have been a man of high character and refinement and worthy of our
esteem, although an unsuitable ruler for a predatory State.

CHAPTER XIX.

ASSYRIA'S AGE OF SPLENDOUR

Tiglath-pileser IV, the Biblical Pul--Babylonian Campaign--Urartian
Ambitions in North Syria--Battle of Two Kings and Flight of
Sharduris--Conquest of Syro-Cappadocian States--Hebrew History from
Jehu to Menahem--Israel subject to Assyria--Urartu's Power
broken--Ahaz's Appeal to Assyria--Damascus and Israel
subdued--Babylonia united to Assyria--Shalmaneser and Hoshea--Sargon
deports the "Lost Ten Tribes"--Merodach Baladan King of
Babylonia--Egyptian Army of Allies routed--Ahaz and Isaiah--Frontier
Campaigns--Merodach Baladan overthrown--Sennacherib and the Hittite
States--Merodach Baladan's second and brief Reign--Hezekiah and
Sennacherib--Destruction of Assyrian Army--Sack of Babylon--
Esarhaddon--A Second Semiramis--Raids of Elamites, Cimmerians,
Scythians, and Medes--Sack of Sidon--Manasseh and Isaiah's
Fate--Esarhaddon conquers Lower Egypt--Revolt of Assyrian
Nobles--Ashurbanipal.

We now enter upon the last and most brilliant phase of Assyrian
civilization--the period of the Third or New Empire during which
flourished Tiglath-pileser IV, the mighty conqueror; the Shalmaneser
of the Bible; "Sargon the Later", who transported the "lost ten
tribes" of Israel; Sennacherib, the destroyer of Babylon, and
Esarhaddon, who made Lower Egypt an Assyrian province. We also meet
with notable figures of Biblical fame, including Ahaz, Hezekiah,
Isaiah, and the idolatrous Manasseh.

Tiglath-pileser IV, who deposed Ashur-nirari IV, was known to the
Babylonians as Pulu, which, some think, was a term of contempt
signifying "wild animal". In the Bible he is referred to as Pul,
Tiglath-pilneser, and Tiglath-pileser.[503] He came to the Assyrian
throne towards the end of April in 745 B.C. and reigned until 727 B.C.
We know nothing regarding his origin, but it seems clear that he was
not of royal descent. He appears to have been a popular leader of the
revolt against Ashur-nirari, who, like certain of his predecessors,
had pronounced pro-Babylonian tendencies. It is significant to note in
this connection that the new king was an unswerving adherent of the
cult of Ashur, by the adherents of which he was probably strongly
supported.

Tiglath-pileser combined in equal measure those qualities of
generalship and statesmanship wh