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TheAssyrianInvasionsandDeportationsofIsrael,byJ.LlewellynThomas,
F.R.C.S.

DuringtheyearssinceJ.LlewellynThomaswroteTheAssyrianInvasionsand
DeportationsofIsraelopponentsoftheIsraelIdentityTruthcontinuetoproducethe
sameoutwornandfallaciousargumentsinoppositiontothefacts.Thomaslargely
basedhisconclusionsontheScripturesandancientinscriptionsfoundonAssyrian
monuments.However,hisscholarshipandresearchhasinrecentyearsbeen
incontestablycorroboratedbythetestimonyoftheclaycuneiformtabletsfound(in
1850A.D.)atNineveh,intheAssyrianRoyalLibraryofAshurbanipal.

Thecuneiformtablets,knownastheRoyalCorrespondenceoftheAssyrian
EmpireprovidedthelinksbetweenthesocalledLostTribesofIsraelandthe
ScythiansandCimmeriansfromwhommostoftheCaucasianinhabitantsofWestern
Europe,Scandinavia,BritainandAmericaaredescended.Atthetimeoftheir
translationin1930,therelevanceofthetabletstoIsraelwasoverlookedbecause
theywereincompletedisorderandamonghundredsofmiscellaneoustextsdealing
withmanymattersofstate.Contributingtothissituationwasthefactthatthe
AssyrianscalledtheIsraelitesbyothernamesduringtheircaptivity.

DefinitestatementsonthesubjectoftheDeportationoftheIsraelitesoftheNorthern
KingdomfromPalestineintoAssyriahavebeenmadebysomeeminentauthorities
oftheChurchofEngland.

TheydenythatIsraelwaseverentirelycarriedawayintocaptivityandstatethatthe
wholenationwasneverremovedoutoftheirland.Theyassertthatthoseofthe
captivitywerequiteinsignificantinnumber,thatthebulkofthenationremainedin
theirlandlongaftertheinvasions.

OthersholdthatitcanbedemonstratedfromScripturethattheentirenationof
ThirteenTribeswerecarriedawayoutofPalestineintoAssyria.

Thequestionatissueisofgreatimportance,andmustbesettledbyreferencetothe
HolyScriptures,thefinalCourtofAppealinallsuchmatters.

ThehistoriesofthekingdomsofIsraelandJudahwereseverallyrecordedineach
kingdombyitsStateRecorders.AswereadthroughtheSecondBookofKingswe
notethatafterthedeathofeachkingitisstatedthattheeventsarerecordedinthe
bookofthechroniclesofthekingsofIsraelorJudahasthecasemaybe.These
separatenationalchroniclesarenottobeconfusedwiththeFirstandSecondbookof
ChroniclesofourBible.

WhenthekingdomceasedtoexisttheseStateChroniclesnaturallycametoanend.
Anyrecordofsubsequenteventsmustofnecessitybebyotherhands,somescribe,
priestorprophetbuttheStateRecordceased.

TheDifferenceBetween

2Kingsand2Chronicles
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TheSecondBookofChroniclesdealssolelywiththehistoryofthekingdomof
Judah,andhasnothingtodowiththehistoryofIsrael,savewhereitaffectedJudah,
andthuscomesintothehistoryofJudah.

TheSecondBookofKingsontheotherhandisthehistoryofbothkingdoms.Itisa
combinationoftwoseparatehistories,excerptsfromtherecordsofthetwo
kingdoms.Itgivesanaccountofthereignofeachseveralkingsinonesectiona
mosaicofthedifferentreignsinthemoreorlesschronologicalorder.

EzraTheGreatEditor

ItseemsgenerallyagreedthatEzrathegreatscribeandpriest,whoreturnedtoJudea
withthesmallportionofthecaptivesofJudahfromBabylonaftertheseventyyears,
wastheeditorwhocompiledthesetwoseparatehistoriesintotheonehistoryaswe
haveitinourBibleastheSecondBookofKings.Thisheissupposedtohave
accomplishedprobablybefore536B.C.,thatisduringtheJudahcaptivityin
Babylon.

ThetaskofaninspirededitortomakeasinglehistoryoutoftheStateRecordsof
twoseparatenationswouldnotbeaneasyone.Hemighthaverewrittenthewhole
denovoinstrictchronologicalorderofeventsbutthiswouldnothavebeen
exactlytheworkofaneditor.Theworkratherconsistedinpiecingtogetherthe
portionsoftheoldrecords,withoutalteration,butwithanopportunityofadding
editorialremarkstoelucidatetheoriginaltexts,andoffinishingoffthestorybythe
additionofmuchlatereventsbearingonthesubject,andofgivingareviewofthe
history.

Thusarecordoftheentirereignofonekingisgiven,andtheentirehistoryofa
contemporaryorsubsequentkingoftheotherkingdomandthisevenwhenthe
eventsofthetworeignstookplaceatthesamedate.Inthiswaytheeventsofa
secondsectiondidnotnecessarilyhappenattheendoftheprevioussectionbutat
someearlierdate.Theordinaryreadermightwellthinkthatthesecondsectionwasa
strictcontinuation(inpointoftime)ofthepreviousone.Inotherwordstheevents
arenotnecessarilyarrangedinexactchronologicalorderthoughthereignsare.

ForexamplethereignsofHosheakingofIsraelandofHezekiahkingofJudahas
narratedin2Kings16and17weretoacertainextentcontemporary,yetthe
completehistoryofHosheaisgivenbeforethehistoryofHezekiahbegins.This
leadsonetoconcludethatallthedoingsofHezekiahsreignbeganaftertheendof
Hoseasreign,whereastheearlyeventsofHezekiahsreignhappenedwhenHoshea
ruledoverthekingdomofIsrael.Nottograspthissimplyfactistomisunderstand
thetruehistoryofthatperiod.Careisneededtonotethechronologicalorderofthe
events.Tothiswereferlater.

SourcesofOurKnowledge

oftheInvasionsandDeportations

TheaccountsoftheAssyrianinvasionsaregainedinthemainfromtheScriptures,
andalsofromtheAssyrianInscriptionsofthatperiod.

1).TheScriptureInformation.
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(a)ThisismainlyrecordedintheSecondBookofKingsundertheheadingsofthe
bookofthechroniclesofthekingsofIsrael,inChapters15,16and17.

(b)TherearereferencestothefallofSamariaandtoIsraelinthebookofthe
chroniclesofthekingsofJudahfoundin2Kings.

(c)TheFirstBookofchroniclesgivesanaccountofoneoftheinvasions.

(d)TheprophetsHoseaandIsaiahprophesiedaboutIsraelscaptivity:while
JeremiahgaveinformationofthepositionofIsraelinhisday.

Allthesepassageswillbeconsideredinduecourse.

2).TheTestimonyoftheMonuments.

ApartfromtheBiblethereareAssyrianinscriptionsconcerningtheinvasionsand
deportationsofIsraelbytheAssyriankings.Thesecuneiforminscriptionsmaybe
seenintheBritishMuseum,andwillbetouchedupontheyonlyconfirmthe
Scripturesandinnowaycontradictthem.

TheAssyrianInvasionsofIsraelalloccurredinthetimeofIsraelslastfourkings,
andculminatedinthedestructionofthekingdom.

ThestoryofthelaterkingsofIsraelisoneofconspiracy,assassinationand
usurpation.KingShallumhadmurderedhispredecessorZechariah,thelastkingof
Jehusdynastybutheenjoyedhisillgottenthroneforbutonemonthbeforehe
himselfwasassassinatedbyMenahem.Thiskingheldtheroyalpowerfortenyears,
andwassucceededbyhissonPakahiah,whoafterashortreignoftwoyearswas
murderedbyPekah.Pekahafterhehadreignedfortwentyyearswasmurderedby
Hoshea,whowasthelastofIsraelskingsintheHolyLand.

