81) I inscribed objects bearing my name 160 courses of brick within the terrace and I deposited (them) deep down in its foundation for ever after. |
8282 | ar-ka-a-nu šu-uš-qu-ú tam-li-i ka-bat-ti ub-lam-ma 20 ti-ib-ki ṣe-er maḫ-ri-i uṣ-ṣip-ma 1 ME 80 ti-ib-ki ú-šaq-qí e-la-niš | (82) Afterwards, I decided to increase the height of the terrace, then I added 20 courses of brick to the former (terrace) and (thus) I raised (it) to a (total) height of 180 courses of brick. I made the area larger than before, added (it) to the former dimensions of the palace, and (thus) enlarged its structure. |
8383 | tar-pa-šu-ú UGU ša u₄-me pa-ni ú-šar-bi ṣe-er me-ši-iḫ-ti É.GAL maḫ-ri-ti ú-rad-di-ma ú-šá-an-di-la ši-kit-taš | |
8484 | É.GAL NA₄.GIŠ.NU₁₁.GAL ZÚ AM.SI GIŠ.ESI GIŠ.TÚG GIŠ.mu-suk-kan-ni GIŠ.EREN GIŠ.ŠUR.MÌN GIŠ.dáp-ra-ni ŠIM.LI ù GIŠ.bu-uṭ-ni é-gal-zag-di-nu-tuku-a a-na mu-šab LUGAL-ti-ia ú-še-pi-šá qé-reb-šá45 | (84) I had a palace of alabaster, elephant ivory, ebony, boxwood, musukkannu-wood, cedar, cypress, daprānu-juniper, juniper, and terebinth, (a palace that I named) Egalzagdinutukua (“The Palace Without a Rival”), constructed thereon as my royal residence. |
8585 | GIŠ.KIRI₆.MAḪ-ḫu tam-šil KUR.ḫa-ma-nim ša gi-mir ŠIM.ḪI.A GURUN ṣip-pa-a-ti GIŠ.MEŠ tuk-lat KUR-i ù KUR.kal-di qé-reb-šu ḫur-ru-šu i-ta-a-šá az-qu-up | (85) I planted alongside it (the palace) a botanical garden, a replica of Mount Amanus, which has all kinds of aromatic plants (and) fruit trees, trees that are the mainstay of the mountains and Chaldea, collected inside it. |
8686 | áš-šú za-qa-ap ṣip-pa-a-ti A.ŠÀ ta-mir-ti e-le-en URU NIGIDAMIN.TA.ÀM a-na DUMU.MEŠ NINA.KI pil-ku ú-pal-lik-ma ú-šad-gi-la pa-nu-uš-šú-un | (86) To plant gardens, I subdivided the meadowland upstream of the city into plots of two pānu each for the citizens of Nineveh and I handed (them) over to them. |
8787 | a-na miṭ-ra-a-ti šum-mu-ḫi ul-tu pa-a-ṭi URU.ki-si-ri a-di ta-mir-ti NINA.KI KUR-a ù bi-ru-tú ina ak-kul-la-a-ti ú-šat-tir-ma ú-še-šir ÍD.ḫar-ru46 | (87) To make (those) planted areas luxuriant, I cut with picks a canal straight through mountain and valley, from the border of the city Kisiri to the plain of Nineveh. I caused an inexhaustible supply of water to flow there for a distance of one and a half leagues from the Ḫusur River (and) made (it) gush through feeder canals into those gardens. |
8888 | 1 1/2 KASKAL.GÍD qaq-qa-ru ul-tu qé-reb ÍD.ḫu-su-ur ma-a-me da-ru-ú-ti a-šar-šá ú-šar-da-a qé-reb ṣip-pa-a-ti šá-ti-na ú-šaḫ-bi-ba pat-ti-iš | |
8989 | ša NINA.KI URU be-lu-ti-ia šu-bat-su uš-rab-bi re-ba-ti-šú ú-šá-an-dil-ma bi-re-e-ti ù su-qa-a-ni uš-par-di-ma ú-nam-mir GIM u₄-me47 | (89) I enlarged the site of Nineveh, my capital city. I broadened its squares and brought light into the alleys and streets, making (them) as bright as day. |
9090 | i-na mé-eḫ-ret KÁ.GAL MURUB₄ URU i-na a-gúr-ri NA₄.pi-i-li pe-ṣe-e a-na me-ti-iq be-lu-ti-ia ú-šak-bi-is ti-tur-ru48 | (90) I had a bridge constructed opposite the Citadel Gate (by packing down) paving stones of white limestone for my lordly procession(s). |
