EV3220 “Vivere sotto un impero: esegesi di 2 Re 15-21 (P.

DUBOVSKY SJ)

V. OKUN SJ

MILITARY CAMPAIGNS OF SARGON II

IN SYRIA AND PALESTINE
It seems that the first two years of his reign Sargon II was resolving the internal
problems on the royal court and guiding local military campaigns. If it had been
otherwise, these facts would most likely have been mentioned in the imperial archives.
Although in the very beginning of his annals he attributes the capture of Samaria to
himself1, the event most likely happened during the reign of his predecessor
Shalmaneser V who defeated Samaria after a siege that probably lasted three years.
720 BC
Sargon’s military campaign in the western territories of the empire began in the second
year of his reign. Numerous chronicle records tell us that a certain Iaubidi, the ruler of
Hamath managed to organise the anti-assyrian coalition which included Arpad, Simirra,
Damascus, and Samaria. Sargon defeated the coalition at Qarqar on the Orontes River
in 720 BC. As the inscriptions tell us, after the crushing victory, Sargon deported 27280
people from the defeated territories to Assyria and in their place settled the unfavourable
Assyrians (criminals). Iaubidi, the leader of the uprising was captured with his entire
family, taken to Assyria, and eventually executed there. Samaria was subdued and
rebuilt shortly after the victory at Qarqar2.
One of the inscriptions tells us that Sargon also subjugated Judah 3. This may not have
been a military subjugation, but rather the fact that the ruler of Judah expressed his
loyalty and allegiance to the empire through payment of tribute.
Having destroyed the coalition, Sargon’s next victim was King Hanunu (Hano) of Gaza,
who, despite the support of the Egyptian forces, was defeated near the city of Raphia.
The Egyptian general fled while the king of Gaza was captured and taken to Assyria4.
717 BC
In the fifth year of his reign (717 BC), Sargon’s army defeated the uprising in the
northern Syria, in Carchemish. Sargon defeated Pisiris and eventually deported him, his
family, and his court to Assyria as his captives. The city passed under direct Assyrian
control5.

1
Cf. RINAP 2 1:12b-17.
2
Cf. RINAP 2 1:23b-25, RINAP 2 7:33-35a, RINAP 2 81:4b-20, RINAP 2 84:18'-20', RINAP 2 89:16-21a,
RINAP 2 117 ii 4-12.
3
Cf. RINAP 2 73:7-8.
4
Cf. RINAP 2 7:25b-26, RINAP 2 8:15-16, RINAP 2 13:31b-40, RINAP 2 43:17-19, RINAP 2 76:10'b-12',
RINAP 2 129:18b-21.
5
Cf. RINAP 2 1:72-75, RINAP 2 4:13'-17', RINAP 2 43:25-26, RINAP 2 73:10, RINAP 2 73:21-22, RINAP 2
74 iv 13-21, RINAP 2 109:3'-7'.
 EV3220 “Vivere sotto un impero: esegesi di 2 Re 15-21 (P.DUBOVSKY SJ)

713 BC
In the ninth year of his reign (713 BC), Sargon reappeared again in Palestine. This time
to put down the rebellion of Azuri of Ashdod. After deposing him, Sargon then replaced
him with his brother Ahimiti, who was loyal to Assyria6.
711 BC
A few years later, however, a certain Yamani, expelled Ahimiti and took power in
Ashdod. According to Sargon’s inscriptions, in addition to a number of Philistine cities,
this new revolt was joined by the Judean, Idumean and Moabite states. Sargon sent an
army against Ashdod, on the approach of which Yamani fled to Egypt, but was captured
by the Egyptian governor and eventually sent to Assyria. The coalition was beaten by
the Assyrians7. Sargon destroyed the city and drove many of its inhabitants out to
Assyria replacing them with people from other provinces.

