Judah, and others. Merodach
Baladan, the Chaldaean king, whom Sargon had deposed, supported by
Elamites and Aramaeans, was also a party to the conspiracy. "At that
time Merodach Baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent
letters and a present to Hezekiah.... And Hezekiah was glad of
them."[532]

Merodach Baladan again seized the throne of Babylon. Sargon's son, who
had been appointed governor, was murdered and a pretender sat on the
throne for a brief period, but Merodach Baladan thrust him aside and
reigned for nine months, during which period he busied himself by
encouraging the kings of Judah and Tyre to revolt. Sennacherib invaded
Babylonia with a strong army, deposed Merodach Baladan, routed the
Chaldaeans and Aramaeans, and appointed as vassal king Bel-ibni, a
native prince, who remained faithful to Assyria for about three years.

In 707 B.C. Sennacherib appeared in the west. When he approached Tyre,
Luli, the king, fled to Cyprus. The city was not captured, but much of
its territory was ceded to the king of Sidon. Askalon was afterwards
reduced. At Eltekeh Sennacherib came into conflict with an army of
allies, including Ethiopian, Egyptian, and Arabian Mutsri forces,
which he routed. Then he captured a number of cities in Judah and
transported 200,150 people. He was unable, however, to enter
Jerusalem, in which Hezekiah was compelled to remain "like a bird in a
cage". It appears that Hezekiah "bought off" the Assyrians on this
occasion with gifts of gold and silver and jewels, costly furniture,
musicians, and female slaves.

In 689 B.C. Sennacherib found it necessary to penetrate Arabia.
Apparently another conspiracy was brewing, for Hezekiah again
revolted. On his return from the south--according to Berosus he had
been in Egypt--the Assyrian king marched against the king of Judah.

And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was
purposed to fight against Jerusalem, he took counsel with the
princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains
which were without the city: and they did help him.... Why should
the kings of Assyria come and find much water?

Sennacherib sent messengers to Jerusalem to attempt to stir up the
people against Hezekiah. "He wrote also letters to rail on the Lord
God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the
nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine
hand, so shall not the God of Hez