Scripture: 2 Kings 15:19–20; 2 Kings 15:29–30; 2 Kings 16:7–10; 1 Chronicles 5:26
2 Kings describes the Assyrian king Tiglath-pileser III, also called Pul, taking tribute from Menahem of Israel, seizing territory in Pekah's reign, and receiving Ahaz of Judah as a vassal. Hoshea then kills Pekah and takes Israel's throne.
Austen Henry Layard excavated Tiglath-pileser's palace at Nimrud (ancient Calah, Iraq) between 1845 and 1851, finding wall slabs carved with his and campaign reliefs. A later king had reused many slabs, so the text survives in pieces. Together with clay tablets and a found in western Iran, it names 'Menahem of Samaria' paying tribute, records that Israel 'overthrew their king Pekah' and that Tiglath-pileser 'placed Hoshea as king over them', and lists 'Jehoahaz of Judah' (Ahaz's full name) among kings paying tribute. A Babylonian king list calls Tiglath-pileser 'Pulu', which explains the Bible's 'Pul'.
Nimrud (ancient Calah), IraqView on OpenStreetMap