Theinvasionstookplaceinthereignsof:

Menahem

Pekah

Hoshea

TherewasnoinvasionduringPekhiahsshortreign.

Thebiblegivesfouraccountsoftheseinvasions.Threeofthemarefoundinthe
SecondBookofKings:

2Kings15:1920.

2Kings15:29.

2Kings17:36.
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andoneintheFirstBookofChronicles:

1Chronicles5:26.

Thelatterisanotheraccountoftheonementionedin2Kings15:29.Thuswehave
inall,fouraccountsofthreeinvasions.

ThenamesoftheinvadingEmperorsgiveninthesepassagesare:

Pul.

Tiglathpileser.

Shalmaneser.

PulwasthesamepersonasTiglathpileser,heassumedthenamewhichwasthatofa
famouspreviousemperor.(SeetheEncyclopediaBritannica)

TheBibledoesnotmentionSargonbynameinthisconnection:welearnhowever
fromsecularhistorythathewasthetartanofShalmanesersforces,andthathe
seizedthethroneuponthedeathofShalmaneser,whichoccurredtowardstheendof
thesiegeofSamariaandthatitwasactuallyhewhoeffectedthecaptureofthecity.
ThisfactwouldbeunknowntotheRecorderoftheIsraelchronicleswithinthe
beleagueredcity,ashedoesnotmentionthefact.

Wenowproceedtostudytheseinvasions.

TheFirstandSecondInvasions

AmongtheseveralpropheciesforetellingtheCaptivityofIsrael,twonotable
propheciesdemandspecialattention.TheyweremadebyHoseaandIsaiah.

HoseasProphecies

(a)TheFirstwasutteredonthebirthofhisfirstbornsonJezreel:

AndtheLordsaiduntohim,CallhisnameJezreelforyetalittlewhile,andIwill
avengethebloodofJezreeluponthehouseofJehu,andWILLCAUSETOCEASE
THEKINGDOMOFTHEHOUSEOFISRAEL.(Hosea1:4)

(b)TheSecondwasutteredonthebirthofhisonlydaughterLoRuhamah:

AndGodsaiduntohim,CallhernameLoRuhamahforIwillnomorehavemercy
uponthehouseofIsraelbutIWILLUTTERLYTAKETHEMAWAY.(Hosea
1:6)

TheFirstspeaksoftheFalloftheKingdom.

TheSecondspeaksoftheDeportationoftheNation.

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Nofixabledatesaregivenfortheseevents.Itisevidentthatthetwoeventswerenot
tobesynchronousthenationisnottobecarriedutterlyawayatthetimeofthefall
ofthekingdom.

IsaiahsProphecy

ThiswasspokenwhenPekahkingofIsraelwithRezinkingofSyriacontemplated
attackingAhazkingofJudah.

WithinthreescoreandfiveyearsshallEphraimbebrokenTHATITBENOTA
PEOPLE.(Isaiah7:8)

Here,fortunately,weareabletofixapproximatedates,forthesewordswereuttered
justbefore741B.C.AndwearetoldthatwithinsixtyfiveyearsIsraelwouldbe
brokensothatitwouldbenolongeraPeople,obviouslyaPeopleinPalestine.

ItsaysnothingaboutthecessationoftheKingdomintheland,butonlyofthe
cessationoftheNationthere.

HoseasLoRuhamahprophecyandIsaiahsThreeScoreandFiveYearsprophecy
describethesameeventtheyaresynchronousandrefertoacompletetransportation
oftheentirenationfromPalestine.

Sixtyfiveyearsfrom741wouldbeabout676B.C.,acrucialdatethehistoryof
Israelandonetobeborneinmind.

TheFirstInvasion

AsalreadystatedthefirstinvasionwasbyPul,Tiglathpileserinthereignof
Menahem(2Kings15:1920).OnlythenorthernoutskirtsofIsraelslandwere
invaded,whenMenahemboughtoffthekingofAssyriawithahugeransomoffour
thousandspoundsofsilver.Tiglathpileserthereuponretired,havingtaken
possessionofnoterritory,andhavingcarriedawaynocaptiveswithhim.

Thisfirstinvasionwasthereforebutalightafflictionascomparedwithwhatwasto
followlater.Itisusuallyignoredandnotreckonedaninvasionatallsinceitleftthe
kingdomintactasbefore.

TheBibleaccountisasfollows:

19).AndPulthekingofAssyriacameagainsttheland:andMenahemgavePula
thousandtalentsofsilver,thathishandmightbewithhimtoconfirmthekingdomin
hishand.

20).AndMenahemexactedthemoneyofIsrael,evenofallthemightymenof
wealth,ofeachmanfiftyshekelsofsilver,togivetothekingofAssyria.Sotheking
ofAssyriaturnedback,andstayednotthereintheland.(2Kings15:1920)

TheSecondInvasion

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TheSecondinvasionisrecordedin2Kings15:29.Thisoccurredinthereignof
Pekah,andwasprosecutedbyTiglathpileser.

Hereistherecord:

InthedaysofPekahkingofIsraelcameTiglathpileserkingofAssyria,andtook
Ijon,andAbelbethma'achah,andJonoah,andKedesh,andHazor,andGilead,and
Galilee,allthelandofNaphtali,andcarriedthemcaptivetoAssyria.

30AndHosheathesonofElahmadeaconspiracyagainstPekahthesonof
Remaliah,andsmotehim,andslewhim,andreignedinhisstead...(2Kings15:29
30)

CausesoftheInvasion

Whatwerethecircumstancesthatleduptothisinvasion?Towardstheendofhis
reignPekahinalliancewithRezin,kingofSyria,madeanattackuponJudah,2
Kings15:37,16:5andIsaiah7:2.AhazhadsucceededtothethroneofJudahonthe
deathofhisfatherJotham.Thesealliedkingsforsomereasonconceivedtheideaof
conqueringJudah,ofdethroningthenewkingAhaz,andofsettingthesonofTabeal
onthethroneofJudah.

ItwasatthistimethatthetermJewsfirstappearsintheBible,2Kings16:6.It
coveredallthepeopleofthekingdomofJudah,composedofthetribesofJudahand
BenjaminandalltheLevites,andnoothertribes.Thenextmentionofthename
JewoccursinthereignofHezekiah(sonofAhaz),whenSennacherib(sonof
Sargon)invadedJudah(2Kings18:26,28).(Andthefirsttimethewordis
mentioneditisaboutapeoplewhoareatwarwithIsrael)

TheprophetIsaiahassuredkingAhazthattheprojectofthesealliedkings,whomhe
designatedasthesesmokingfirebrands,wouldnotsucceed.Itwasonthisoccasion
thatheutteredthenotableprophecyagainstIsrael,statingthetimeofherdownfall.

WithinthreescoreandfiveyearsshallEphraimbebrokenthatitbenotapeople.
(Isaiah7:8)

Ahaz,inspiteoftheprophetsassurancethatthepurposeofthetwokingsshouldnot
standorcometopass,wasthoroughlyalarmed,andcalledinTiglathpilesertohis
assistance(2Kings16:7).HehumbledhimselfexceedinglyandsenttotheAssyrians
allthegoldandsilveronwhichhecouldlayhands.Tiglathpileserthereupon
marshaledhisforcesagainstSyriaandIsrael.HeconqueredSyriaandslewRezin,
andthenturneduponIsrael.

Hiscampaignisclearlyoutlinedintheaboveaccount.Heinvadedthenorthern
regionoftheland,comingdownsouthtotheleveloftheSeaofGalilee,wherehe
turnedeastwardsandinvadedtheeasternportionofIsrael,Transjordania,which
reachedsouthwardnearlytotheleveloftheDeadSea.Thiswastheextentofthe
secondinvasionofIsrael.Thedateofitwasabout741B.C.

