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Shalmaneser

historical_person theological_term standard

An Assyrian royal name borne by kings mentioned in the Old Testament, especially in connection with the siege and fall of Samaria.

At a Glance

A royal Assyrian name appearing in Scripture in connection with Hoshea, Samaria, and the fall of the northern kingdom.

Key Points

Description

Shalmaneser is an Assyrian royal name appearing in the Old Testament, where it is linked especially to the reign of Hoshea and the final crisis of the northern kingdom of Israel. In the biblical record, Shalmaneser belongs to the wider Assyrian dominance that culminated in Samaria’s fall. The entry is best understood as a historical proper name: Scripture uses it to place Israel’s judgment within real imperial history, not to teach a doctrine about the king himself. Because ancient Assyrian chronology and the exact identification of the ruler can be discussed in historical scholarship, the dictionary entry should remain careful and bounded, stating only what the biblical text clearly presents.

Biblical Context

In the Old Testament, Shalmaneser appears in the account of Assyria’s dealings with the northern kingdom of Israel. The name is tied to Hoshea’s rebellion, tribute, and the siege that led to Samaria’s capture. The narrative places Assyria’s rise and Israel’s decline within the covenant history of judgment and exile.

Historical Context

Shalmaneser belongs to the Assyrian imperial period, when Assyria dominated the Levant and exacted tribute from smaller kingdoms. The biblical references connect the name with the events surrounding the end of the northern kingdom. Historical discussion may compare the biblical notices with Assyrian royal chronology, but the entry should remain anchored to the scriptural identification.

Jewish and Ancient Context

For ancient readers, Assyria represented a powerful foreign empire used by God as an instrument of judgment. The name Shalmaneser would have evoked imperial power, tribute, siege, and exile in the memory of Israel’s fall.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

Hebrew rendering of an Assyrian royal name; the Old Testament uses it as a historical name connected with the fall of Samaria.

Theological Significance

Shalmaneser’s appearance in Scripture underscores God’s sovereignty over pagan empires and his judgment on persistent covenant unfaithfulness in the northern kingdom. The passage also shows that Israel’s history unfolds under divine providence, not merely political forces.

Philosophical Explanation

The entry is a reminder that biblical faith is rooted in public history. Real kings, real empires, and real events serve the purposes of God without reducing divine action to mere human politics.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not turn this entry into a speculative chronology debate. Scripture clearly associates the name with Assyria’s pressure on Israel, but the exact historical reconstruction should not be overstated beyond the biblical text.

Major Views

Most interpreters identify the biblical Shalmaneser with the Assyrian king involved in the fall of Samaria, often discussed in relation to Shalmaneser V. The main caution is not denial of the biblical reference, but restraint about exact historical harmonization where secondary data are debated.

Doctrinal Boundaries

This is a historical proper name, not a doctrine or theological concept. The entry should support biblical-historical understanding without making claims beyond the scriptural references.

Practical Significance

The account reminds readers that national power is under God’s rule and that covenant unfaithfulness has serious consequences. It also helps readers place the fall of Israel within the broader storyline of Scripture.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Shalmaneser

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