9191 | MU.SAR-a ú-še-piš-ma li-i-tú ù da-na-nu ša i-na tukul-ti aš-šur EN GAL EN-ia UGU kul-lat na-ki-ri áš-tak-ka-nu | (91) I had an inscribed object made and inscribed thereon all the mighty victories that I achieved over all of (my) enemies with the support of (the god) Aššur, the great lord, my lord, and everything (else) that I had been doing. I deposited (it) in the foundation of my lordly palace for ever after. |
9292 | ù mim-ma ep-šet e-tep-pu-šu qé-reb-šu ú-šaṭ-ṭir-ma i-na tem-me-en-ni É.GAL be-lu-ti-ia e-zib aḫ-ra-taš49 | |
9393 | a-na ar-kàt u₄-me i-na LUGAL.MEŠ-ni DUMU.MEŠ-ia ša daš-šur a-na RE.É.UM-ut KUR ù UN.MEŠ i-nam-bu-u zi-kir-šu e-nu-ma É.GAL šá-a-tu i-lab-bi-ru-ma en-na-ḫu | (93) In the future, may one of the kings, my descendants, whom the god Aššur names for shepherding the land and people, renovate its dilapidated section(s) when that palace becomes old and dilapidated. May he find an inscribed object bearing my name, anoint (it) with oil, make an offering, (and) return (it) to its place. The god Aššur will (then) hear his prayers. |
9494 | an-ḫu-sa lu-ud-diš MU.SAR-a ši-ṭir šu-mi-ia li-mur-ma Ì.GIŠ lip-šu-uš UDU.SISKUR liq-qí a-na áš-ri-šú li-ter daš-šur ik-ri-bi-šu i-šem-me | |
9595 | 1 UŠ 34.TA.ÀM MU.DIDLI MU.SAR-e ITI.GU₄.SI.SÁ li-mu mmi-tu-nu LÚ.GAR.KUR URU.i-sa-na | (95) The line count of the inscription is 94 (lines). Ayyāru (II), eponymy of Mitūnu, governor of the city Isāna (700). |
1LUGAL kiš-šá-ti “king of the world”: This title is first used by Sennacherib in this inscription; cf. text no. 1 line 1, text no. 2 line 1, and text no. 3 line 1.
2i-na maḫ-re-e ger-ri-ia “on my first campaign”: Cf. text no. 1 line 5, text no. 2 line 5, and text no. 3 line 5, all of which have i-na SAG LUGAL-ti-ia “at the beginning of my kingship.” re-ṣi-šú “his allies”: Cf. text no. 3 line 5, which omits this word.
3Cf. text no. 3 line 6, which adds a-na KUR.gu-zu-um-ma-ni in-na-bit qé-reb ÍD.a-gam-me ù ap-pa-ra-a-te e-ru-um-ma “he escaped to the land Guzummānu, (where) he entered the swamps and marshes and.” Also compare the list of equipment and animals let loose during that battle; text no. 3 line 7 has GIŠ.GIGIR.MEŠ GIŠ.ṣu-um-bi ANŠE.KUR.RA.MEŠ ANŠE.KUNGA.MEŠ ANŠE.MEŠ ANŠE.GAM.MAL.MEŠ ù ANŠE.ud-ri “chariots, wagons, horses, mules, donkeys, camels, and Bactrian camels.”
4ú-nu-ut “utensils”: Ex. 3 has NA₄ “stone” instead of ú-nu-ut.
5This inscription omits reference to Sennacherib’s troops searching the marshes for the fugitive Marduk-apla-iddina II (Merodach-baladan) and their failure to locate him after five days. Cf. text no. 3 line 10.
66 ME 20 URU.MEŠ “620 cities”: The number of small(er) cities is 820 in text no. 1 line 50, text no. 2 line 11, and text no. 3 line 11. Later prism inscriptions reduce the number to 420; see for example, text no. 22 i 37.
7Cf. text no. 1 line 54, text no. 2 line 13, and text no. 3 line 13. Earlier inscriptions do not mention Sennacherib appointing his officials as governors over Chaldea.