6
Cf. RINAP 2 82 vii 13'.vii 1''-7'', RINAP 2 1:249b-258, RINAP 2 2:273b-286, RINAP 2 3:6'b-12'.
7
Cf. RINAP 2 82 vii 8''b-48'', RINAP 2 8:11b-14, RINAP 2 3:1'.9'b-12'b, RINAP 2 7:95-111, RINAP 2 83 ii' 1-
11, RINAP 2 116:19-21.
 EV3220 “Vivere sotto un impero: esegesi di 2 Re 15-21 (P.DUBOVSKY SJ)

APPENDIX
722-721 BC – 1st year (of Sargon’s reign)
Campaign against Samaria
(12b) At the be[ginning of my reign, having ascended the royal throne and been
crowned with the crown of lordship, ... (as for) the peo]ple [of the city Samar]ia [who
had come to an agreement with a king hostile to me not to do obeisance (to me) or to
bring tribute (to me) and (who) had offered battle, with the might of the god Aššur, my
lord, who ma]kes me triumph, [I fought them and brought about their defeat ... I]
RINAP 2 1:12b-17 carried off as booty [27,280/27,290 people who lived there. [I conscripted] 50
chariot(s) from [among them] into my royal (military) contingent [and (re)settled the
remainder of them in Assyria ... I res]tored [the city Samaria] and made (it) greater
than before. [I brought there] people from the lands that [I had] conquer[ed. I set a
eunuch of mine as provincial governor over them and imposed upon them (the same)
tribute] (and) payment(s) as if (they were) Assyrians.

720 BC – 2nd year

Campaign against Iaubidi of Hamath and the anti-assyrian coalition
(23b) In my second regnal year, Ilu-b[iʾdī of the land Hamath ...] assembled [the
troops of the] wide [land Amurru] in the city Qarqar and [transgressed against] the
RINAP 2 1:23b-25
oath [(sworn) by the great gods ...] he inc[ited the cities Arpad, Ṣimirra], Damascus,
(and) Samaria [to rebel against me and ...]
(33) Iaū-biʾdī (Ilu-biʾdī) of the land Hamath, a member of the lower class who had
no right to the throne, an evil Hittite, plotted to become king of the land Hamath. He
then incited the cities Arpad, Ṣimirra, Damascus, (and) Samaria to rebel against
me, made (them) act in unison, and prepared for battle. I mustered the numerous
troops of the god Aššur; I surrounded him, together with his fighting men, in Qarqar,
RINAP 2 7:33-35a
the city where he resided (lit.: “the city of his dwelling”), (and) I captured him. I
burned the city Qarqar down with fire (and) I flayed the skin from him. I killed the
guilty people inside those cities and imposed peace. I conscripted 200 chariots (and)
600 cavalry from among the people of the land Hamath and added them to my royal
(military) contingent.
(4b) [In] my [second] regnal year, Iaū-biʾdī (Ilu-biʾdī) [of the land Hamath, who
had no right to the throne, who was not worthy to (live in) a palace, (and) who] had
not been fated [to shepherd] the people, [...] came down [...] and with common
soldiers, [..., shi]eld (and) spe[a]r [bearers], he abandoned [(...)] and [... i]n the city
Qarqar, whi[ch] (is) on the bank [of the Orontes River, ... he assembl]ed [the troops
of the wide land Amurru] and [transgressed against] the oath (sworn) by the great gods
[... He incited the (wide) land Amurru, from] its upper end to its lower end, [to rebel]
against me, [made them act in unison, and prepared for battle (...)].

RINAP 2 81:4b-20 (11b) [He (Iaū-biʾdī) sought] evil, [(things that were) not good (...), f]or Assyria (and)
its people, [and] held (them) in contempt. [He (assembled)] the cities Ar[pad, (...),
Ṣimirra, ...]tu, Damascus, (and) Samaria, [(and) made (them) side with him] (...).
He killed [the citi]zens of Assyria who were present in [the land Hamath ...]
altogether and [left no one alive (...)].

(16b) [(...) I raised my hands (in supplication)] to the god Sîn, king of the gods (and)
lord of the lands, [... who vanquishes] (my) enemies (and) destroys (my) foes, my lord,
[and] I prayed (to him) [in order to be able to conquer] the land Hamath, overthrow
[Iaū-biʾdī, (and) ... the] wide [land] Amurru. [...] Because of his people
(18') [Like the Deluge, I overwhelmed the land Hamath to its full extent]. I brought
their king [Ia]ū-biʾdī (Ilu-biʾdī) to Assyria in bondage, together with his family, [his]
RINAP 2 84:18'-20'
figh[ting men, (and) the booty of] his [land]. I conscripted from among them (a
contingent of) [300 chariots, 600 cavalry, (and) shield (and)] spear [bearers], and [(...)]
 EV3220 “Vivere sotto un impero: esegesi di 2 Re 15-21 (P.DUBOVSKY SJ)

