The Assyrian War Machine: King Hezekiah vs. Emperor Sennacherib: Episode 7

📜 What really happened when Hezekiah, King of Judah, defied the mighty Assyrian Empire?
Explore one of the most dramatic episodes in biblical and ancient Near Eastern history through archaeology, ancient texts, and imperial propaganda.

This episode unpacks the 701 BCE invasion of Judah by Emperor Sennacherib—an event documented in the Hebrew Bible and Assyrian inscriptions like the Taylor Prism. While the Bible presents Hezekiah as a devout hero who stood firm in faith, the archaeological record tells a more devastating tale, especially at the ruined city of Lachish.

🛡️ Topics Covered:

The Neo-Assyrian military machine

The siege and destruction of Lachish

The role of propaganda in the Taylor Prism

Hezekiah’s defensive preparations in Jerusalem

The mysterious Siloam Tunnel

How archaeology and scripture offer competing narratives

👑 Featuring:
King Hezekiah of Judah
Emperor Sennacherib of Assyria

📍 Locations:
Jerusalem, Lachish, Nineveh

🎥 Video by Patheos
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🧠 Special thanks to host, Dr. Andrew M. Henry of ‪@ReligionForBreakfast‬, scholars, historians, and archaeologists whose work informs this series.

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CHapters:
00:00 – Introduction: The Taylor Prism & Hezekiah’s Defeat
01:06 – Who Were the Neo-Assyrians?
01:49 – Assyrian Rule: Vassals, Terror, and Deportation
02:28 – The Fall of Israel and Refugees in Judah
03:05 – Hezekiah’s Rebellion Against Assyria
03:49 – The Invasion Begins: Sennacherib Marches on Judah
03:56 – Spotlight on Lachish: Judah’s Second City
04:39 – Archaeological Evidence of Lachish's Destruction
04:54 – Sennacherib’s Propaganda Relief at Nineveh
05:46 – Inside the Assyrian War Machine
06:00 – Hezekiah Prepares Jerusalem for Siege
06:26 – The Broad Wall and Hezekiah’s Tunnel
07:20 – The Siloam Inscription: A Tunnel Completed
08:07 – Biblical References to Hezekiah’s Waterworks
08:36 – Engineering Debates: Who Built the Tunnel?
09:19 – How Did the War End? Bible vs. Archaeology
10:04 – Aftermath: Tribute, Ruin, and Vassalage
10:23 – Hezekiah’s Religious Legacy in the Bible
11:04 – The Archaeological Record and Final Judgment
11:19 – Manasseh, Peace, and Assyrian Expansion
11:48 – Fall of Assyria & Rise of Babylon
12:02 – Prelude to Exile: Babylon’s Rise & Temple Destruction
12:08 – Outro & Watch More from Patheos