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ESARHADDON

(Heb. ʾēsar-ḥaddôn;
Akk. Aššur-aḫḫa-iddina)

King of Assyria (680-669 b.c.). Following the murder of his father Sennacherib (2 Kgs. 19:37 = Isa. 37:38), Esarhaddon was immediately confronted with a rebellion which he quelled after six weeks. After restoring Babylon, which his father had destroyed, he turned his attention to the affairs in the west in Syro-Palestine and Egypt. Continuing Sennacherib’s policies, he collected heavy tribute from vassal kings in Syro-Palestine, including the rulers of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon. He also required them to send building materials to Assyria and Babylonia. Israelite king Manasseh may have been transported to Babylon as well, which may explain the account in 2 Chr. 33:11. Late in his reign Esarhaddon required all vassals (likely including Manasseh) to sign a treaty ensuring the orderly succession of his son Assurbanipal.

Since Egypt was still a threat to seize control of the Levantine coast from the Assyrians, Esarhaddon, after a brief failure, became the first Assyrian king to enter and conquer Egypt (671). Esarhaddon’s annals give a detailed description of the capture and looting of Memphis, the primary Egyptian city. Soon after the Assyrian king left, the Egyptians under Taharqa revolted, thereby precipitating another campaign by Esarhaddon, who died, however, before he was able to return.

Although not mentioned in the Assyrian annals, there is evidence that Esarhaddon sent deportees into Judah. According to Ezra 4:2, during the Achaemenid period (mid-5th century) the enemies of Judah asked to help the returned exiles in rebuilding the temple, since they had been sacrificing to God “ever since the days of King Esarhaddon of Assyria who had brought us here.” It seems probable that this deportation may have come about because of Sennacherib’s major campaign in the west (ca. 701) and continued during the reign of Esarhaddon.

Bibliography. S. Parpola, Letters from Assyrian Scribes to the Kings Esarhaddon and Assurbanipal II. AOAT 5/2 (Kevelaer, 1983); D. J. Wiseman, The Vassal-Treaties of Esarhaddon. Iraq 20 (1958): 1-99.

Mark W. Chavalas

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

ESARHADDON

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)