banks of the Euphrates. The name, which means "a ford," is so general that it may have attached to

other places. At the same time it should be remembered that about that period Assyria had fallen

into a state of great weakness.

** Such horrors were not unheard of on the part of Israel though only too common in heathen

warfare (2 Kings 8:12; Hosea 13:16; Amos 1:13).

Leaving aside, for reasons already indicated, questions of chronology, the Assyrian monuments

enable us more clearly to understand the Biblical account of the relations between Menahem and

his eastern suzerain (2 Kings 15:19, 20). Thus we learn that after a period of decadence which may

account fo r the independent progress of Jeroboam II., perhaps even for the occupation of Tiphsah

by Menahem, a military adventurer of the name of Pul, apparently sprung from the lower orders,

seized the crown of Assyria, and assumed the title of Tiglath-pileser II.*

* The identity of the Biblical Pul with Tiglath-pileser II. has, we believe, been lately proved

beyond the possibility of doubt. On the subject generally, comp. Sayce, Fresh Light from the

Ancient Monuments, pp. 125-131; Schrader, u.s., and the article by the same writer in Riehm's

Hand-W. p. 1664, etc.

The first monarch of that name, five centuries earlier, had founded the power of Assyria, which

was now to be re -established. In the very year of his accession he vanquished and impaled the king

of Babylon, and henceforth himself assumed that title. Two years later he turned his armies to the

west, and after a siege of three years took the Syrian city Arpad, in the neighborhood of Hamath,

and not far from Damascus* (comp. Isaiah 10:9, 36:19; 2 Kings 18:34; Jeremiah 49:23).

* About three hours north of Aleppo. Its possession did not, however, become permanent till the

time of Sennacherib.

Without following his further military expeditions it may suffice to state that three years later (in

the eighth year of his reign), he is described on the monuments as receiving the tribute of

Menahem of Israel, among those of other vassal kings. The shattering of the power of the Syrian

confederacy and the occupation of Hamath fully explain the Biblical notice of the advance of Pul

or Tiglath-pileser II. into the northern kingdom. His progress was for the time arrested by the

submission of Menahem, and his payment of an annual tribute of 1,000 talents of silver, or about

375,000 pounds, which the king of Israel levied by a tax of 50 shekels, or about. 6 pounds 5

shillings. on all the wealthier inhabitants of his realm. This would imply that there were 60,000

contributors to this tax, a large figure, indicating at the same time the wide prosperity of the

country, and the extent of the burden which the tribute must have laid on the people. On these hard

conditions Menahem was "confirmed" in "the kingdom" by the Assyrian conqueror* Menahem

was succeeded in the kingdom by his son Pekahiah, whose reign, of a character similar to that of

his father,** lasted only two years. He fell the victim of another military conspiracy headed by

Pekah, the son of Remaliah,*** probably one of the captains of the king's bodyguard.

* The account which we have given is confirmed by the refere nce to, "the burden" or tribute of

"the king of princes" the king of Assyria, Hosea 8:10. Some writers have regarded this event as

forming the subject of the prophecy in Amos 7:1-3.

** According to Josephus he "followed the barbarity of his father" (Ant. ix. 11, 1).

*** Some critics have supposed that his low birth is indicated by his designation as simply "the

son of Remaliah" in Isaiah 7:4, 5, 9; 8:6.

As we interpret the narrative (2 Kings 15:25), the king of Israel had surrounded himself with a

bodyguard, such as that which of old had been formed by King David. The name of Pekahiah's

father: "Menahem, the son of Gadi" (2 Kings 15:17), seems to indicate that he was descended