ItisnoteworthythatthetribeofDanisnevermentionedintheseaccountswhilstthe
othertribesarenamed.ThenorthernDanitesshouldhavebeenthefirsttofeelthe
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Assyrianimpact.Theywerenotthere,andarebelievedtohavemigratedbyseato
avoidtheforeseenAssyrianmenace.

TheDeportationofCaptives

NowoccurredthefirstdeportationofIsraelfromtheconqueredregions.Thenumber
ofthecaptivestakenisnotmentioned.TheywereremovedtoAssyria:theirexact
locationisnottoldusinthisaccount,butfromtheparallelnarrativein1Chronicles
wefindthatitwastothesameregionswherethesubsequentdeportationswere
settled,namely,Hala,Habor,HaraandtheriverGozan.Itmusthavebeenagreat
hostfortheAssyriankinginhisInscriptionssays:Allofitspeopletogetherwith
theirgoodsIcarriedofftoAssyria.

TheParallelAccountof

TheSecondInvasion

Anotheraccountofthisinvasionisfoundin1Chronicles5:26:

26).AndtheGodofIsraelstirredupthespiritofPulkingofAssyria,andthespirit
ofTiglathpilsenerkingofAssyria,andhecarriedthemaway,eventheReubenites,
andtheGadites,andthehalftribeofManasseh,andbroughtthemuntoHalah,and
Habor,andHara,andtotheriverGozan,untothisday.

Fromthisaccountitmightappearthattheinvasionwasbytwoseparatekingsbutit
addsthathecarriedthemaway,showingthattheywereoneandthesameperson.
AsmentionedabovePulassumedthesecondname.

Thisnarrativementionsnonumberofthecaptives,buttheirpreciselocationin
Assyriaisgiven.Italsostatesthattheywerethereuntothisday,indicatingthatat
thetimeofwritingtheBookofChronicles,whichwaslongyearsafterthisevent,
thesecaptiveshadnotreturnedtoJudahwiththepartialreturnoftheJudeansfrom
theircaptivityinBabylonassomewouldfainhaveusbelieve.

InthesefirsttwoinvasionsofIsraelwerefulfilledIsaiahswords:

1).Neverthelessthedimnessshallnotbesuchaswasinhervexation,whenatthe
firsthelightlyafflictedthelandofZebulunandthelandofNaphtali,andafterward
didmoregrievouslyafflictherbythewayofthesea,beyondJordan,inGalileeof
thenations.(Isaiah9:1)

Attheendofthisinvasion,Pekah,kingofIsrael,wasmurderedbyHoshea,who
seizedthethrone.HosheawasrecognizedasthelawfulkingbyTiglathpileser,and
wasmadetopaytributetotheAssyrians.

AssyrianInscriptionsConcerning

TheSecondInvasion

InTheancientRecordsofAssyriaandBabylon,byD.D.Luckenbill,p.292,there

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aretwoinscriptionsgivenoftheinvasion:

Thecitiesof...Galaza,Abilkka,whichareontheborderofBitHumria...the
wholelandofNaphtali,initsentirety,IbroughtwithintheborderofAssyria.My
officialIsetoverthemasgovernor...

Andagain:

ThelandofBitHumria...allofitspeopletogetherwithalltheirgoodsIcarriedoff
toAssyria.Pakahatheirkindtheydeposed,andIplacedAusiasking.Tentalentsof
gold,tentalentsofsilver,astheirtributeIreceivedfromthem,andtoAssyriaI
carriedthem.

PakahawastheAssyrianforPekah,andAusiforHoshea.Theseinscriptionsareof
valuebecausetheycompletelycorroboratethestatementsofGodsWord.

ItisobviousthatneithertheJezreelnortheLoRuhamahpropheciesofHoseawere
fulfilledatthistime:norwasIsaiahsThreeScoreandFiveYearsprophecyfulfilled
now,infactithadonlyjustbeenuttered.

TheThirdInvasion

TheThirdInvasionofIsraelwasbytheEmperorShalmaneser,whosecommander
inchiefwasSargon.IttookplaceinthesixthyearofHoshea.

TherearesomewhosuggestthatShalmanesermadetwoinvasions.Thefirstofthese
mentionedin2Kings17:3,whereitsays:

3).AgainsthimcameupShalmaneser,kingofAssyria,andHosheabecamehis
servant,andgavehimpresents.

Thesecondinverse5ofthesamechapter:

5).ThenthekingofAssyriacameupthroughoutalltheland,andwentupto
Samariaandbesiegeditthreeyears.

Whateverthetruthmaybeconcerningthispoint,itisthesocalledsecondonethatis
ofsupremeimportance,andthefirstisignoredbyall,andbotharegenerally
regardedasonlyone.

ThisthirdInvasionwasmostdisastrous,foritterminatedthekingdomofIsraelin
Palestine.Hereisthewholeaccountofit:

2Kings17:35:

3).AgainsthimcameupShalmaneserkingofAssyriaandHosheabecamehis
servant,andgavehimpresents.

4).AndthekingofAssyriafoundconspiracyinHoshea:forhehadsentmessengers
toSokingofEgypt,andbroughtnopresenttothekingofAssyria,ashehaddone
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yearbyyear:thereforethekingofAssyriashuthimup,andboundhiminprison.

5).ThenthekingofAssyriacameupthroughoutalltheland,andwentupto
Samaria,andbesiegeditthreeyears.

Thiscampaignbeganabout723B.C.,andendedin721.

TherefusalofHosheatocontinuetopaytoShalmanesertheannualtributeexacted
byAssyriawasthecauseofthisinvasionandtothiswasaddedthefactthatHoshea
hadappealedtoEgyptforassistanceaveryseriousmatterforAssyrianambitions
andforeignpolicy.ShalmanesersomehowmadeHosheaaprisoner,andbegan
hostilities.Heoverranthelandandlaidsiegetothecapital.Itisstrangetorealize
thatduringthiscampaignthekingofIsraelwasaprisonerinthehandsoftheenemy.

Whetherothercitiesweretaken,andcaptivescarriedawayisnotrecordedinthe
BiblesucheventswouldnotbeknowntotheStateRecordershutupinthe
beleagueredcapital.Therearenomonumentalrecordsofthecampaignby
Shalmaneserextant.Itissaidthatallsuch,ifany,weredestroyedbySargon:butthis
osnotrelevanttooursubject.

Sayceinhisbook,Assyria,itsPrinces,PriestsandPeople,p.48,showsthat
Shalmaneserdied,orwasmurdered,ayearbeforeSamariafell,andthatitwas
Sargonwhoactuallycompleteditsreduction.ThisfactisnotrecordedintheBible
forthesimplereasonthattheStateRecorderofIsrael,shutupinSamaria,wouldnot
havebeenawareofsuchevents,andwouldhavenoopportunityofwritingthem
afterthefallofthecity,becausehe,withalltheofficialsandinhabitants,wascarried
awaycaptivetoAssyria.Forthesamereasonhecouldnothaverecordedtheactual
fallofthecity,orstatethenumberofthecaptivescarriedawayintoAssyria,ortheir
locationinthatland.Allsuchinformationmustcomefromothersources.

TheDeportation,TheOrthodoxView

Fromreading2Kings17ithasbeenuniversallyunderstood(1)thattheIsraelites
werealldeportedafterthefallofSamariatoAssyria:

(2)thattheentirenationwasthenremovedoutofGodssightbecauseitstatesthat
onlyJudahwasleftbehindintheland:

(3)thatShalmaneserwastheAssyriankingwhoperformedthiswholesale
deportation:

(4)thatitwasShalmaneserwhobroughtinallthevariousGentile(nonIsraelite)
tribesmentionedinverse24torepopulatethelandthusdenudedofIsraelites.

