The cuneiform inscriptions and the Old Testament - The Search For ...

94 THE CUNEIFORM INSCRIPTIONS AND THE O. T.
The question arises, what date are we to assign to this
campaign of Sargon against Ashdod ? We might feel temp-
ted to believe that this enterprise was identical with that
against Seveh, which ended in the battle of Raphia and
the rout of the Aegyptians (see above on Is. XX, 1, p. 81).
But if this were so, the complete separation of the two
accounts, regarding the capture of Ashdod and respecting
the defeat of Seveh, would be incomprehensible. Next, we
might imagine that the enterprise against Ashdod is to be
connected with the despatch of tribute hj Pharaoh and
Samsieh, queen of the Arabs, notices of which may be
read in the opening lines of the Khors&bad- inscription
(see above p. 88 in this volume). But the inscription
keeps this despatch of tribute and the petition of the
Aethiopian king for peace perfectly distinct from one
another. The one is narrated in Botta 145, 2 line 3
the other in Botta 151, 10 line 3. Therefore what
is intended must be the expedition against Ashdod which
the annals place in Sargon's 11*"^ year. Since we shall
have frequently to refer to the chronological dates of the
annals, it would perhaps be opportune if I were to subjoin
here a chronological survey of Sargon's enterprises based
upon these records.
Sargon's Annals.
722. Beginning of the reign'*'. Conquest of Samaria.
Botta pi. 70, 1 — 4.
* This "beginning of rule" (ri's Sarrfiti, surrat sarruti) is in
other cases expressly distinguished in the inscriptions from the first
year of the king's reign. Comp. for example the obelisk of Salmanassar
22, Tigl.-Pileser I col. I, 22, Sanherib Bellino-eyl. line 6. The
;