68) SHALMANEZER. Sabacus, the Ethiopian, whom the Scripture calls So,
having made himself master of Egypt, Hoshea, king of Samaria, entered into
an alliance with him, hoping by that means to shake off the Assyrian
yoke.(1019) To this end he withdrew from his dependence upon Shalmanezer,
refusing to pay him any further tribute, or make him the usual presents.

Shalmanezer, to punish him for his presumption, marched against him with a
powerful army; and after having subdued all the plain country, shut him up
in Samaria, where he kept him closely besieged for three years; at the end
of which he took the city, loaded Hoshea with chains, and threw him into
prison for the rest of his days; carried away the people captive, and
planted them in Halah and Habor, cities of the Medes. And thus was the
kingdom of Israel, or of the ten tribes, destroyed, as God had often
threatened by his prophets. This kingdom, from the time of its separation
from that of Judah, lasted about two hundred and fifty years.

It was at this time that Tobit, with Anna his wife, and his son Tobias,
was carried captive into Assyria, where he became one of the principal
officers of king Shalmanezer.(1020)

Shalmanezer died, after having reigned fourteen years, and was succeeded
by his son:

(M169) SENNACHERIB. He is also called Sargon in Scripture.(1021)

As soon as this prince was settled on the throne, he renewed the demand of
the tribute exacted by his father from Hezekiah. Upon his refusal he
declared war against him, and entered into Judea with a mighty army.
Hezekiah, grieved to see his kingdom pillaged, sent ambassadors to him, to
desire peace upon any terms he would prescribe. Sennacherib, seemingly
mollified, entered into treaty with him, and demanded a very great sum of
gold and silver. The holy king exhausted both the treasures of the temple,
and his own coffers, to pay it. The Assyrian, regarding neither the
sanction of oaths nor treaties, still continued the war, and pushed on his
conquests more vigorously than ever. Nothing was able to withstand his
power, and of all the strong places of Judah, none remained untaken but
Jerusalem, which was likewise reduced to the utmost extremity. At this
very juncture,(1022) Sennacherib was informed, that Tirhakah, king of
Ethiopia, who had joined his forces with those of the king of Egypt, was
coming up to succour the besieged city. Now it was contrary to the express
command of God, as well as the remonst