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Shalmaneser V

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Shalmaneser V was an Assyrian king associated with the siege of Samaria and the final years of the northern kingdom of Israel.

At a Glance

Assyrian ruler named in 2 Kings as part of the events that led to Samaria’s siege and Israel’s exile.

Key Points

Description

Shalmaneser V was a king of Assyria mentioned in 2 Kings in connection with Hoshea king of Israel and the siege of Samaria. Scripture presents these events as part of the historical outworking of God’s judgment on the northern kingdom for persistent covenant unfaithfulness. Because ancient sources and later historical reconstructions discuss the relationship between Shalmaneser V, the siege of Samaria, and the claims associated with Sargon II, a careful definition should remain close to the biblical text and avoid overstating details not explicitly stated there.

Biblical Context

In the biblical account, Assyria rises as the dominant imperial power over Israel. Shalmaneser V is named in the context of Hoshea’s rebellion, Assyrian pressure, and the siege of Samaria that culminated in the fall of the northern kingdom.

Historical Context

Shalmaneser V ruled Assyria in the late eighth century BC. The historical sequence surrounding Samaria’s fall is discussed by interpreters because Assyrian royal records and biblical narrative require careful correlation. A cautious entry should acknowledge the association with the siege while avoiding claims beyond the text.

Jewish and Ancient Context

For ancient readers, Assyria represented imperial power under God’s sovereignty. The fall of Samaria would have been understood as a national catastrophe bound up with covenant judgment, not merely a political event.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

The English name Shalmaneser reflects the Assyrian royal name as transmitted through biblical and historical tradition. English Bible forms follow established transliteration rather than a direct translation.

Theological Significance

Shalmaneser V illustrates God’s sovereignty over nations and the historic reality of covenant judgment. Assyrian kings acted freely and politically, yet the biblical text presents their rise and success within the Lord’s providential rule.

Philosophical Explanation

The entry belongs to the category of providential history: real political actors and events are meaningful within Scripture because God governs history without negating human responsibility.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not overstate the exact military or chronological role of Shalmaneser V beyond what 2 Kings explicitly says. The relationship between his campaign and later Assyrian claims about Samaria’s capture is a historical discussion, not a doctrinal one.

Major Views

Most interpreters identify Shalmaneser V as the Assyrian king directly associated with the siege of Samaria in 2 Kings. Some historical reconstructions debate how his campaign relates to Sargon II’s later claims, so the safest summary is textually restrained.

Doctrinal Boundaries

This entry should be treated as biblical history, not as a theological doctrine. It may illustrate judgment, providence, and covenant faithfulness, but those doctrines should be derived from Scripture rather than from speculation about Assyrian chronology.

Practical Significance

Shalmaneser V reminds readers that God judges persistent unfaithfulness and that no nation or ruler stands outside His authority. The entry also helps readers place Israel’s exile within the unfolding biblical narrative.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Shalmaneser V

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