I added (them) to my royal contingent. I settled [6,300 Assyrian criminal(s) (...) in] the
land Hamath. I set a eun[uch of mine as] provincial [gov]ernor over them and I
imposed upon them (the delivery of) tribute (and) payment(s).
(16) In my second regnal year, having ascended the royal throne and been [crowned]
with the crown of lordship, I dispersed the forces of Ḫumba(n)igaš (Ḫumban-nikaš I),
king of the land Elam (and) brought about his defeat.
(17b) [Iaū-biʾdī (Ilu-biʾdī)] of Hamath — who had no right to the throne, who was
RINAP 2 89:16-21a not worthy to (live in) a palace, (and) who [had not been] fate[d] to shepherd the
people — [came down], sought evil, (things that were) not good, for (the god) Aššur,
his land, (and) his people, and held (them) in cont[empt]. He assembled the cities
[Ṣimirra, Damascus], Arpad, (and) Samaria and made (them) side with him. [...] ...
he killed (them) altogether and le[ft] no one alive.
(ii 4) ... Iaū-biʾdī (Ilu-biʾdī) of the land Hamath ... [...] (ii 5) ... spears he abandoned
[...] ... he assembled (his) troops and [transgressed against] the oath (sworn) by the
great gods [...] he brought (them) to his side and put his trust in his (own) forces. [I
mustered] the numer[ous] troops of (the god) Aššur [and ...] ... he/they rose up.
Chariotry, cavalry, (and) horses in the city AB[...] ... their ... I dyed (both) the river
RINAP 2 117 ii 4-12
(Orontes) (and) the dry land as red as red wool ... [...] (ii 10) ... with a mighty battering
ram I smas[hed] his (city) wall like a pot [and ... the city Qarqar] I burned down
[with] fire. I took him, together with his family (and) his fighting men, to my city
Aššur. [I flayed the skin from him] in front of the (city) gate [...] ... I set eunuchs of
mine as provincial governors over them.

720 BC – 2nd year

Subjugating of Judah
(7) the pious prince who met Ḫumbanigaš (Ḫumban-nikaš I), king of the land Elam,
(in battle) on the outskirts of (the city) Dēr (and) brought about his defeat; who
RINAP 2 73:7-8
subjugated the land Judah, whose location is far away; who deported (the people of)
the land Hamath (and) who personally captured Iaū-biʾdī (Ilu-biʾdī) their ruler;

720 BC – 2nd year

Against king Hanunu of Gaza
(25b) Ḫanūnu (Hanno), king of the city Gaza, with Rēʾe, the field marshal of Egypt,
rose up to do war and battle against me at the city Rapḫia. I brought about their defeat.
RINAP 2 7:25b-26
Rēʾe took fright at the clangor of my weapons and fled; his whereabouts have never
been discovered. I captured Hanūnu, king of the city Gaza.
(15) [Moreover], I plundered the city Šinuḫtu, the city Samaria, and all of the land Bīt-
Ḫumria (Israel). I caught the Ionians who (live in) the middle of the Western Sea like
RINAP 2 8:15-16 fish and [depo]rted (the people of) the lands Kasku, Tabal, (and) Ḫilakku. I drove out
Mitâ (Midas), king of the land Musku. I brought about the defeat of Egypt at the city
Raphia and counted Ḫanūnu (Ḫanno), [king of the city G]aza, as booty.
(31b) who conquered the city Samaria and all of the land Bīt-Ḫumria (Israel); who
plundered the cities Ashdod (and) Šinuḫtu; who caught the Ionians who (live in) the
middle of the sea (35) like fish; who deported (the people of) the land Kasku, all of the
RINAP 2 13:31b-40
land Tabal, and the land Ḫilakku, (and) drove out Mitâ (Midas), king of the land
Musku; who brougt about the defeat of Egypt in the land Raphia and counted (40)
Ḫanūnu (Hanno), king of the city Gaza as booty;
(17) the valiant man who met Ḫumbanigaš (Ḫum-ban-nikaš I), king of the land Elam,
(in battle) on the outskirts of (the city) Dēr and brought about his defeat; who deported
the Tešian (king) (and) cut down his elite troops; who plundered the land Tuʾumuna,
RINAP 2 43:17-19 who(se people) had arrested their sheikh and brought (him) before the king of
Chaldea; who made the wide land Bīt-Ḫumria (Israel) tremble, brought about the
defeat of Egypt at the city Raphia, and brought Ḫanūnu (Hanno), king of the city
Gaza, to the city Aššur in bondage;
 EV3220 “Vivere sotto un impero: esegesi di 2 Re 15-21 (P.DUBOVSKY SJ)

