jan 1, 765 BC - Tribute to Pulu

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JONAH VS KING OF NINEVEH: HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE by Gerard Gertoux

The only campaign led by Bar-Ga’yah, which is precisely dated, took place when Menahem gave him tribute (in 765): Pul the king of Assyria came into the land. Consequently Menahem gave Pul 1000 talents of silver, that his hands might prove to be with him to strengthen the kingdom in his own hand. So Menahem brought forth the silver at the expense of Israel, at the expense of all the valiant, mighty men, to give to the king of Assyria 50 silver shekels for each man. At that the king of Assyria turned back, and he did not stay there in the land (2K 15:19-20). The purpose of the first campaign in Syria in 775 is unknown but it was probably led in order to conclude new treaties with some Aramaean kingdoms.

According to the Bible: Pul the king of Assyria came into the land. Consequently Menahem gave Pul 1000 talents of silver, that his hands might prove to be with him to strengthen the kingdom in his own hand. So Menahem brought forth the silver at the expense of Israel, at the expense of all the valiant, mighty men, to give to the king of Assyria 50 silver shekels for each man. At that the king of Assyria turned back, and he did not stay there in the land (2Ki 15:19-20). Furthermore Pul preceded Tiglath-pileser: Consequently the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul the king of Assyria even the spirit of Tiglath-pileser the king of Assyria, so that he took into exile those of the Reubenites and of the Gadites and of the half tribe of Manasseh and brought them to Halah and Habor and Hara and the river Gozan [to continue] until this day (1Ch 5:26). Given that Tiglath-pileser III used the nickname pulu, hypocoristic of aplu "heir" in Assyrian87, when he became king of Babylonia (729-727), it is logical to deduce that it was his former name as co-regent, in the same manner that titles like turtanu "commander-in-chief" or rab ša-reši "chief officer" were used instead of proper names (2K 18:17). According to Josephus the Assyrian king called Pulas reigned 36 years: the king of Assyria invaded all Syria and Phoenicia in a hostile manner. The name of this king is also set down in the archives of Tyre, for he made an expedition against Tyre in the reign of Eluleus; and Menander attests to it (...): And Elulaios (?), to whom they gave the name of Pulas, reigned 36 years; this king, upon the revolt of the Citteans (Cyprians), sailed to them, and reduced them again to a submission (Jewish Antiquities IX:283-287). Given that Tiglath-pileser III revolted against his brother (Aššur-nîrârî V) in 746, his co-regency began 36 years earlier in 782, which fits exactly inside the list of co-regencies (below) to the one deduced for Tiglath-pileser III


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2 Kings 15

19 Pul the king of Assyria came against the land; and Men′ahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that he might help him to confirm his hold of the royal power. 20 Men′ahem exacted the money from Israel, that is, from all the wealthy men, fifty shekels of silver from every man, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and did not stay there in the land.

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1 Chronicles 5

26 So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, the spirit of Til′gath-pilne′ser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, namely, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manas′seh, and brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river Gozan, to this day.

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