came to the assistance of the King of _Judah_ against the Kings of
_Israel_ and _Syria_, and overthrew the Kingdom of _Syria_, which had been
seated at _Damascus_ ever since the days of King _David_, and carried away
the _Syrians_ to _Kir_ in _Media_, as _Amos_ had prophesied, and placed
other nations in the regions of _Damascus_, 2 _King._ xv. 37, & xvi. 5, 9.
_Amos_ i. 5. _Joseph. Antiq._ l. 9. c. 13. whence it seems that the _Medes_
were conquered before, and that the Empire of the _Assyrians_ was now grown
great: for _the God of _Israel_ stirred up the spirit of _Pul_ King of
_Assyria_, and the spirit of _Tiglath-pileser_ King of _Assyria__ to make
war, 1 _Chron._ v. 26.

_Shalmaneser_ or _Salmanasser_, called _Enemessar_ by _Tobit_, invaded
[365] all _Phoenicia_, took the city of _Samaria_, and captivated _Israel_,
and placed them in _Chalach_ and _Chabor_, by the river _Gozan_, and in the
cities of the _Medes_; and _Hosea_ [366] seems to say that he took
_Arbela_: and his successor _Sennacherib_ said that his fathers had
conquered also _Gozan_, and _Haran_ or _Carrhae_, and _Reseph_ or _Resen_,
and the children of _Eden_, and _Arpad_ or the _Aradii_, 2 _King._ xix. 12.

_Sennacherib_ the son of _Shalmaneser_ in the 14th year of _Hezekiah_
invaded _Phoenicia_, and took several cities of _Judah_, and attempted
_Egypt_; and _Sethon_ or _Sevechus_ King of _Egypt_ and _Tirhakah_ King of
_Ethiopia_ coming against him, he lost in one night 185000 men, as some say
by a plague, or perhaps by lightning, or a fiery wind which blows sometimes
in the neighbouring deserts, or rather by being surprised by _Sethon_ and
_Tirhakah_: for the _Egyptians_ in memory of this action erected a statue
to _Sethon_, holding in his hand a mouse, the _Egyptian_ symbol of
destruction. Upon this defeat _Sennacherib_ returned in haste to _Nineveh_,
and [367] his Kingdom became troubled, so that _Tobit_ could not go into
_Media_, the _Medes_ I think at this time revolting: and he was soon after
slain by two of his sons who fled into _Armenia_, and his son _Asserhadon_
succeeded him. At that time did _Merodach Baladan_ or _Mardocempad_ King of
_Babylon_ send an embassy to _Hezekiah_ King of _Judah_.

_Asserhadon_, [368] called _Sarchedon_ by _Tobit_, _Asordan_ by the LXX,
and _Assaradin_ in _Ptolomy_'s Canon, began his Reign at _Nineveh_, in the
year of _Nabonassar_ 42; and in the year 68 extended it over _Babylon_:
then he carried the remainder of