(10'b) the valiant man who brought about the defeat of Ḫumbanigaš (Ḫumban-nikaš I),
king of the land Elam; who deported the Tēša (and) Tuʾu(mu)na (tribes) to his land;
RINAP 2 76:10'b-12' who made the wide land Bīt-Ḫumria (Israel) tremble; (who) brought about the defeat
of Egypt at the city Raphia and brought Ḫa[nūnu (Hanno), king of the city Gaza], to
the city Aššur in bondage;
(18b) [the valiant man who met Ḫumbanig]aš (Ḫumban-nikaš I), [king of the land
Elam, (in battle) on the outskirts of (the city) Dēr and brought about his defeat; (...);
RINAP 2 129:18b-21 who made] the [wide] land Bīt-Ḫumri (Israel) tremble, [brought about the defeat of
Egypt at the city Raphia, and] brought [Ḫanūnu (Hanno), king of the city Gaza, to
the city Aššur in bondag]e; [...]

717 BC – 5th year

Against Carchemish
In my fifth regnal year, Pisīri(s) the city Carchemish sinned against the treaty
(sworn) by the great gods and repeatedly sent (messages) hostile to Assyria to Mitâ
(Midas), [k]ing of the land Musku. I raised my hand(s) (in supplication) to the god
Aššur, my lord, and brought him, together with his family, out in bondage. I then
carried off as booty gold (and) silver, (along) with the property of his palace and the
RINAP 2 1:72-75
guilty people of the city Carchemish who (had sided) with him, (along) with their
possessions. (75) I brought (them) to Assyria. I conscripted 50 chariots, 200 cavalry,
(and) 3,000 foot soldiers from among them and added (them) to my royal (military)
contingent. I settled people of Assyria in the city Carchemish and imposed the yoke
of the god Aššur, my lord, upon them.
[I]n my fifth regnal year, Pisīri(s) of the city Carchemish sinned against the treaty
(sworn) by the great gods and repeatedly sent (messages) hostile to Assyria [t]o Mitâ
(Midas), king of the land Musku; he held me in contempt. (15´) I threw him, together
with his family, in iron fetters. I opened his palace, his treasure house; [I carried off]
as booty 10 talents of refined gold, [2,1]00 talen[ts of silver, ... ta]lents of arḫu-copper,
RINAP 2 4:13'-17' tin, ir<on>, elephant hide(s), elepha[nt] ivor[y, ...], battle gear, and the gu[il]ty people
of the city Carchemish [who] (had sided) with [him, (along) with their
possessions], and brought (them) to Assyria. I conscripted 50 [chariot(s), 200
cavalry, (and) 3,000 fo]ot soldiers from among [th]em and [added (them)] to my royal
(military) contingent. I [settled Assyri]ans in the city Carchemish [and] imposed [the
yo]ke [of the god Aššur, m]y [lord], upon them.
(25) the brave one, fearless in battle, who eradicated the land Hamath (and) dyed the
skin of the rebel Ilu-biʾdī as red as red wool; who plundered the land Carchemish of
RINAP 2 43:25-26
the evil Ḫittite (king) (and) whose great hand conquered Pisīri(s), their subject who
(always) spoke treachery;
the prudent ruler, snare of the uncompliant, who personally captured Pisīri(s), king of
RINAP 2 73:10 the land Ḫatti (Syria), and set his (own) official over the city Carchemish, his
(Pīsīris’) city;
(21) At that time, I brought into this treasure house 11 talents (and) 30 minas of gold
(and) 2,100 talents (and) 24 minas of silver, (measured) by the large (weight), booty
RINAP 2 73:21-22
(taken) from Pisīri(s), king of the city Carchemish, of the land Ḫatti (Syria),
(situated) on the bank on the Euphrates River, that I personally had conquered.
[Pis]īri(s) of the city Carchemish sinned [against] the treaty (sworn) by the great
gods and (as a result) I brought him [to A]ssyria, together with his wife, his sons, his
RINAP 2 74 iv 13-21 daughters, [(his) family], (and) the (other) offspring of his father’s house. I set [a
eun]uch of mine as governor [over the people] who lived in the city Carchemish and
(iv 20) considered them [a]s people of Assyria.
(3') [... Since the (first) day of my reign], there has been [no ruler who could equal me]
and [I have met no one who could overpower (me) in war or battle. Pisīri(s) of the
city Carchemish sinned against the treaty (sworn) by the great gods and] repeatedly
RINAP 2 109:3'-7' wrote in a friendly manner [to Mitâ (Midas), king of the land Musku], and (5´) [held
me in contempt. I raised my hand(s) (in supplication) to the god Aššur, my lord,
brought him (Pisīris), together wit his family, out (of their city) in bondage, and]
showed (them) to the god Aššur. [I carried off as booty gold (and) silver, (along) with
 EV3220 “Vivere sotto un impero: esegesi di 2 Re 15-21 (P.DUBOVSKY SJ)

