On a black alabaster monument, now in
the British Museum, are what are
probably the final editions of the
annals of Shalmaneser III. The famous
black obelisk comes from the central
building at Nimrud (Calhu) and is
inscribed on all four sides with the
record of the king's military
achievements from the year of his
accession to the thirty-first year. In
addition to this inscription there are
twenty small l reliefs, with
annotations, depicting the payment of
tribute of five conquered regions. Among
those who prostrate themselves before
the great king is Jehu, king of Israel.
In the first year of my reign I crossed
the Euphrates at its flood. I washed my
weapons in the sea; I offered sacrifices
to my gods. I climbed Mount Amanus; i
cut cedar and cypress timbers. I climbed
Mount Lallar and there I set up my royal
image. (558)
Campaign against Ahuni and Til-Barsip
In my second year I drew near to
Til-Barsip. The cities of Ahuni, son of
Adini, I captured. I shut him up in his
city. I crossed the Euphrates at its
flood; I captured Dabigu, a fortified
city of Hatti, together with all the
cities in the neighborhood. (559)
Campaign against Ahuni and return to
Assyria
In the third year of my reign, Ahuni,
son of Adini, took fright before my
mighty weapons and forsook Til-Barsip,
his royal city. I crossed the Euphrates.
The city of Ana-Assur-utir-asbat, that
lies on the other side of the Euphrates,
on the Sagur River, which the Hittite
people call Pitru, I seized for myself.
(560)
Defeat and Capture of Ahuni
At that time I departed from Nineveh,
crossed the Euphrates at its flood,
pursued Ahuni, the son of Adini. He made
Shitamrat, a mountain peak which is on
the west bank of the Euphrates ,his
stronghold. The mountain peak I stormed
and captured. Ahuni, together with his
gods, his chariots, his horses, his
sons, his daughters, his troops I
carried off and brought them to my city
Assur. (561)
March to the source of the Tigris
I advanced to the source of the Tigris,
where the waters gush forth. The weapon
of Assur, my lord, I washed in those
waters. I offered sacrifices to my gods.
I spread a gladsome banquet. I fashioned
a heroic image of myself. The glory of
Assur, my lo;rd, every one of my brave
deeds which I performed in different
lands, I wrote upon that stele and I set
it up there. (564)
Campaign against Carchemnish
In the tenth year of my reign I crossed
the Euphrates for the eighth time. The
cities of Sangars of Carchemish I
captured. I drew near the cities of
Arame. (567)
To Mount Amanus
In the seventeenth year of my reign I
crossed the Euphrates. I went up to
Mount Amanus; I cut cedar timbers. (574)
In my nineteenth year I crossed the
Euphrates for the eighteenth time. I
went up to Mount Amanus. I cut cedar
timbers. (576)
To Mount Taurus
In my twenty-second year i crossed the
Euphrates for the twenty-second time. I
advanced to Mount Taurus, the silver
mountain and Mount Muli, the marble
mountain. (580)
Campaign against Urartu
In my twenty-seventh year I sent my
turtan, Daian-Assur to campaign against
Urartu once again. (584)
Year 31, The Great Revolt Begins
Daian-Assur iat the head of the Assyrian
army is sent all about the empire to
collect tribute and taxes from the
king's vassals probably because the king
is too old and weak to go himself.
Urartians Persians, men of the
Mediterranean coast are mentioned as
defeated and paying tribute. Under the
engravings on the black obelish in the
British Museum are the following
captions: The reference to Jehu is the
first reference in Assyrian texts to a
known biblical king.
Tribute of Sua, the Gilzanite; Silver,
gold, lead, copper vessels, staves for
the hand of the king, horses, camels
whose backs have two humps I received
from him. (588)
Tribute from Jehu, son of Omri. Silver,
gold, a golden bowl, a golden beaker,
golden goblets, pitchers of gold, lead,
staves for the hand of the king,
javeling, I received from him. (589)