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Presumptive Research Chart of Integrated Assyrian, Egyptian and Judean History between 810 - 710 BC.

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The Political Background. The death of Tiglath-pileser and the succession of his son Shalmaneser V. in 727 BC prompted a rebellion in which Hoshea (732/31-723/22 BC: 2.Ki. 15:30) took part. When the Assyrian king conducted a campaign against Israel, "Hoshea became his vassal and rendered tribute." (2.Kings 17:3). This event must have taken place shortly after the ascent of Shalmaneser V and thus can be assumed to have figured in the year 727/26 BC. According to the account in 2.Kings 17:4 this situation did not last, "but withal the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea; for he had sent envoys to So King of Egypt, and brought not up tribute to the king of Assyria." A new campaign of Shalmaneser V against Samaria was the consequence of this breach of loyalty. Hoshea himself was taken prisoner and the land ravaged. Samaria was besieged for three years and was finally captured in 721 BC. (However, it is not entirely clear whether Samaria was conquered by Shalmaneser V at the very end of his reign or by his successor Sargon at the beginning of his rule, or else if the latter only claimed this accomplishment in his inscriptions.) The alleged conspiracy with Egypt can thus have taken place only in 724 BC. It was the time of Isaiah (ca. 740-690 BC), prophet of the Lord during the last five kings (Josiah 640-609; Jehoahaz 609; Jehoiakim 609-598; Jehoiachin 598-597; Zedekiah 597-586) of Judah but probably only a portion of the reign of Josiah. This "So, king of Egypt' mentioned above is generally considered to have been a ruler of some kind in the Nile valley. Some, looking around for a likely candidate according to conventional chronology, selected a person named `Sib'e, turtan of Egypt and later Shabaka. In revised chronology, however, he was Sheshonk III (lifespan(?) 762-722) of the 22nd Dynasty (rev. ca. 823-700 plus BC). There may have been a son of Sheshonk II by the name of Nemoreth to whom the shown golden bracelet belonged. The Biblical Application of Events. Isaiah, being a prophet, spoke of "the righteous man from the east" (Isa. 41:2) most often interpreted to have been Cyrus, King of Persia (558-529 BC). Isaiah, speaking of the Greatness of God in releasing Judah from their Babylonian Captivity (609-539 BC), speaks also of God's greatness in comparison to the idols and idolatry of Israel and Judah. Using the keyword "abominattion" the reader may trace the prevailing influences which shattered Israel and Judah by their persistent trampling of the God given influences of pure Jahwe worship vs idols, neglect and abuse of the order of worship in the Temple and the disregard of the Ten Commandment Law of God. Instead of worshipping the true God, the apostatizing factions in their worst form worshipped the sun, a by God created star, in an idolatrous, pagan manner. These ever escalating abominations of God's former people are traced in the Book of Isaiah, forbidden oblations (Is.1:13) the eating of flesh consecrated to idols (Is.44:19 and the eating of forbidden swine's flesh (Is.66:17). These abominations represented fallable man despising their Creator God and trading true faith for foolishness and degradation of the quality of life. These escalating practices led to serious events, the cutting off of the northern 10 tribes of Israel and later to the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and the 70 year Babylonian captivity of Judah. It is no light thing to deny the only true God in Heaven even today. Those who commit abominations today will experience the wrath of God just the same as the people of God did long ago. While God is infinitely patient, His judgments are a sure thing. In a small scale, which will ever increase as man behaves incorrigible , the wrath of God is starting to be poured out in our time. Damascus: Damascus and Hamath are spoken of as belonging to Judah in the time of King Uzziah of Judah, 2.Ki. 14:28. Affairs in Judah and Israel Isaiah 7:1ff tells us that a coalition of kings including Rezin of Damascus in Syria (ca. 750-731) and Pekah, son of Remaliah (2Kin. 15:25-37), king of Israel moved against Jerusalem. This became known as the Ephraimite war during the reign of Ahaz, king in Judah. This war ended without success for the attackers as predicted by Isaiah the prophet of God. Their sins had reached the ear of the Lord God and their probation was cut short when they kept despising the sanctuary, the law of God and the testimony of His prophets. Isa. 8:4 predicts that the riches of the king of Damascus and Samaria would be taken away. Was that fulfilled? Yes, around ca. 732/731 BC. Read in particular 2.Kings 16:9 and 15:29. First Olympia, true or not stated to have been held in 776 BC [Odyssey, May 2004, p. 14.]

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