the property of his palace and the guilty people of the city Carchemish who (had
sided) with him, as well as their possessions, (and)] brought (them) to Assyria. [I
conscripted fifty chariot(s), two hundred cavalry, (and) three thousand foot soldiers
from among them and] added (them) [to] my [royal (military) contingent].

713 BC – 9th year

Campaign against Azuri of Ashdod
(vii 13') In my ninth regnal year I marched to [the city Ashdod which is (situated)
on the shore of the] great [s]ea. [... the city] Ashdod [...]
(vii 1'') Because of [the evil he (Azuri) had done ... I brought him out] from the city
RINAP 2 82 vii
A[shdod], elevated Ahī-Mīti [...], his favorite brother, o[ver the people of the city
13'.vii 1''-7''
Ashdod], (vii 5'') and [set him on the throne of his father]. I established for him (the
same) tribute, payment(s), [labor duty, (and) military service] as the kings, [my
ancestors, had imposed].
(249b) Azūri, king of the city Ashdod, [pl]otted [...] (so as) to no longer (have to)
de[liv]er [tribute (to me)] and sent (messages) [hostile to Assyria] to the kings in his
enviro[ns]. Then, because of the e[vi]l that he had done, I di[d awa]y with [his
lordship] o[ver the people of his land] and [se]t his favorite brother Aḫī-Mīti as king
[over them. The] Hittites, who (always) speak treachery, [hated h]is rule [and]
RINAP 2 1:249b-258
elevated over them [I]a[dn]a (Iāmānī), who had no right to the throne (and) who, like
the[m], did [not] kn[o]w [how to respect (any) authority].
(256) [Angrily], with (only) my personal chariot and [m]y cavalry [who] never leave
my [side (even) in friendly territory], I [quickly] marched to [his royal city] Ashdod.
I then [surrounded (and) conq]uered the cities Ashdod, Ga[th, (and) Ashdod-Yam]. I
(273b) [Azūri, king of the city Ashdod, plotted ... (so as) to no longer (have to)]
deliver [tribute (to me) and sent (messages)] h[ostile to Assyria to the kings in] his
[enviro]ns. [Thus, because of the evil that he had done, I did away with his lordship
over] the people of his land [and set his favorite brother Aḫī-Mīti as kin]g over
[th]em.
(280b) [Angril]y, [... I quickly] march[ed to his royal city Ashdod. I] then [surrounded
RINAP 2 2:273b-286
(and)] conquered the c[iti]es Ash[dod, Gath, (and) Ashdod-Yam. I counted as booty
(both)] the god[s who dw]el[t in them (and) that (man) (Iāmāni)], toge[ther with the
people of his land, gold, silver, (and) the prop]erty of [his] pal[ace]. (285) I
[re]orga[nized (the administration of) those cities (and) settled there people from the
lands that] I [had conquered. I se]t [a eunu]ch of mi[ne] as provincial [governor] over
[them] and [considered them as people of Assyria; they (now) pull my y]ok[e].
(6'b) A[z]ūri, king of the city [Ash]dod, [plott]ed ... (so as) to no longer (have to)
deliver tribute (to me) and sent (messages) [host]ile to Assyria to the kings in his
environs. Thus, be[cau]se of the [ev]il [that he had do]ne, I [did] aw[ay] with his
lordship over the people of his land [and] set his favorite brother Aḫī-Mīti [a]s king
over them. The Hittites, [who (always) speak] treachery, hated his rule and elevated
over them Iadna (Iāmānī), who had no rig[ht to the] throne (and) who, like them, did
not know how to respect (any) authority.
(9'b) [An]grily, with (only) my personal chariot and [my] cava[lry] (10´) who never
RINAP 2 3:6'b-12'
leave my side (even) in friendly territory, [I] qu[ic]kly [marched] to his royal city
Ashdod. I then surro[unded (and) conqu]ered the cities Ashdod, Gath, (and)
Ashdo[d-Yam]. I consi[dered] as booty (both) the gods who dwelt in them (and) that
(man) (Iāmāni), together with the people of his land, gold, silver, (and) the
posses[sions] of [his] palace. I reor[ganized] (the administration of) their cities (and)
settled there [peo]ple from the lands that I had conquered. I set a eunuch of mine as
provincial governor over [them] and conside[red them] as people [of Assy]ria. They
(now) pull my y[ok]e.
 EV3220 “Vivere sotto un impero: esegesi di 2 Re 15-21 (P.DUBOVSKY SJ)

