The ancient empire of Assyria, if it ever existed, be ing overturned in this manner, three kingdoms are said to have arisen out of its ruins. Arbaces ascended the throne of Media ; Belesis was rewarded with the king dom of Babylon ; and Pul was acknowledged as monarch of Assyria. Without vouching for the truth of this di vision, we have no hesitation in asserting, that what re mains of the'Assyrian history is entitled to belief ; and, if we could add any authority to the opinion of those who maintain that Pul laid the foundation of the As syrian dynasty, we would willingly grant them our suf frage. Though doubts may be entertained with respect to the manner in which Pul acquired the sceptre, yet we are certain that it was in his hand about 771 years before Christ. It is probable that he entered into an al liance with the Syrians, or reduced them to submission, as he must have marched through their country to in vade Israel, which he did under the usurpation of Me nahem. Menahem was allowed to retain the nominal sovereignty of Israel, by yielding to the invader 1000 ta lents of silver, and the independency of his kingdom. Pul returned to his own country, after extending his fame, and perhaps his dominions, by the submission of stye.
ral nations upon his march. It has beep said, but with out any certain foundation, that Jonah was sent to preach repentance to Nineveh under his reign. Having given the sovereignty of Babylon to his youngest son Nabo nassar, he died, and left his Assyrian dominions to his elder son Tiglath-pileser.
Tiglath-piieser not only succeeded to his throne, but to his designs. He invaded the kingdom of Israel un der the reign of Pekah, overran its northern provinces, and carried captive to Assyria, the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulon, witn part of the descendants of Manasseh, Reuben, and Gad. Pekah afterwards joined in alliance with Rezin, king of Syria, and, at the head of the con federate army, invaded the territories of Ahaz, king of Judah. Ahaz, dreading the power of his enemies, pilla ged the temple of its gold and silver, which, with the treasure of his palace he sent to purchase the aid of Tigiath-pileser. Induced by the presents and submission of Ahaz, the Assyrian king invaded the dominions of Rezin, took Damascus, carried its inhabitants to Kir, slew the vanquished monarch, and, fulfilling the predic tions of Isaiah and Amos, put an end to that ancient kingdom. But in the midst of his victorious career he died, and was succeeded by Shalmaneser, his son.
Shalmaneser prosecuted the war which his father had begun, invaded the territories of Hoshea king of Israel, reduced Samaria, and imposed an annual tribute upon that kingdom. Hoshea, however, soon aspired at his former independence, and, for this purpose, entered into an alliance with Sabacus, an Ethiopian, who in scripture is called So, and who had made himself master of Egypt. A refusal to pay the annual tribute was looked upon as a declaration of war. Shalmaneser, with a powerful ar my, advanced to punish his presumption, and, having conquered all the country, besieged the king in Samaria. The valour of its inhabitants defended the city for three years ; but the power and perseverance of the Assyrians at last prevailed. Samaria was taken ; Hoshea was thrown into chains and into prison ; the inhabitants were transported to Media ; their place was supplied by a colony from Babylon ; and the kingdom of Israel, and of the ten tribes, which had existed about 250 years after its separation from Judah, may now be said to be brought to an end. The fate of Hoshea did not intimidate Hezeki
ah, king of Judah. No sooner did he ascend the throne, than he refused to pay the tribute which his father Ahaz had paid, and set at defiance the Assyrian power. The time for asserting the independence of his country was chosen with the most consummate wisdom. Shalmane ser was then engaged in war with Elulmus king of Tyre. Several Phoenician cities which had belonged to the Ty rians having revolted, submitted to Shalmaneser, and claimed his protection. But the Tyrian fleet joined battle with the combined squadrons of Assyria and Phoe nicia, gained a complete victory, and convinced Shal maneser that it was vain to contend with his enemies by sea. Turning therefore the siege of Tyre, which he had begun, into a blockade, he retired into his own do minions; and though the city was reduced to the great est difficulties, yet at the end of five years it was deliv ered from impending ruin by the death of Shalmaneser.
His son Sennacherib, who in scripture is also called Sargon, succeeded him, and resolved to punish Heze kiah for the insult which he had offered to his father's authority. For this purpose, with a mighty army, lie in vaded the land of Judah, besieged Lachish, and threat ened, after the reduction of that city, to invest Jerusa lem itself. Hezekiah, dreading his power, sent him a submissive embassy ; and by paying 300 talents of silver and 30 talents of gold, purchased an insidious and an in glorious peace. No sooner had Sennacherib received the money, than, disdaining his oaths and engagements, he prosecuted the war with as much vigour as if no treaty had been made, and sent three of his generals, and a powerlul army, to besiege Jerusalem. But being in formed that Tirhakah, king of Ethiopia, joined by the power of Egypt, was advancing to assist Hezekiah, he marched to meet the approaching enemies, defeated them in battle, ravaged their country, and returned with the spoil to finish the siege of Jerusalem. Whilst the distress and piety of Hezekiah implored the assistance of God, the insolence and blasphemy of Sennacherib drew down his vengeance ; and, in fulfilment of Isaiah's prophecy, the sacred historian informs us, that the an gel of the Almighty slew in one night 185,000 of the Assyrian army. Overwhelmed with this destruction, he returned into his own dominions; and enraged with shame and disappointment, not only with the ruin of his army, but also with the defection of Media, which seems to have thrown off his yoke at this favourable time, he exercised the greatest cruelty to his own subjects, but especially to the Israelites, who had been carried cap tive into that country. His tyranny roused the indigna tion of his own family ; and, as the prophet had foretold, two of his sons, Adrammeleeh and Sharazer, slew him while he was at his devotions in the temple of his god Nisroch, and Esar-haddon, his third son, reigned in his stead.