ObjectionstotheOrthodoxView

Thesepointsneedcarefulexamination.Againstthesecommonlyheldviewsthere
areseveraladverseconsiderations.

A).IfIsraelwasindeedentirelyremovedfromthelanduponthefallofSamaria,
theThreeScoreandFiveYearsprophecybyIsaiahentirelyfailedandwasnot
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true.In721B.C.,whenSamariafell,onlytwentyofthesixtyfiveyearshadelapsed,
therewereyetanotherfortyfivetorunbeforeEphraimshallbebrokenthatitbe
notapeople.HenceitisevidentthatIsraelatthistimewasnotentirelycastoutof
Palestine.

B).ShalmanesercouldnothavebeentheAssyriankingwhoeffectedthewholesale
deportationofIsrael.He,aswehaveseen,diednthethirdyearofthesiege,hedid
notlivetoseetheendoftheinvasionortoreturntoAssyria.Itseemsimpossible
thathecarriedawayanycaptivesatall.

C).MuchlesscouldhehavebroughtinthoseGentile(nonIsraelite)hordesintothe
landofIsrael.TheBibledoesnottellwhothekingofAssyriawaswhodidthis
fillingofthelandwiththesealiens.Ithasbeenpresumedthatitwasthekingwhose
nameislastmentionedinthechapter,namelyShalmaneser,butthisisagratuitous
assumptionwithoutfoundation.

InallfairnessitshouldherebementionedthatJosephusstatesthatitwas
Shalmaneserwhodidallthis.InhisAntiquitiesBook9andChapter13,hewrites:

ThisconquestprovedwhollydestructiveofthekingdomofIsrael,Hoseabeing
madeaprisoner,andhissubjectsbeingtransplantedtoMediainPersia,andreplaced
bypeoplewhomShalmanesercausedtoberemovedfromtheborderofChuthah,a
riverinPersiaforsettinginthelandofSamaria.

Shalmaneser,hadhenotdied,couldnothavemovedIsraelintoMedia,because
MediaatthattimedidnotbelongtotheAssyrianempire:itwasonlyconqueredand
takenbyAssyriasomeyearslater,whereuponmanyoftheIsraelcaptiveswere
removedthitherasattestedbytheinscriptionsofSargon.

Josephustakestheprevalentviewandputsanametotheunnamedkingof
Assyria.

DeportationbySargon

Ithasbeenarguedthat,ifitwerenotShalmaneserwhoeffectedthesechanges,it
wasSargonhissuccessor,whodidsoandthathewastheunnamedkingof
Assyriaofverse24.ItwasSargonwhocapturedSamariawhetherhedestroyedthe
cityisnotstated,heprobablydidnotbutthecitydoesnotseemtobementioned
againafterthatdate.

Sargon,however,wasnotthekingwhoremovedtheentirenationofIsraelfrom
Palestine.Hehimselfwitnessestothis.HestatesthatheremovedTHE
INHABITANTSofSamariatoAssyria,whichisaverydifferentmatterhegivesthe
numberofhiscaptivesas27,280persons,agoodlynumberconsideringthefighting
andthelengthofthesiege.HisInscriptionstates:

InthebeginningofmyreignthecityofSamariaIbesieged,Icaptured...27,280of
itsinhabitantsIcarriedaway.

ItisthereforecertainthatSargondidnotremovetheentirenation.Hewasnotthe
kingofAssyriawhoremovedIsraeloutofGodssight,andhewasnottheonewho
broughtinthemassoftheGentiles(nonIsraelites)mentionedinverse24.
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DidSargonbringinanyaliensatall?TheBiblegivesnoanswertothisquestion,but
suchwastheinvariablepracticeoftheAssyrianconquerors.Oneofhisinscriptions
tellsthathedidbringinforeigners,andreads:

TheconqueroroftheThamudites,theIbadidites,theMarsiminitesandthe
Khapaijans,theremainderofwhomwascarriedaway,andwhomhetransportedto
themidstofthelandofBethOmri.

Thisshowsthathedidso.Howgreatthisimportationwasdoesnottranspire.Were
theyonlyenoughtorepeoplethecityofSamariaormore?

Oncomparingthepeoplesmentionedwiththoseenumeratedin2Kings17:24,they
donotappeartobethesamepeoples,whichgoestoconfirmtheconvictionthatit
wasnotSargonwhoimportedthetribesmentionedinverse24,forthesecamefrom
Babylon,Cuthah,Ava,HamathandSepharvaim.ThesethekingofAssyriaplaced
inthecitiesofSamaria,andtheypossessedSamariaanddweltinthecitiesthereof.
NotethatSamariaherereferstothelandandnottothecityofSamaria.

AtthetimeofthecaptureofSamariatheJezreelprophecyofHoseaIwillcauseto
ceasethekingdomofthehouseofIsraelwasfulfilled.ButhisLoRuhamah
prophecy,Iwillutterlytakethemaway,wasnotyetfulfilled.NorwasIsaiahs
ThreeScoreandFiveYearsprophecyfulfilled:thefulfillmentwasduefortyfive
yearsfromthisdate.

TheLastEntryintheIsraelStateRecords

TheOfficialRecordsofthekingdomofIsraelceasedwiththefallofthekingdom.
WhatwasthelastentryintheRecords?Itwas2Kings17:5:

5).ThenthekingofAssyriacameupthroughoutalltheland,andwentupto
Samaria,andbesiegeditthreeyears.

Forreasonsalreadygiven,allthatfollowswasbyanotherhandatalaterdate.

ThestatementintheBibleconcerningthetakingofthecityisgiveninthenext
verse,andreads:

6).IntheninthyearofHosheathekingofAssyriatookSamaria,andcarriedIsrael
awayintoAssyria,andplacedtheminHalahandinHaborbytheriverofGozan,
andinthecitiesoftheMedes.

ThewordsandinthecitiesoftheMedesareimportantasindicatingthetimewhen
thesewordswerewritten.Theyprovethatthisversewasnotwrittenatthetimeof
thefallofSamariain721,butatearliestseveralyearsafterwards.Thecaptiveswere
notatonceputintothecitiesoftheMedes,forthesimplereasonthatMediain721
didnotbelongtotheAssyrians,buttheyweremovedthitherafterSargonhad
invadedandconqueredMedia.Thesewordswereprobablywrittenlongyears
afterwardsbyEzra.

AdditionalInformation
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Theversessubsequenttothisvers6donotcontinueanarrative:theydonottellthe
storyfollowingthefallofSamaria:theyarenotahistoryofthatperiod:theyproceed
togivearevieworsummaryofthewholehistoryofthekingdom,tellingofthesad
declensionofIsraelfromtheWorshipandLawsofYahweh.Theydonotreadlikea
recordmadeatthetimeofthefallofSamaria,butlikethoseofacommentatorofa
muchlaterperiod.Theyreview,fromareligiousstandpoint,theKingdomandthe
endofthekingdomlessPeople.

ThisReviewendsinthefollowingwords:

18).ThereforetheLORDwasveryangrywithIsrael,andremovedthemoutofhis
sight:therewasnoneleftbutthetribeofJudahonly.

19).AlsoJudahkeptnotthecommandmentsoftheLORDtheirGod,butwalkedin
thestatutesofIsraelwhichtheymade.

20).AndtheLORDrejectedalltheseedofIsrael,andafflictedthem,anddelivered
themintothehandofspoilers,untilhehadcastthemoutofhissight.

21).ForherentIsraelfromthehouseofDavidandtheymadeJeroboamthesonof
Nebatking:andJeroboamdraveIsraelfromfollowingtheLORD,andmadethem
sinagreatsin.

22).ForthechildrenofIsraelwalkedinallthesinsofJeroboamwhichhedidthey
departednotfromthem

23).UntiltheLORDremovedIsraeloutofhissight,ashehadsaidbyallhis
servantstheprophets.SowasIsraelcarriedawayoutoftheirownlandtoAssyria
untothisday.

