Sargon is a name associated with two prominent Assyrian kings in ancient history, though only one is directly mentioned in the Bible. The name "Sargon" means "the king is legitimate" or "true king," reflecting the authority and power these rulers wielded in the ancient Near East.

Sargon II

Sargon II reigned as king of Assyria from 722 to 705 BC. He is the Sargon mentioned in the Bible, specifically in the book of Isaiah. His reign is noted for its military campaigns and the expansion of the Assyrian Empire. Sargon II succeeded Shalmaneser V and is known for his conquest of Samaria, which led to the final fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 722 BC. This event resulted in the deportation of many Israelites, fulfilling the prophetic warnings of the prophets regarding the consequences of Israel's disobedience to God.

In Isaiah 20:1 , it is recorded: "In the year that the chief commander, sent by Sargon king of Assyria, came to Ashdod and attacked and captured it." This verse highlights Sargon's military activities and his influence over the region, including the Philistine city of Ashdod. The capture of Ashdod was part of Sargon's broader campaign to secure Assyrian dominance over the rebellious territories in the west.

Sargon II's reign was marked by significant building projects, including the construction of a new capital at Dur-Sharrukin (modern-day Khorsabad). This city was a testament to his power and served as a symbol of Assyrian might. However, Sargon II's life ended abruptly in battle, and he was succeeded by his son, Sennacherib, who continued the Assyrian legacy.

Sargon of Akkad

Though not mentioned in the Bible, Sargon of Akkad is another significant historical figure bearing the name Sargon. He founded the Akkadian Empire around 2334 BC and is often credited with creating one of the world's first empires. His reign set a precedent for future Mesopotamian rulers, including the Assyrians. While Sargon of Akkad's exploits are not directly relevant to biblical narratives, his legacy influenced the political and cultural landscape of the ancient Near East, which forms the backdrop for many biblical events.

Historical and Archaeological Context

The historical existence of Sargon II was confirmed through archaeological discoveries, including inscriptions and reliefs that detail his reign and military campaigns. These findings have provided valuable insights into the Assyrian Empire's history and its interactions with the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. The Assyrian annals and records corroborate the biblical account of the fall of Samaria and the deportation of the Israelites, underscoring the historical reliability of the biblical narrative.

Sargon II's reign is a reminder of the geopolitical dynamics of the ancient Near East and the role of divine providence in the affairs of nations, as depicted in the biblical text. His mention in the Bible serves as a historical anchor, linking the biblical narrative to the broader history of the region.Sargon

who takes away protection

Sargon

(prince of the sea), one of the greatest of the Assyrian kings, is mentioned by name but once in Scripture-- (Isaiah 20:1) He was the successor of Shalmaneser, and was Sennacherib's father and his reigned from B.C. 721 to 702, and seems to have been a usurper. He was undoubtedly a great and successful warrior. In his annals, which cover a space of fifteen years, from B.C. 721 to 706, he gives an account of his warlike expeditions against Babylonia and Susiana on the south, Media on the east, Armenia and Cappadocia toward the north, Syria, Palestine, Arabia and Egypt toward the west and southwest. In B.C. 712 he took Ashdod, by one of his generals, which is the event which causes the mention of his name in Scripture. It is not as a warrior only that Sargon deserves special mention among the Assyrian kings. He was also the builder of useful works, and of one of the most magnificent of the Assyrian palaces.

Sargon

Isaiah 20:1-4, one of the later Assyrian kings, who sent his general, Tartan, with an army against Ashdod, and took it. The northwest palace at Nimroud in the ruins of Nineveh was built by him. There is some doubt whether he is or is not to be identified with one of the kings elsewhere mentioned in Scripture; and some regard him as having reigned for about three years between Shalmaneser and Sennacherib. Others think he was the same as Shalmaneser, which see.

(In the inscriptions, "Sarra-yukin" [the god] has appointed the king; also "Sarru-kinu, " the legitimate king.) On the death of Shalmaneser (B.C. 723), one of the Assyrian generals established himself on the vacant throne, taking the name of "Sargon," after that of the famous monarch, the Sargon of Accad, founder of the first Semitic empire, as well as of one of the most famous libraries of Chaldea. He forthwith began a conquering career, and became one of the most powerful of the Assyrian monarchs. He is mentioned by name in the Bible only in connection with the siege of Ashdod (Isaiah 20:1).

At the very beginning of his reign he besieged and took the city of Samaria (2 Kings 17:6; 18:9-12). On an inscription found in the palace he built at Khorsabad, near Nieveh, he says, "The city of Samaria I besieged, I took; 27,280 of its inhabitants I carried away; fifty chariots that were among them I collected," etc. The northern kingdom he changed into an Assyrian satrapy. He afterwards drove Merodach-baladan (q.v.), who kept him at bay for twelve years, out of Babylon, which he entered in triumph. By a succession of victories he gradually enlarged and consolidated the empire, which now extended from the frontiers of Egypt in the west to the mountains of Elam in the east, and thus carried almost to completion the ambitious designs of Tiglath-pileser (q.v.). He was murdered by one of his own soldiers (B.C. 705) in his palace at Khorsabad, after a reign of sixteen years, and was succeeded by his son Sennacherib.

SARGON

sar'-gon (722-705 B.C.): The name of this ruler is written cargon, in the Old Testament, Shar-ukin in the cuneiform inscriptions, Arna, in the Septuagint, and Arkeanos, in the Ptolemaic Canon. Sargon is mentioned but once by name in the Old Testament (Isaiah 20:1), when he sent his Tartan (turtannu) against Ashdod, but he is referred to in 2 Kings 17:6 as "the king of Assyria" who carried Israel into captivity.

