Shalmaneser

Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, besieged Samaria and conquered the northern kingdom of Israel, exiling its inhabitants and ending the kingdom's existence.

Shalmaneser, also referred to as Shalman, was an Assyrian king mentioned in 2Ki.17.3, 2 Kings 2Ki 18:9, and Hos 10:14. He played a significant role in the history of the northern kingdom of Israel. During the reign of Hoshea, the last king of Israel, Shalmaneser attacked the kingdom and forced Hoshea to become his vassal. However, when Hoshea conspired against Shalmaneser by seeking help from Egypt, the Assyrian king besieged Samaria, the capital of Israel. After a three-year siege, Shalmaneser captured the city and exiled the Israelites to various parts of the Assyrian empire, effectively ending the northern kingdom. The conquest of Israel by Shalmaneser fulfilled the prophetic warnings of judgment against the nation for their persistent idolatry and disobedience to God. In Hos 10:14, the prophet likens the destruction that would come upon Israel to the devastation caused by Shalman, possibly referring to Shalmaneser's campaign against Samaria.

An Assyrian king (Hos. 10:14), identified with Shalmaneser II. (Sayce) or IV. (Lenormant), the successor of Pul on the throne of Assyria (B.C. 728). He made war against Hoshea, the king of Israel, whom he subdued and compelled to pay an annual tribute. Hoshea, however, soon after rebelled against his Assyrian conquerer. Shalmaneser again marched against Samaria, which, after a siege of three years, was taken (2 Kings 17:3-5; 18:9) by Sargon (q.v.). A revolution meantime had broken out in Assyria, and Shalmaneser was deposed. Sargon usurped the vacant throne. Schrader thinks that this is probably the name of a king of Moab mentioned on an inscription of Tiglath-pileser as Salamanu.