Thisisamostimportantstatement.Fourpointsatleastcallforspecialnotice.

(1).TheexpressionremovedoutofHissightisconsidered,inthecaseofGods
chosenpeople,tomeanbeingcastoutoftheHolyLandonwhichtheeyesofthe
Almightyeverrested.ForwearetoldinDeuteronomy11:12:

12).AlandwhichtheLordthyGodcarethfor:theeyesoftheLordthyGodare
alwaysuponit,fromthebeginningoftheyearevenuntotheendoftheyear.

ThissameexpressionconcerningIsraelisusedbyJeremiahasawarningtothe
houseofJudah.ForwefindinJeremiah7:1215:

12).ButgoyenowuntomyplacewhichwasinShiloh,whereIsetmynameatthe
first,andseewhatIdidtoitforthewickednessofmypeopleIsrael...

14).ThereforewillIdountothishouse,whichiscalledbymyname,whereinye
trust,anduntotheplacewhichIgavetoyouandtoyourfathers,asIhavedoneto
Shiloh.

15).AndIwillcastyououtofmysight,asIhavecastoutallyourbrethren,eventhe

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wholeseedofEphraim.

(2)ItisquiteclearthatthesewordswereNOTwrittenuponthefallofSamaria
becauseofwhatissaidaboutJudah,thatJudahkeptnotthecommandmentsofthe
LordtheirGod.

ThiswerecognizewasnotruedescriptionofJudahattheperiodunder
consideration.HezekiahwaskingofJudahatthetime,andinnoreigndidJudahso
steadfastlykeepthecommandmentsofGod.NorwasittrueinthedaysofJosiah,
butitwasaverytruedescriptionofJudahafterthedeathofJosiah.Hencethis
statementwasmadelongyearsafter721.Thewholestatementpointstoitsbeingthe
wordofEzra.

(3)Thewords,SowasIsraelcarriedawayoutoftheirownlandtoAssyriaUNTO
THISDAY,alsomakesitcertainthatthisaccountwasnotwrittenuponthefallof
Samaria,forthesimplereasonthatIsraelwasnotallcarriedawayin721,forwe
readofaremnantinthelandaslateasthetimeofJosiah.Thereforeitcouldonly
havebeentrueafterthedaysofthatking.ThisagainpointstotheperiodofEzra.

(4)FromthispassageitisevidentthatbetweenthereignofJosiahandthetimeof
thisstatementtheentireIsraelpopulationhadbeencastoutoftheirownland.The
wordsadmitofnoalternative.

TheLord...removedthemoutofHissight...

UntilHehadcastthemoutofHissight...

UntiltheLordremovedIsraeloutofHissight...

Andtoleavenodoubtingastothemeaning:

THEREWASNONELEFTBUTTHETRIBEOFJUDAHONLY.

surelythisisconclusiveandfinal.

WhoshouldknowthesituationbetterthanEzra?Inthefaceofthisemphatic
pronouncementanypresentdayopinionsarevalueless.

ReferencetoIsrael

InTheJudahRecords

OurknowledgeoftheIsraelitesinthelandafterthefalloftheirkingdomisatbest
butscanty.WiththeextinctionofthekingdomtherewasanendofallStaterecords
thegovernmentandrulehadpassedintoAssyrianhands,andtherewasnoonein
Israeltowritethehistoryofthetributarypeople.Itcanonlybegainedeitherfrom
therecordsofthekingdomofJudah,orfromsecularhistoryoftheepoch.

ThekingdomofJudahcontinuedtoexistforahundredandthirtythreeyearsafter
thedownfallofthekingdomofIsrael.DuringthoselongyearsJudahsStateRecords
werecarefullykept,untilthiskingdominturnwasdestroyedin587B.C.Itisin
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theserecordsthatwemayexpecttofind,asweactuallydo,occasionalallusionsto
IsraelstillinthelandofSamaria,whichitmustberememberedhadthenbecomea
portionoftheAssyrianempire.Suchallusionsareonlymadeinsofarasthey
concernedtheJudahkingdom,theyarescantyenoughandinnowaypurporttobea
historyofIsrael.

ThereareatleastthreesuchreferencesintheBible:

(1)ThefirstisoneconcerningthesiegeandfallofSamaria,mentionedin2Kings
18:912,whereweareinformedthatthesiegebeganinthefourthyearofHezekiahs
reign,andthatthecitywascapturedinhissixthyear:andfurtherthatthecaptives
weretransportedtoAssyria.

(2)AsecondreferenceiscitedbyDr.Dimontfrom2Chronicles30and31as
evidencethatafterthefallofSamariathereweremanyIsraelitesleftintheirland
afterthedeportationbySargon.ThesechaptersgiveanaccountofthegreatPassover
heldinJerusalembyHezekiah,towhichheinvitedtheIsraelites,mostofwhom
rejectedtheinvitationwithscorn,whileverymanyacceptedandattendedtheFeast.

Thissocalledevidenceisexaminedfurtheron.

(3)AthirdallusionismadetotheremnantofIsraelstillfoundinthelandofSamaria
inthereignofJosiah,recordedin2Chronicles34.Thistellsofthereligiousrevival
broughtaboutbythisgodlyyoungkingofJudah,andofaPassoverhesubsequently
held,towhichheinvitedtheremnantofIsrael,whorespondedandattendedthe
feast.ThisisproofthatthereweresomeIsraelitesintheirownlandinthetimeof
Josiah.

ThiskingnotonlypurgedJudahofherheathenaltars,groves,highplacesand
moltenandcarvedimages,buthedidthesameworkinthelandofSamaria,territory
underAssyrianrule.ItseemsamazingthatakingofJudahwaspermittedtodoso.
TheAssyriangovernorprobablycaredlittlewhatwasdoneinreligiousmattersso
longasitdidnotaffecthisgovernmentandtribute.

ItisclearfromtheScripturesthattherewereIsraelitesintheirownlandlongafter
thefalloftheirkingdom,allofwhichisinstrictaccordwiththeprophecies.

ThisconcludesourstudyoftheInvasionsandDeportationsasrecordedinthe
Scriptures.Thereisyetanotherinvasionanddeportationtobeconsideredwhichis
notfullytoldintheBible.

TheFourthInvasion

ThisFourthInvasionisnotgivenintheSecondBookofKings.Itisbrieflytoldin
theSecondBookofChronicles,which,asalreadystated,dealsonlywiththehistory
ofJudah.TheBibledoesnotdefinitelytellusoftheeffectithaduponIsrael.The
Israelitesnaturallycouldgivenoaccountofitthemselves.

EsarHaddonsInvasionofPalestine

TheinvadingkingwasEsarHaddon.ThoughhisnameisnotgivenintheScripture

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narrativeweknowfromAssyrianinscriptionsthathewastheemperorwhomadethe
invasion,whichcanbereadintheEncyclopediaBrattanica.

ThisinvasionofPalestinewasbutapartinthegreatcampaign.Ittookplaceabout
676B.C.,atimewhentheIsraelnationhadnokingoftheirown,infact,itwas
fortyfiveyearsafterthefallofSamariawhenthekingdomceased.Duringthese
yearsIsraelhadbeenruledbyanAssyriangovernor.

ItmayhardlybecorrecttospeakofitasaninvasionofIsrael.Itwasreallyan
invasionofJudah,whohadhithertowithstoodtheeffortsofAssyriatosubduehere.

APreviousInvasionofJudah

ItwillberememberedthatSennacherib,somesevenyearsafterthefallofSamaria,
hadmadeagreatefforttoconquertheJudahkingdom,butJudahatthelastmoment
wassavedbythedirectinterpositionofYahweh.ForthoughSennacheribdevastated
Judea,tookfencedcitiesandcarriedawayagreathostofcaptives,yethewasnot
abletocaptureJerusalem.HewascompelledtoretiretoAssyriawithadepleted
armythathadwellnightbeenannihilatedbyadevastatingplague,thuswasJudah
deliveredoutofthehandofAssyria,andherterritoryremainedintact.