85 LIM 2 ME 30 ANŠE.GAM.MAL.MEŠ 80 LIM 1 ME GU₄.MEŠ “5,230 camels, 80,100 oxen”: Ex. 3 has 5 LIM 2 ME 33 ANŠE.GAM.MAL.MEŠ 2 ME LIM 1 ME GU₄.MEŠ “5,233 camels, 200,100 oxen.” 6 ME LIM 6 ME US₅.UDU.ḪI.A “600,600 sheep and goats”: Ex. 2 has ⸢8⸣ ME LIM 8 ME US₅.UDU.ḪI.A “800,800 sheep and goats”; exs. 3–4 have 8 ME LIM 6 ME US₅.UDU.ḪI.A “800,600 sheep and goats”; and ex. 19 has 8 ME LIM 5 ME US₅.UDU.⸢ḪI⸣.[A] “800,500 sheep and goats.”
9URU.ḫa-ra-ra-te “the city Ḫararatu (Ḫarutu)”: Ex. 1 has URU.ḫa-ra-re-te; all other preserved exemplars have URU.ḫa-ra-ra-te.
10Text no. 3 line 18 adds ša ul-tu ul-la a-na ni-ri-ia la kit-nu-šu “who since time immemorial had not submitted to my yoke” after LÚ.KÚR ak-ṣu “a dangerous enemy.” Cf. text no. 3 line 18, which does not include the statement about hanging corpses on poles around the city.
11Cf. text no. 3 line 20, which adds LÚ.KÚR ak-ṣi “a dangerous enemy” between KUR ia-su-bi-gal-la-a-a “the land of the Yasubigallians” and ša “who.”
12URU.É-mki-lam-za-aḫ ... URU.MEŠ-ni-šú-nu É BÀD.MEŠ dan-nu-ti “Bīt-Kilamzaḫ ... their fortified walled cities”: Cf. text no. 3 line 22, which has URU.É-mki-lam-za-aḫ URU dan-nu-ti-šú-nu “Bīt-Kilamzaḫ, their fortified city.” Text no. 3 adds TUR GAL “young (and) old” after UN.MEŠ “people.” ANŠE.MEŠ “donkeys”: Omitted in exs. 1–2.
13mu-šá-bi-šú-nu “their abodes”: Text no. 3 line 23 has tu-kul-ti-šú-nu “that they relied upon.”
14BÀD.MEŠ-šú ú-dan-nin-ma “I strengthened its walls and”: Text no. 3 line 24 has ú-dan-nin a-muḫ-ḫuš “I strengthened its enceinte.”
15a-di 34 URU.MEŠ TUR.MEŠ ša li-me-ti-šú-nu “together with thirty-four small(er) settlements in their environs”: Cf. text no. 3 line 28, which has a-di 34 URU.MEŠ dan-nu-ti ù URU.MEŠ TUR.MEŠ ša li-me-ti-šú-nu ša ni-ba la i-šu-ú “together with thirty-four fortified cities and small(er) settlements in their environs, which were without number.” Text no. 3 also has a longer description of the devastation of the land Ellipi; see text no. 3 line 29.
16This passage may have been composed anew for this inscription.
17The account of the third campaign and the general statement regarding booty from conquered lands may have been composed anew for this inscription.
18mbu-du-DINGIR “Būdi-il”: The reading of the name follows PNA 1/2 p. 350 sub Būdi-il, where it is understood as a Phoenician name meaning “in the hand of god.” It is possible, based on North-West Semitic names, that the name of this ruler of Bīt-Ammon is actually read mpu-du-DINGIR, where the first element represents a nominal form of pdy, “to ransom, redeem,” with ā becoming ō; compare PNA 3/1 p. 978 sub Padî and Padû-il and p. 998 sub Pūdî and Pūdītu.
19a-di 4-šú “four times (the normal amount)” or “fourfold (the normal amount)”: For this interpretation, see Frahm, Sanherib pp. 59 and 104, and Cogan, Raging Torrent p. 114. Cf. D.D. Luckenbill (Senn. p. 30) and E. Vogt (Analecta Biblica 106 [1986] p. 9 n. 40) who translate a-di 4-šú as “for the fourth time.” It seems more plausible, however, as Frahm has already pointed out in his commentary of this passage (Sanherib p. 104), that these kings of Amurru paid tribute for the first time to Sennacherib in 701, and not for the fourth time in 701 (with tribute also being paid in 704, 702, and 701). Sennacherib appears to have requested the payment of four years of tribute all at once.
