PTIL TEKHELET EDUCATIONAL CENTER
in memory of Steven Esses z”l
Where Torah, Science, and History meet for a fun, educational, and inspirational experience
PTIL TEKHELET EDUCATIONAL CENTER
in memory of Steven Esses z”l
Where Torah, Science, and History meet for a fun, educational, and inspirational experience
Chizkiyahu’s Tekhelet
The ransom paid to
Sancherev, King of Assyria
Tell me about it...
Tekhelet in Assyrian Records
In the early 1800s, excavations took place at Nineveh (today: Mosul, Northern Iraq) that shed light on the history of the ancient empire of Assyria. Among the most important finds were a number of different records written in Akkadian with cuneiform writing, of the wars and victories of Sennacherib (Sancherev). The cylinder shown here is considered one of the first archeological discoveries that relates to an episode recorded in Tanach. It describes the campaign of Sennacherib against Israel and the tribute paid by Chizkiyahu (Hezikaya), King of Yehuda. The list includes Tekhelet and Argamman. Parallel descriptions are found in Yeshayahu, Melachim Bet, and Divrei Hayamim Bet.
Assyrian Description
As for him, (Chezkiyahu), I confined him inside the city of Jerusalem, his royal city, like a bird in a cage…
As for him Chizkiyahu, fear of my lordly brilliance overwhelmed him… Thirty talents of gold, eight hundred talents of silver, choice antimony… linen textiles, blue wool (takiltu) and purple wool (argammanu)… equipment (and) implements of war, (all of which) were without number, together with his daughters, his palace women, male and female singers, he brought to Nineveh…
Melachim Bet, ch.18
(13) In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, King Sennacherib of Assyria marched against all the fortified towns of Judah and seized them. (14) King Hezekiah sent this message to the king of Assyria at Lachish: “I have done wrong; withdraw from me; and I shall bear whatever you impose on me.” So the king of Assyria imposed upon King Hezekiah of Judah a payment of three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. (15) Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was on hand in the House of Hashem and in the treasuries of the palace.
מלכים ב’ פרק יח
(יג) וּבְאַרְבַּע֩ עֶשְׂרֵ֨ה שָׁנָ֜ה לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ חִזְקִיָּ֗ה עָלָ֞ה סַנְחֵרִ֤יב מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֙ עַ֣ל כָּל־עָרֵ֧י יְהוּדָ֛ה הַבְּצֻר֖וֹת וַֽיִּתְפְּשֵֽׂם׃
(יד) וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח חִזְקִיָּ֣ה מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֣ה אֶל־מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֩ לָכִ֨ישָׁה לֵאמֹ֤ר חָטָ֙אתִי֙ שׁ֣וּב מֵֽעָלַ֔י אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־תִּתֵּ֥ן עָלַ֖י אֶשָּׂ֑א וַיָּ֨שֶׂם מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֜וּר עַל־חִזְקִיָּ֣ה מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֗ה שְׁלֹ֤שׁ מֵאוֹת֙ כִּכַּר־כֶּ֔סֶף שְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים כִּכַּ֥ר זָהָֽב׃
(טו) וַיִּתֵּן֙ חִזְקִיָּ֔ה אֶת־כָּל־הַכֶּ֖סֶף הַנִּמְצָ֣א בֵית־ה’ וּבְאֹצְר֖וֹת בֵּ֥ית הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
What exactly was the tribute that Chizkiyahu paid to Sancherev?
What exactly was the tribute that Chizkiyahu paid to Sancherev?
In the Assyrian records, Tekhelet is one of the precious items rendered by Chizkiyahu as payoff to Sancherev, yet no mention is made of Tekhelet in the Tanach’s account. Why did our tradition leave out that detail?