TheSennacheribinscriptionsassertthathetookfortysixfencedcitiesandremoved
some200,150captives,whomheplacedinthesameregionswhitherthecaptivesof
Israelhadallbeentransportedbypreviousemperors.ThustothecaptivesofIsrael
wereaddedagreatnumberfromthetribesofJudah,BenjaminandoftheLevites.

EsarHaddon,however,nowsucceededindoingwhathisfatherhadfailedtodo.He
conqueredJudea,andtookManassehanditskingcaptiveandsenthimawaya
prisonerinchainstoBabylon.Thebriefnarrativeisin2Chronicles33:11:

11).WhereforetheLORDbroughtuponthemthecaptainsofthehostofthekingof
Assyria,whichtookManassehamongthethorns,andboundhimwithfetters,and
carriedhimtoBabylon.

HereagainwehaveanotherversethatspeaksofaKingofAssyriawithoutthe
mentionofhisname.ButfromsecularhistoryweknowthatitwasEsarHaddon.

InhiscaptivityManassehrepentedofhisevilwaysandturnedtotheGodof
ISRAEL,andlaterhewasreleasedandreinstatedoncemoreaskingofJudah,and
thekingdomcontinuedtillitsdestructionin587B.C.,byNebuchadnezzar.

ThereisnoexplanationwhyJudahwasnotannexedbyEsarHaddon.Furtherit
wouldappearthatnoIsraelitecaptivesweredeported.

NonIsraelitesSettled

InTheLandofSamaria

ItwasafterthiscampaignthatEsarHaddonbroughtinforeignersintothelandof
Samaria,whichhithertohadbeenoccupiedbyIsrael.Inaccordwiththeaccepted
policyoftheAssyriankingsEsarHaddonremovedtheIsraelites,andintotheir
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emptiedlandmadeawholesaleimportationofnonIsraelites.

Thesevariousalientribeswereintimeblendedintoonepeopleintheland,andwere
thereforecalledSamaritans.Theythemselves,asweshallseelateron,madeno
claimwhatevertobeIsraelitestheyopenlyconfessedthattheywereforeigners,who
hadbeenforciblysettledinthatland,andthisbyEsarHaddon.Someyearslater
therewerestillothernonIsraelitesbroughtinbyAsnapper(Ezra4:10).Thislast
kingisidentifiedwithAssurbanipul,thesonofEsarHaddon.

ThegreatinfluxofnonIsraeliteswasafterthisFourthinvasionandrecordedin2
Kings17:24:

24).AndthekingofAssyriabroughtmenfromBabylon,andfromCuthah,andfrom
Ava,andfromHamath,andfromSepharvaim,andplacedtheminthecitiesof
SamariainsteadofthechildrenofIsrael:andtheypossessedSamaria,anddweltin
thecitiesthereof.

WehavealreadyseenthatthisunnamedkingofAssyriacouldnothavebeen
ShalmaneserorSargon,andthathemusthavebeenEsarHaddon.Thestatementthat
theywereplacedinthecitiesofSamariainsteadofIsraelimpliesagreat
deportationofIsraelites,andthatIsraelwasnolongeraPeopleinPalestine.

FulfillmentofTwoProphecies

Twopropheciesranoutatthistime:

(1)IsaiahsprophecyofTheThreeScoreandFiveYearsshallEphraimbebroken,
thatitbenotapeople.

(2)HoseasLoRuhamahprophecy:Iwillutterlytakethemaway.

Andyet,evenafterthiswholesaleremovaloftheIsraelpopulation,therewerestill
someIsraelitesleftbehind,becausewereadofsomebeingpresentthereinthereign
ofJosiah,whoreignedinJudahsomeyearsafterEsarHaddonsinvasion.

ButJeremiahwhowroteatalatertimestatedthatinhisdayIsraelhadbeenremoved
outofGodssight,eventhewholeseedofEphraim.(Jeremiah7:15)

JosiahsReform

InTheLandofSamaria

Bearinginmindthisremovalofthenationanditsreplacementbyimportednon
Israelites,attentionmustbedrawntothereformsundertakentherebyJosiah.Ithas
alreadybeennotedthatthisgodlyyoungkingofJudahnotonlypurgedJudeaof
idolatry,butthathecarriedthisworkintothelandofSamaria,theoldhomeofthe
Israelites,whichwasthenAssyrianterritory.PeopleusuallythinkofJosiahdoing
thistaskamongsttheIsraelites.Butwasthisreallyso?

Wasitnotalsoamongstthenewcomersintotheland,amongstthemassofthenew
populationoftheheathens?ThesenewSamaritansallworshipedtheirvariousracial
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godsandatthesametimesacrificedtoTheGodoftheland,theGodofISRAEL.
AtthebeginningoftheirdwellingtheretheyfearednottheLordbutwhenthey
wereplaguedbylions,theyrequestedthekingofAssyria,whohadplacedthem
there,tosendthemapriestfromamongthecaptivesofIsraeltoteachthemthe
manneroftheGodoftheland.(2Kings17:25)sotheyworshipedtheirowngods
andsacrificedtotheGodofISRAEL.Thiswastheverypleathattheyurgedupon
Ezrainlateryears.(Ezra4:2)ItwasamongstthispeoplethatJosiahcarriedoutthe
workofbreakingdowntheirimages,altarsandshrines,andalsoofcoursethe
heathenaltarsthatIsraelhadpreviouslysetup.

ExaminationofContraryViews

WearenowinapositiontoexaminetheargumentsofthosewhodenythattheBible
givesanycountancetotheideathatthenationofIsraelwaswhollyremovedoutof
Palestine.

ThefinalstatementoftheScripturesonthispointisrelatedin2Kings17:18,23:

18).ThereforetheLORDwasveryangrywithIsrael,andremovedthemoutofhis
sight:therewasnoneleftbutthetribeofJudahonly...

23).UntiltheLORDremovedIsraeloutofhissight,ashehadsaidbyallhis
servantstheprophets.SowasIsraelcarriedawayoutoftheirownlandtoAssyria
untothisday.

Dr.H.L.Goudge,RegiusProfessorofDivinityintheUniversityofOxford,inhis
bookletentitled,TheBritishIsraelTheoryonpage88writes,First,thereisnota
particleofevidencethattherewereeveranylosttribesintheBritishIsraelsense.

Thisisanamazingstatementitisnotdocumentedandnoproofeitherfrom
ScriptureorAssyrianinscriptionsisgiveninsupportoftheassertion,which
precludesdetailedexamination.Sufficeittosaythatthetermlostinreferenceto
IsraelisfoundinthemarginalreadingofIsaiah17:13,intheRevisedVersion.

Dr.C.T.Dimont,PrincipalofSalisburyTheologicalCollegeandChancellorofthe
Diocese,saysthattherewerenolottribesthatalltheIsraeliteswerenotcarried
awayintoAssyriathatonlysometwentythousandoldinallwereremoved,a
negligiblenumberofthepopulationofIsrael.Herearehisexactwords:Inhis
pamphlettheLegendofBritishIsrael,onpage5hewrites:

TheBritishcannotbethedescendantsoftheLostTenTribesbecausenosuchbody
oflosttribesexistsoreverexisted.TheassertionthatalltheTenNorthernTribes
werecarriedawaytoAssyriaiscontrarytoScriptureandtothetestimonyofthe
monuments.Sargon,thekingofAssyria,saysthathecarriedawayfromIsrael
27,290captives

Hestatesherethatthecompletedeportationofthenationiscontrary(1)tothe
Scriptures,and(2)totheMonuments

Hethenproceedstogivehisevidence,whichneedsorcarefulexamination.