20KUR.ia-ú-da-a-a “of the land Judah”: So exs. 1 and 4–6. Ex. 2 omits KUR and ex. 3 has URU.ia-ú-da-a-a “of the city Judah.”
21LUGAL.MEŠ KUR.mu-ṣu-ri “the kings of Egypt”: So exs. 2–4, 34, and 47. Exs. 1 and 5 have LUGAL KUR.mu-ṣu-ri “the king of Egypt.”
22DUMU.MEŠ LUGAL.MEŠ KUR.mu-ṣu-ra-a-a “Egyptian princes (lit. “the sons of the Egyptian kings”)”: So exs. 1–2 and 4–5. Ex. 3 has DUMU.MEŠ LUGAL KUR.mu-ṣu-ra-a-a lit. “the sons of the Egyptian king.”
23URU.ta-am-na-a “the city Tamnâ”: Ex. 3 has URU.ta-am-ma-na-a. This is probably a scribal error since ex. 3 has numerous mistakes and since all of the other preserved exemplars have URU.ta-am-na-a.
24a-ra-an-šú-nu “their penalty”: Ex. 3 has a-ra-šú-nu, which is probably a mistake because there are many errors in that exemplar. On the other hand, it could simply be a non-morphographemic writing of aranšunu (araššunu).
25Exs. 3 and 54 have ù “moreover” instead of ša “of” at the beginning of the line. KUR.ia-ú-da-a-a “of the land Judah”: So exs. 3–4, 54, and 85. Exs. 1–2 and 5 have URU.ia-ú-da-a-a “of the city Judah.” 46 URU.MEŠ-šú “forty-six of his cities”: So exs. 3–5, 47, 52, and 85; ex. 1 has 36 URU.MEŠ-šú “thirty-six of his cities” and ex. 2 has 56 URU.MEŠ-šú “fifty-six of his cities.”
26qur-ru-ub “having brought up”: So exs. 1–3, 5, 52, and 85. Exs. 4 and 47 have qit-ru-ub “coming close up to.”
27GIM MUŠEN qu-up-pi “like a bird in a cage”: The simile of an enemy ruler caged like a bird is used for the first time in an Assyrian context by Tiglath-pileser III. Here and in the inscriptions of Tiglath-pileser III, “like a bird in a cage” is used not only to indicate that the enemy king is confined to his city, but also the cowardly nature of that ruler. The expression kīma iṣṣūr quppi is used also by Rib-Addi, the king of Byblos, in letters written to the Egyptian pharaoh during the Amarna Period. On the use of animals and similes in Assyrian inscriptions, see Marcus, Orientalia NS 46 (1977) pp. 86–106; and Milano, Animali pp. 47–67. C. Uehlinger (‘Like a Bird in a Cage’ pp. 293–305) has recently suggested that slab 28 in Sennacherib’s throne room may depict Jerusalem and that the man standing on the walls is Hezekiah. KÁ.GAL URU-šú “his city gate”: So exs. 2–6, 56, and 84; ex. 1 has KÁ.GAL-šú “his city gate.”
28ṣe-ru-uš-šú-un “upon them”: So exs. 4 and 6. Exs. 1–3 and 5 have ṣe-ru-uš-šú “upon him.”
29LÚ.úr-bi “auxiliary forces”: See the on-page note to text no. 1 line 52.
3030 GUN KÙ.GI 8 ME GUN KÙ.BABBAR “30 talents of gold, 800 talents of silver”: According to 2 Kings 18:14, Hezekiah sent 300 talents of silver and 30 talents of gold to Sennacherib while the Assyrian king was at Lachish. NA₄.AN.ZA.GUL.ME “...”: See von Soden, ZA 45 (1939) p. 47; and Schuster-Brandis, AOAT 46 p. 273.
31Cf. the shorter list of payment sent by Hezekiah in the accounts of the third campaign in later prism inscriptions. For example, text no. 15 iv 9´ and text no. 22 iii 45 have mim-ma šum-šú ni-ṣir-tu ka-bit-tu “every kind of valuable treasure” in lieu of lu-bul-ti bir-me ... šá ni-ba la i-šu-ú “garments with multi-colored trim ... which were without number.”
32DUMU.MUNUS.MEŠ-šú “his daughters”: So exs. 2–5 and 54. Ex. 1 has MUNUS.DUMU-šú “his daughter.”