711 BC – 9th year

Second campaign against Ashdod
(vii 8''b) However, [those] evil [Hittites] with/in ... [...] plotted evil [in their heart(s)]
(so as) to no longer (have to) bring tribute (to me). [They made] an insurrection (and)
up[rising against] their ruler, [and] drove him out [of the city Ashdod] as if he was one
who had committed bloodshed. ... [... They made] king over them (vii 15´´) Iāmānī, a
member of the low[er class who had no right to the throne], (and) they sat [him on the
throne] of his lord. [...] their city ... [...] of batt[le ...] (vii 20´´) ... [...] ... [...] ... [... in]
its environs [its/their] moats [... they dug] twenty cubits deep [until] (vii 25´´) they
reached groundwater. <They sent> mendacious messages (and) malicious words to the
ki[ngs] of the lands Philistia, Judah, Ed[om], (and) Moab, (as well as to) those who
live on the sea(coast), (all) those who brought tribute [and] audience gift(s) to the god
Aššur, my lord, (vii 30´´) in order to make (them) hostile to me. They took gift(s) to
RINAP 2 82 vii
Pirʾû (Pharaoh), king of Egypt, a ruler who could not save them, and they repeatedly
8''b-48''
asked him for (military) aid.
(vii 33''b) I, Sargon, the just prince, who reveres oath(s) (sworn) by the gods Šamaš
(and) Marduk (and) who obeys (vii 35´´) the commands of the god Aššur, had (my)
troops cross the Tigris (and) Euphrates Rivers at the height of (their) flooding,
(namely) at the spring inundation, (as easily) as if (they were) dry land. Moreover, that
(man) Iāmānī, their king, who had put his trust in his own strength and had not
su[bmitted] to any(one else’s) rule, (vii 40´´) heard from [af]ar of [the app]roach of my
expeditionary force. Then, the [aw]esome splendor of the god [Aššur], my [lord],
overwhelmed him and ... [his legs grew weak, like roots] on a river bank. [...] ... [Like
fish, th]ey chose the depths of [far-off] waters (for their) hiding place. (vii 45´´) [...]
far [...] he fled [... the city A]shdod [...]
(11b) Iāmānī of the city Ashdod took fright at my weapons, abandoned his wife, his
sons, (and) his daughters, fled to the (far) edge of Egypt, on the border with the land
[M]e[luḫ]ḫa, and lived (there) stealthfully (lit.: “like a thief”). I set a eunuch of mine
as provincial governor over all of his wide land and his prosperous people, and
RINAP 2 8:11b-14
(thereby) expanded the territory of the god Aššur, the king of the god[s]. Fear of the
brilliance of the god Aššur, my lord, overwhelmed [the king of the land M]eluḫḫa;
they put iron fetters on his (Iāmāni’s) hand(s) and feet and he (the king of Meluḫḫa)
had him (Iāmāni) brought to Assyria (and) into my presence.
(1') [In my eleventh regnal year, (...)
The Hittites, [who (always) speak] treachery, hated his rule and elevated over them
Iadna (Iāmānī), who had no rig[ht to the] throne (and) who, like them, did not know
how to respect (any) authority.
(9'b) [An]grily, with (only) my personal chariot and [my] cava[lry] (10´) who never
leave my side (even) in friendly territory, [I] qu[ic]kly [marched] to his royal city
RINAP 2 3:1'.9'b-12'b Ashdod. I then surro[unded (and) conqu]ered the cities Ashdod, Gath, (and) Ashdo[d-
Yam]. I consi[dered] as booty (both) the gods who dwelt in them (and) that (man)
(Iāmāni), together with the people of his land, gold, silver, (and) the posses[sions] of
[his] palace. I reor[ganized] (the administration of) their cities (and) settled there
[peo]ple from the lands that I had conquered. I set a eunuch of mine as provincial
governor over [them] and conside[red them] as people [of Assy]ria. They (now) pull
my y[ok]e.
(95) the Hittites, who (always) speak treachery, hated his rule and elevated over them
Iāmānī, who had no right to the throne (and) who, like them, did not know how to
respect (any) authority.
(97) Furiously, I neither assembled the main force of my army nor organized my
(military) camp. I marched to the city Ashdod with (only) my warriors who (100)
never leave my side (even) in [fri]endly territory. However, that Iāmānī heard from
RINAP 2 7:95-111
afar of the approach of my expeditionary force and fled to the (far) edge of
Egypt, on the border with the land Meluḫḫa; his whereabouts have never been
discovered. (105) I surrounded (and) conquered the cities Ashdod, Gath (and)
Ashdod-Yam. I counted as booty his gods, his wife, his sons, his daughters, (his)
property (and) possessions, the treasure of his palace, (along) with the people of his
land. I reor[ganized] (the administration of) those cities, [settled] there people from
 EV3220 “Vivere sotto un impero: esegesi di 2 Re 15-21 (P.DUBOVSKY SJ)