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TheTestimonyoftheMonuments

Dr.DimontadducestwopassagesofScripturetoprovethatthewholenationwas
nevercarriedaway.He,however,whollyignoresatleastoneimportantonethat
refuteshiscontention,aproceedingwhichrendersvoidhisconclusionsthemost
importantevidencefromScriptureisnotproduced.

WithregardtothesubjectofScriptureEvidence,itoughtnottobenecessaryto
pointoutthatstatementsoffactapply,unlessotherwiseclearlystated,onlytothe
timeinwhichtheywereutteredorwritten,andthattheydonotnecessarilydescribe
thepositionofaffairsofamuchlaterdate.

FewwillholdthatalltheTenTribeswerecarriedawayatthetimeofSargon,
because,asDr.Dimontpointsout,thewholesaletransportationofIsraelin721B.C.,
iscontrarytoScripture,becausetherewereIsraelitesstillintheirlandinthereigns
ofHezekiahandofJosiah.ButheignoresstatementsinlaterScripturesdescribing
laterconditions.Therecanbenorealcontradictioninthesevariousstatementsthey
weremadeatdifferenttimes,andeachwasabsolutelytrueatthetimeitwasmade.

Dr.DimontcontentshimselfwiththesetwostatementsmadeconcerningIsrael,and
noother.butsurelythewholeoftheevidenceshouldbeconsideredbefore
pronouncingaverdict.

Thewholecruxofthequestionturnsuponthefixingofdates.

(1)Samariafellin721B.C.,andthereWEREIsraelitesleftinthelandatthattime.
ThereisnodoubtthatSargonstestimonythatheonlyremoved27,280wasperfectly
true.

(2)TherewereIsraelitesstillinthelandinthereignofHezekiahkingofJudah,who
reignedfrom726to697B.C.

(3)SomeIsraeliteswerestillfoundthereatalaterperiod,inthetimeofJosiah,who
begantoreignin677B.C.ThisisthelastinformationgivenaboutIsraelintheJudah
records.

(4)WhatwasthedateofthestatementthattellsofIsraelsbeingutterlycarriedaway
intoAssyriaoutofGodssight,andthatonlyJudahremainedbehind?

SowasIsraelcarriedawayoutoftheirownlanduntothisday.Whatdatewas
thisday?ThedateofitswritingwasthetimeofEzra.Theearliestpossibledate
561B.C.,thelatestbeing536B.C.,thetimeofJudahscaptivityinBabylon.

Itshouldberememberedthattherewasaconsiderablelapseoftimebetweenthefall
ofSamariaandthedaysofEzra,abouttwohundredyears.Agoodmanythings
couldhavehappened,andcertainlyoneeventofgreatimportancedidhappen,inthat
period,thoughtherewasnohistorianinIsraeltorecordthehappenings.

Dr.DimontcannotbeignorantthattheinvasionofIsraelbyShalmaneserandSargon
wasnotthelastinvasionoftheHolyLandbyAssyria.Hecannothaveforgottenthat
therewasagreatinvasionofPalestinebytheemperorEsarHaddon,about676B.C.,
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astestifiedbytheMonuments.AnybodycanreadaboutitintheEncyclopedia
Britannica.Yetheentirelyignoresthistestimonyasifithadnobearingonthe
questionunderconsideration,andhisreadersaresorelymisled.Surelyallthe
relevantevidenceshouldbeadducedtoarriveatarightconclusion.

Eventshadoccurredwhichmadethestateofaffairsverydifferentfromwhatthey
wereinthebygonedaysofSargonandhisinscriptionanddifferentfromwhat
obtainedinthedaysofHezekiah.

ThebiblegivesnodirectaccountofEsarHaddonsinvasionasfarasIsraelis
concerned,butthehistoryofJudahtellsofit,becausethecampaignsorelyaffected
thekingdomofJudah.(2Chronicles33:11)

Thebiblealsoatamuchlaterdaterefersbacktothisinvasion,andshowshowit
affectedIsrael.(Ezra4:2)

Itisstrangethatanyoneshouldthinkthatthestateofaffairswhichexistedin721
B.C.,andwhichthenwascorrectlydescribed,mustremainunalteredbythechanges
duringthestirringtimesoftheensuingcentury.Wasnochangepossibleor
probable?ChangesdidtakeplacewhichmadethestatementsowasIsraelcarried
awayoutoftheirlandtoAssyriauntothisdayabsolutelytrue.

EsarHaddoneffectedaradicalchangeinpopulationofthelandofIsrael,he
removedIsraelandreplacedthembynonIsraelites.Thusfillingthelandwith
foreignersandisreferredtoinEzra4:12:

1).NowwhentheadversariesofJudahandBenjaminheardthatthechildrenofthe
captivitybuildedthetempleuntotheLORDGodofIsrael

2).ThentheycametoZerubbabel,andtothechiefofthefathers,andsaiduntothem,
Letusbuildwithyou:forweseekyourGod,asyedoandwedosacrificeuntohim
sincethedaysofEsarHaddonkingofAssur,whichbroughtusuphither.

Twopointsneedconsiderationhere:

1).TheseSamaritansdidnotclaimthattheywereIsraelites.

2).Theydefinitelystatedthattheywereforeigners,thepeopleswhomtheAssyrians
hadbroughtintothelandsinthereignofEsarHaddon.Theytellusemphatically
whotheywereandbywhomtheywereimportedthither.Theydonotmention
ShalmaneserorSargonashavingdoneso.Itisclearthereforethatthewholesale
importationofSamaritanswasATTHETIMEOFandBYEsarHaddon.There
werenoIsraelitesthereatthattime,butonlytheseimportednonIsraelites,whom
theJewsalwaysregardedassuch,andwithwhomtheywouldnavenodealing.The
Jewswouldhaverejectedtheseadvanceswithmuchmorecontempthadtheybeen
madebyIsraelites.

ItwastheinvariablepracticeandpolicyoftheAssyrianmonarchstoremove
conqueredpeopleswholesalefromtheirconqueredlandsandsettletheminthe
distantpartsoftheempire,andtorepopulatetheevacuatedlandswithpeoplefrom
otherdistricts.Apolicywhichledeventuallytotheundoingofthatempire.

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ThenonIsraelitetribesimportedintoSamariawerethosewhoarementionedin2
Kings17:24.ButevenatthisperiodEsarHaddonhadnotremovedthelastvestige
ofIsrael,forsomewerestillfoundinthelandinthereignofJosiah,whowaskingof
Judahsomeyearsafterthisinvasion.

ThestatementmadebyJeremiah,whichhasalreadybeenquotedabove,hasa
bearingonthedeportationofIsraelfromPalestine.Itwaswrittenafterthedaysof
Josiah,beforethefinaldestructionofJerusalembyNebuchadnezzar.Howdidhe
regardthepositionofIsraelatthattime?SpeakingtoJudah,hegaveGodsmessage
as:

15).AndIwillcastyououtofMysightasIhavecastoutALLyourbrethren,even
theWHOLEseedofEphraim.(Jeremiah7:15)

ThewordsIhavecastoutallyourbrethrenpointstoacompleteremovalofIsrael
fromtheirlandandthisisemphasizedbytheaddedwords,eventhewholeseedof
Ephraim.HenceevenbeforetheBabyloniancaptivitytherewerenoIsraelitesleft,
thewholenationhadbeencarriedaway.

