Sennacherib in Smiths Bible Dictionary
(sin, the moon, increases brothers), was the son and
successor of Sargon. [SARGON] His name in the original is
read as Tsinakki-irib, the meaning of which, as given above
indicates that he was not the first-born of his father.
Sennacherib mounted the throne B.C. 702. His efforts were
directed to crushing the revolt of Babylonia, which he
invaded with a large army. Merodach-baladan ventured on a
battle, but was defeated and driven from the country. In his
third year, B.C. 700, Sennacherib turned his arms toward the
west, chastised Sidon, and, having probably concluded a
convention with his chief enemy finally marched against
Hezekiah, king of Judah. It was at this time that
"Sennacherib came up against all the fenced cities of Judah,
and took them."
2Ki 18:13 There can be no doubt that the record
which he has left of his campaign against "Hiskiah" in his
third year is the war with Hezekiah so briefly touched in
vs. 13-16 of this chapter. In the following year (B.C. 699)
Sennacherib made his second expedition into Israel. Hezekiah
had again revolted, and claimed the protection of Egypt.
Sennacherib therefore attacked Egypt, and from his camp at
Lachish and Libnah he sent an insulting letter to Hezekiah
at Jerusalem. In answer to Hezekiah's prayer an event
occurred which relieved both Egypt and Judea from their
danger. In one night the Assyrians lost, either by a
pestilence or by some more awful manifestation of divine
power, 185,000 men! The camp immediately broke up; the king
fled. Sennacherib reached his capital in safety, and was not
deterred by the terrible disaster which had befallen his
arms from engaging in other wars, though he seems
thenceforward to have carefully avoided Israel. Sennacherib
reigned 22 years and was succeeded by Esar-haddon, B.C. 680.
Sennacherib was one of the most magnificent of the Assyrian
kings. Seems to have been the first who fixed the seat of
government permanently at Nineveh, which he carefully
repaired and adorned with splendid buildings. His greatest
work is the grand palace Kouyunjik. Of the death of
Sennacherib nothing is known beyond the brief statement of
Scripture that "as he was worshipping in the house of
Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him
with the sword and escaped into the land of Armenia." 2Ki
19:37; Isa 37:38
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