the lands that I had conquered ... [... in the e]ast, [and set a eunuch of mine as
[pro]vincial [governor] over [them]. I considered them [a]s people of Assyria and they
(now) pull my yoke.
(109b) The king of the land Meluḫ[ḫa] — who in ... the land U[r]izzu, an inaccessible
place, (whose) route [... who]se ancestors [from the] distant [past] until now had
nev[er s]ent their mounted messenger(s) to the kings, my ancestors, in order to inquire
about their well-being — [h]e[ar]d from af[ar] of the might of the gods Aššur, [Nabû],
(and) Marduk. [Then, fe]ar of (my) royal brilliance overwhelmed him and terror
overcame him. He threw him (Iāmānī) in manacles and handcu[ffs], (in other words
in) iron [fe]tters, and they brou[ght] (him) the long journey to Assyria, into my
presence.
(ii' 1) Fear of the brilliance of the gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) Marduk, my lords,
overwhelmed him (the king of Meluḫḫa) and he put iron fetters on his
(Iāmānī’s) hands and feet. (ii´ 5) He then had him brought in bondage to
RINAP 2 83 ii' 1-11 Assyria, into my presence. I reorganized (the administration of) those cities. I
settled there people from the lands in the eastern mountains that I had
conquered. (ii´ 10) I set a eunuch of mine as provincial governor over them
and imposed the yoke of my lordship upon them.
(19) I plundered the city Ashdod. Iāmānī, its king, took fright at my
[weapon]s and abandoned his city. He fled to the border of the land Meluḫḫa
RINAP 2 116:19-21 and lived (there) stealthfully (lit.: “like a thief”). Šapatakuʾ (Shebitko), king of
the land Meluḫḫa, heard of the mig[ht] of the gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) Marduk
that I had esta[blished] over all lands, ... He put (Iāmānī) in handcuffs and
manacles ... [...] he had him [brou]ght in bondage [in]to my presence.