ace that he sent embassadors to Hezekiah at
Jerusalem, with orders to inquire into the particulars of the curious
astronomical marvel, or miracle, which had accompanied the sickness and
recovery of that monarch. It is not unlikely that the embassy, whereof
this was the pretext, had a further political object. Morodach-Baladan,
aware of his inability to withstand singly the forces of Assyria, was
probably anxious to form a powerful league against the conquering state,
which threatened to absorb the whole of Western Asia into its dominion.
Hezekiah received his advances favorably, as appears by the fact that he
exhibited to him all his treasures. Egypt, we may presume, was cognizant
of the proceedings, and gave them her support. An alliance, defensive if
not also offensive, was probably concluded between Egypt and Judaea on
the one hand, Babylon, Susiana, and the Aramaean tribes of the middle
Euphrates on the other. The league would have been formidable but for
one circumstance--Assyria lay midway between the allied states, and
could attack either moiety of the confederates separately at her
pleasure. And the Assyrian king was not slow to take advantage of his
situation. In two successive years Sargon marched his troops against
Egypt and against Babylonia, and in both directions carried all before
him. In Egypt he forced Sabaco to sue for peace. In Babylonia (B.C.
710) he gained a great victory over Merodach-Baladan and his allies,
the Aramaeans and Susianians, took Bit-Yakin, into which the defeated
monarch had thrown himself, and gained possession of his treasures and
his person. Upon this the whole country submitted; Merodach-Baladan
was carried away captive into Assyria; and Sargon himself, mounting the
throne, assumed the title-rarely taken by an Assyrian monarch of "King
of Babylon."

But this state of things did not continue long. Sargon died in the year
B.C. 704, and coincident with his death we find a renewal of troubles in
Babylonia. Assyria's yoke was shaken off; various pretenders started
up; a son of Sargon and brother of Sennacherib re-established Assyrian
influence for a brief space; but fresh revolts followed. A certain
Hagisa became king of Babylon for a month. Finally, Merodach-Baladan,
again appeared upon the scene, having escaped from his Assyrian prison,
murdered Hagisa, and remounted the throne from which he had been deposed
seven years previously. But the brave effort to recover independence
failed.