Last Wednesday my son, Silas Augustus Liam Dulle was born into this world weighing 8 lbs 4.5 oz, and stretching out to 21″ long. Give him a few years, and he’ll be blogging on this site alongside his daddy!
Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011
Daily Archive
August 2, 2011
August 2, 2011
Biblical Archaeology 8: The Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser
Posted by Jason Dulle under Archaeology1 Comment
1 Kings 19:15-16 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came and then head for the Desert of Damascus. Go and anoint Hazael king over Syria. 19:16 You must anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to take your place as prophet.
2 Kings 10:36 Jehu reigned over Israel for twenty-eight years in Samaria.
In 1846 archaeologists discovered a black basalt, four-sided obelisk measuring 6’5” in Kalhu, Iraq (modern Nimrud). This was the site of the ancient Assyrian capital. The obelisk was erected as a public monument in 825 BC, glorifying Shalmaneser III’s (858-824 BC) military exploits over a period of 31 years. It contains a mixture of reliefs and inscriptions recording the conquests of Assyrian King Shalmaneser III. There are a total of 20 reliefs: five per side. Five different kings are pictured paying tribute to Shalmaneser: (1) Sua of Gilzanu; (2) ruler of Musri; (3) Marduk-apil-usur of Suhi; (4) Qalparunda of Patin. The fifth king is none other than King Jehu of Israel, who payed tribute to Shalmaneser in ~841 BC, approximately 10 years before Jehu’s reign ended. The inscription connected to the relief of Jehu reads, “The tribute of Jehu, son of Omri: I received from him silver, gold, a golden bowl, a golden vase with pointed bottom, golden tumblers, golden buckets, tin, a staff for a king [and] spears.” 
Thinking to Believe 