33Similar passages appear in several prism inscriptions. Cf., for example, text no. 15 v 10–17 and text no. 16 v 33–40 which record that Sennacherib collected 20,000 archers and 15,000 shield bearers.
34ma-ḫa-za-ni-ia “my cult centers”: Ex. 2 has ma-ḫa-ze-ni-ia.
35The building report of this inscription and that of text no. 3 are near duplicates, apart from orthographic variants. Major variants and additions appear in lines 65, 69, 73, 77–78, 80, 84, and 90–92. See the on-page notes to those lines.
36ma-ḫa-zu “cult center”: The master line follows exs. 4, 52, and 58, which in turn follow text nos. 1–3. Exs. 1–3 and 5 have ma-ḫa-zi “my cult center.”
37šat-ti-šam “annually”: So exs. 3–5. Exs. 1–2 have šat-tú-šam. e-reb nar-ba-a-ti “an enormous income”: So exs. 1–3, 5, and 64; exs. 4 and 58 have e-reb la nar-ba-a-ti “an income unsurpassed in amount.”
38This inscription adds KUR.pi-liš-tu ù KUR.ṣur-ri “the land Philistia, and the land (of the city) Tyre” after KUR.ḫi-lak-ku “the land Ḫilakku”; cf. text no. 3 line 42.
39KUR.kal-di “Chaldea”: So exs. 2–5 and 58. Ex. 1 has URU.kal-di “the city Chaldea.” Ex. 63 omits this line.
401 ME 34 “134”: So exs. 1, 3–5, 51, and 65. Ex. 2 has 1 ME 84 “184.”
41pa-az-ru-ti “hidden”: Ex. 11 has ⸢nak-mu-ti⸣ “mounded”; this follows text no. 3 line 46.
421.KÙŠ AS₄.LUM “by the aslu-cubit”: Text no. 3 line 50 has AS₄.LUM “by the aslu-cubit.” 1 ME 76 “176” and 2 ME 68 “268”: Cf. text no. 3 line 50, which has 1 ME 62 “162” and 2 ME 17 “217.” mé-eḫ-ret za-me-e at-man-ni ku-tal diš-tar “opposite the zamû-wall of the shrine behind (the temple of) the goddess Ištar”: This information is added after SAG.KI MURUB₄-ti in this inscription to differentiate the “inner, shorter side” from the “other, parallel, inner shorter side” in line 78.
43The building accounts of text no. 2 and text no. 3 do not include the measurement of the “other, parallel, inner shorter side”; see text no. 2 lines 50–51 and text no. 3 lines 50–51. ziq-qur-rat “ziggurrat”: So exs. 3–6, 11, 63, and 65; exs. 1–2 have ziq-rat.
44ki-is-su-ú-šu “its base”: Text no. 3 line 52 has a-sur-ru-šu “its damp course.”
45This inscription adds alabaster (NA₄.GIŠ.NU₁₁.GAL) and daprānu-juniper to the list of materials used in the construction of the palace; cf. text no. 3 line 56.
46ak-kul-la-a-ti “picks”: So exs. 1–2 and 4–5. Exs. 3, 11, and 75 have ak-kul-la-te/tiAN.BAR “iron picks.”
47ú-šá-an-dil-ma “I broadened”: Exs. 1–2 have ú-šá-na-dil-ma. M. Worthington (Textual Criticism p. 123) suggests that this spelling originates in a misreading of dil as aš, with hypercorrection of the perceived ú-šá-an-aš-ma to ú-šá-na-aš-ma.
48KÁ.GAL MURUB₄ URU “the Citadel Gate”: For a suggested identification of this gate, see Scott and MacGinnis, Iraq 52 (1990) p. 67. With regard to lines 90–92, these two short passages may have been composed anew for this inscription.
49ú-šaṭ-ṭir-ma “I inscribed and”: So exs. 1, 3, and 5. Exs. 2, 4, and 9 have ú-šá-áš-ṭir-ma “I had inscribed and.”
Created by A. Kirk Grayson, Jamie Novotny, and the Royal Inscriptions of the Neo-Assyrian Period (RINAP) Project, 2012. Lemmatized by Jamie Novotny, 2011. The annotated edition is released under the Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike license 3.0. Please cite this page as http://oracc.org/rinap/Q003478/.