Hereitmaybeobjected,howcouldthisremnantofIsraellivingintheirownlandin
thedaysofJosiahhavebeenremovedintoAssyriasoastomakeJeremiahs
statementatrueword.Whocouldhaveeffecteditandwhen?TheBiblegivesno
directanswer:butitdoestellusthatAsnapper,kingofAssyria(identifiedwith
Assurbanipul,sonofEsarHaddon)whoreignedafterthetimeofJosiah,didbring
intoIsraelslandseveralnonIsraelitetribesasrecordedinEzra4:910.Ifhe
followedthetraditionalAssyrianpolicy,hemusthavelocatedtheminplacesfrom
whichheevacuatedtheIsraelremnant.Hereatleastwasafittingopportunityforthe
completeremovalofanyremnantofIsrael.

ThustherearethreerecordedImportationsofnonIsraeliteswithcorresponding
DeportationsofIsraelintoandfromthelandofIsrael.

1).BySargonin721toreplenishtheIsraeliteswhomheremovedfromSamaria.

2).ThemassimportationbyEsarHaddonin676.

3).ByAsnapperafterJosiahstime.

ReviewoftheEvidence

Tosummarize:

(1)Sargonsstatementwasquitetruthful,andisexactlywhathappenedatthattime.
Itinnowaycontradictsthetruthofthelaterbiblestatementmadeconcerninga
subsequenttime.

(2)ThefactthatthereweremanyIsraelitesintheirlandinthereignofHezekiahis
correct.ItinnowaycontradictsthetruthoftheBiblestatementmadeatalaterdate
concerningamuchlaterperiod,anditaccordswithpropheciesonthesubject.

(3)ThefactthatthereweresomeIsraelitesinthelandinthedaysofJosiahis
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perfectlytrue,butitdoesnotnecessarilycontradictthetruthofalaterbible
statementconcerningalaterdate.

(4)ThestatementofJeremiahonlyconfirmstheFINALpronouncementoftheBible
onthesubject.

(5)ThestatementoftheSamaritanstothereturnedcaptivesofJudahalsoentirely
corroboratestheFINALwordofthebibleastothecompleteremovalofthewhole
nationfromPalestine.

ThustheevidenceputforwardbyDr.DimontfromtheMonumentsandfromthe
Scriptures,whenexamined,Ifoundtobenoevidenceatallagainstthefactthat
Israelwaswhollyremovedfromtheirland,butisratherincompleteaccordwiththe
Biblestatement.

OnepointmoreabouttheScriptureevidencegivenbyDr.Dimont.Hesaysthatthe
presenceofthegreatnumberofIsraelitesatthegreatPassoverheldbyKing
HezekiahinJerusalemisproofthatIsraelwasneverentirelycarriedawaytoAssyria
uponthefallofSamaria.

Surely,Dr.Dimontmustknowthatthisincidenthasnobearingonthepoint.He
mustknowthatthisPassovertookplaceBEFOREtheinvasionofIsraelby
Shalmaneser,andstillmoreyearsbeforethecaptureofSamariabySargon,andnot
afterit.

TheordinaryreadermaybepardonedforthinkingthatthisPassoverwasheldafter
thedownfallofthekingdomofIsrael,becausethereignofHezekiahintheBibleis
givenafterthereignofHoshea.Theobservationsmadepreviouslyonthedifficulties
ofeditingtwoseparatehistoriesintooneishereexemplified.Theuniversalmistake
ofthusmisdatingthePassoverisexplainable.Asamatteroffact,theearlyeventsof
HezekiahsreigntookplaceinthereignofHoshea.Thesetowkingsforseveral
yearswerereigningatthesametime,oneinJudahandtheotherinIsrael.The
celebrationofthePassovertookplaceinthefirstyearofHezekiah,atwhichtime
HosheawasreigninginIsrael,anditwasfiveyearsbeforetheconquestofIsrael.
ThepresenceofmanyIsraelitesatthefeastthereforehasnothingwhatevertodo
withthesituationofaffairsafterthefallofSamaria,andisnoproofthatthewhole
nationwasnotcarriedaway.

ThatthereweremanyIsraelitesinthelandisafact,butnotontheevidenceadduced
byDr.Dimont.

TheImportedNonIsraelites

Therearethreedistinctrecordsoftheimportationofforeignersintotheemptiedland
ofIsrael.TwoofthesearefoundintheBible,whiletheotherisrecordedinthe
AssyrianinscriptionofSargon.

Thatthereweremoresuchimportationsisnotdenied,becauseofwhatweknowof
thepolicyoftheAssyrianconquests,buttheyarenotrecordedasfarascanbe
discoveredatthistime.Forinstance,noonedoubtsthat,afterTiglathpilesercarried
awaytheIsraelitesfromtheextremenorthandfromTransjordania,hefilledupthe
depopulatedterritorywithpeoplesfromdistantregionsaswasthecustomof
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Assyria:butthisisnotrecorded.

Therecordsofthethreeimportationsofaliensgivealistofthenationsortribesthus
broughtinandsettledinthelandofIsrael.

Inpassing,itmaybestatedherethat,inthecaseofthedeportationsoftheIsraelites
laterbytheBabyloniansunderNebuchadnezzar,thedepopulatedlandofJudeawas
nevercolonizedbyaliens,butremainedemptytillthereturnofsomeoftheIsraelites
afterseventyyearscaptivityinBabylon.

TheFirstandearliestofthethreeGroupsisthatwhichSargonbroughtinafterhis
captureofSamariaandthedownfallofthekingdomofIsraelin721.Assaidabove
thislisisnotrecordedintheBible.

TheSecondGroup,whichwasbyfarthelargest,wasmadebyEsarHaddonin676,
andthelistofthosenationssoimportedisthatrecordedin2Kings17:24.

TheThirdGroupwasbroughtinlaterbyAsnapper,thesonofEsarHaddon,andthe
listofthesenewcomersisgiveninEzra4:9.

ThethreeGroupsarequitedistinctfromoneanother:eachrepresentsgroupsof
differentnations.TherewasanintervalofaboutfortyfiveyearsbetweenGroupsI
andII,andseveralyearsbetweenGroupsIIandIII.

NoneoftheseGroupsconsistedwhollyofonesinglenation.Eachconsistedof
mixedpeoplesgatheredfromdifferentregions.Theywerenotahomogeneous
crowd.

FurtheraGroupdidnotconsistofpeoplesofonereligiontheydidnotallworship
thesamegod,butgodsmanyandlordsmany.Thismaybegatheredfrom2Kings
17:3031,whereeachnationhaditsownspecialobjectofworship.

Undersuchconditionstheywerepowerlesstocombineorrebelagainstthesuzereign
power.HereinappearstheastutenessoftheAssyrianpolicy.

OntheotherhandallaccountsofthedeportedIsraelitestelloftheirsettlement(at
firstatleast)inonesinglelargeregion,Hala,Harbor,HaraandtheriverGozana
factwhichmaybeconsideredratherstrange.

ItwasherethatTiglathpileserplacedthefirstcaptivesofIsraelin741B.C.Itwas
herethatSargonbroughttheinhabitantsofcapturedSamaria.Butbeitnotedthat,
truetoAssyrianpolicy,afewyearslaterhebrokeuptheunityofthesecaptivesby
removingverymanyofthemintothecitiesoftheMedes,whomhehadthen
conquered.EsauHaddonmovedIsraelintoAssyria,presumablytothesame
regionsasthepreviouscaptives,thoughtheexactlocalityisnotmentioned.Wedo
notknowwhatAsnapperdid.AllweknowwasthatthereweresomeIsraelitesin
theirlandafterEsarHaddonstime,andthathissonbroughtGroupIIIintotheland
furtherthatatastilllaterdate,beforethedestructionofJerusalemby
Nebuchadnezzar,JeremiahtellsusthatIsrael,eventhewholehouseofEphraim,had
beencastoutoftheland.ThenaturalconclusionisthatAsnapperhadremovedthis
remnantbeforeheimportedthenonIsraelitesofGroupIII.Ezraisclearthatnoneof
thechosenracewasleftinPalestinesaveJudah.
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