ESARHADDON

Male 706 BC - 669 BC


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  • Name ESARHADDON  
    Birth 706 BC 
    Gender Male 
    _UID 22FA2E26C6936A4AB7F5CABAB54435B59017 
    Death 669 BC 
    Notes 
    • Personal name meaning, Ashur (the god) has given a brother. 3rd ruler of the 7th Assyrian Dynasty, King of Assyria (681-669 B.C.). He was the favorite son of Sennacherib, who he succeeded as king. Nothing further is recorded of him in Scripture, except that he settled certain colonists in Samaria (Ezra 4:2). But from the monuments it appears that he was the most powerful of all the Assyrian monarchs. He built many temples and palaces, the most magnificent of which was the south-west palace at Nimrud, which is said to have been in its general design almost the same as Solomon’s palace, only much larger (1 Kin 7:1-12).

      Sennacherib was assassinated in 681 by two other sons (2 Kin 19:36-37) as part of a civil war. Esarhaddon was at the time conducting a military campaign elsewhere. He returned to Assyria and mustered enough support to defeat his brothers in battle and end the civil war. They were utterly overthrown in a battle fought April 680 B.C., near Malatiyeh, and in the following month Esarhaddon was crowned at Nineveh. He restored Babylon, conquered Egypt, and received tribute from Manasseh of Judah. He died in October 668 B.C., while on the march to suppress an Egyptian revolt, and was succeeded by his son Assur-bani-pal, whose younger brother was made viceroy of Babylonia.

      Esarhaddon was an eminent military general who defeated Taharqa, Pharaoh of Egypt, in the process of conquering the entire country. Esarhaddon ruled Egypt through Assyrian advisors and Egyptian district commanders. However, Egyptian rebellion to Assyrian domination came quickly. An ill Esarhaddon was returning to Egypt to squelch the rebellion when he died en route in 669 B.C.

      There are many references to Esarhaddon in the Bible (2 Kin 19:36-37; Ezra 4:2; Isa 19:4; 37:37-38). In Isaiah (Isa 19:4) he is probably the 'cruel lord' and 'fierce king' who conquered Egypt. In Ezra (Ezra 4:2) he is recognized as the king who colonized Samaria.

      esarhaddon (3)

      2 Kin 19:37, Ezra 4:2, Isa 37:38
    Person ID I3213  z-Bible Genealogy
    Last Modified 23 Jul 2012 

    Father 2nd King of Assyria SENNACHERIB,   b. 730 BC   d. 681 BC 
    Family ID F1074  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Children 
     1. ASHURBANIPAL,   b. 694 BC   d. 626 BC
    Family ID F999  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 29 Jul 2019