Shalmaneser V had laid siege to Samaria and besieged it three years. But shortly before or very soon after its capitulation, Sargon, perhaps being responsible for the king's death, overthrew the dynasty, and in his annals credited himself with the capture of the city and the deportation of its inhabitants. Whether he assumed the name of the famous ancient founder of the Accad dynasty is not known.

Sargon at the beginning of his reign was confronted with a serious situation in Babylon. Merodach-baladan of Kaldu, who paid tribute to previous rulers, on the change of dynasty had himself proclaimed king, New Year's Day, 721 B.C. At Dur-ilu, Sargon fought with the forces of Merodachbalddan and his ally Khumbanigash of Elam, but although he claimed a victory the result was apparently indecisive. Rebellions followed in other parts of the kingdom.

In 720 B.C. Ilu-bi'di (or Yau-bi'di), king of Hamath, formed a coalition against Sargon with Hanno of Gaza, Sib'u of Egypt, and with the cities Arpad, Simirra, Damascus and Samaria. He claims that Sib'u fled, and that he captured and flayed Ilu-bi'di, burned Qarqar, and carried Hanno captive to Assyria. After destroying Rapihu, he carried away 9,033 inhabitants to Assyria.

In the following year Ararat was invaded and the Hittite Carchemish fell before his armies. The territory of Rusas, king of Ararat, as well as a part of Melitene became Assyrian provinces.

In 710 B.C. Sargon directed his attention to Merodachbaladan, who no longer enjoyed the support of Elam, and whose rule over Babylon had not been popular with his subjects. He was driven out from Babylon and also from his former capital Bit-Yakin, and Sargon had himself crowned as the shakkanak of Babylon.

In 706 B.C. the new city called Dur-Sharrukin was dedicated as his residence. A year later he was murdered. It was during his reign that the height of Assyrian ascendancy had been reached.

A. T. Clay

5623. Sargon -- a king of Assyr.
... 5622, 5623. Sargon. 5624 . a king of Assyr. Transliteration: Sargon
Phonetic Spelling: (sar-gone') Short Definition: Sargon. ...
/hebrew/5623.htm - 5k

Sargon of Assyria (722-705 BC )
... CHAPTER III"SARGON OF ASSYRIA (722-705 BC). SARGON AS A WARRIOR AND AS
A BUILDER. The origin of Sargon II.: the revolt of Babylon ...
/.../chapter iiisargon of assyria 722-705.htm

Editor's Preface
... views. These are the geographical situation of the land of Magan, and the
historical character of the annals of Sargon of Accad. ...
/.../history of egypt chaldaea syria babylonia and assyria v 1/editors preface.htm

Nineveh.
... Sargon seems to have dethroned Shalmaneser about this time, and to have completed
the conquest of Israel, of which he boasted on the tablets of a great palace ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson ix nineveh.htm

Two Famous Versions of the Scriptures
... The Israelitish city of Samaria was captured by Sargon, king of Assyria, in 722
BC; but although he carried away the most important inhabitants captive, a ...
/.../duff/the bible in its making/chapter vii two famous versions.htm

Introduction
... At Niffer, in the north of Babylonia, the American excavators have found an even
larger number of tablets, some of which go back to the age of Sargon of Akkad ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/introduction.htm

Appendices
... En-annadu II., high-priest. Lugal-usum-gal, vassal of Sargon of Akkad. KINGS OF
KIS. ... Lugal-khassi. DYNASTY OF AGADE (AKKAD). Sargon or Sargani-sar-ali, BC3800. ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/appendices.htm

The History Books
... Amos and Hosea, for instance, warned their people of the approach of Sargon of Assyria
unless they repented and turned again to the law of the Lord. ...
/.../duff/the bible in its making/chapter iv the history books.htm

Chapter x
... They came from the Caucasus into Asia Minor settling south of the Black
Sea. In the reign of Sargon they are mentioned as Gimirrai. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter x.htm

Canaan
... As far back as the reigns of Sargon of Akkad and his son Naram-Sin (BC3800), three
campaigns had laid it at the feet of the Chaldaean monarch, and Palestine ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter ii canaan.htm

The Nations of the North-East
... world. Its capture by Sargon destroyed a rival of Assyrian trade, and opened
the road to the Mediterranean to the armies of Assyria. ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iv the nations of.htm

Sargon (1 Occurrence)
... king.) On the death of Shalmaneser (BC 723), one of the Assyrian generals established
himself on the vacant throne, taking the name of "Sargon," after that of ...
/s/sargon.htm - 10k

Chaldeans (82 Occurrences)
... 1. Geographical Position Seats of the Chaldeans 2. Originally Sumero-Akkadian 3.
History of the Chaldean Tribes 4. Merodach-baladan and Sargon of Assyria 5 ...
/c/chaldeans.htm - 48k

Chaldea (8 Occurrences)
... 1. Geographical Position Seats of the Chaldeans 2. Originally Sumero-Akkadian 3.
History of the Chaldean Tribes 4. Merodach-baladan and Sargon of Assyria 5 ...
/c/chaldea.htm - 25k

Kittim (8 Occurrences)
... According to the Assyrian copy of Sargon of Agade's omens, that king (about 3800
BC in the opinion of Nabonidus; 2800 BC in the opinion of many Assyriologists ...
/k/kittim.htm - 15k

Tartan (2 Occurrences)
... (1.) One of Sennacherib's messengers to Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:17). (2.) One of
Sargon's generals (Isaiah 20:1). Noah Webster's Dictionary. ...
/t/tartan.htm - 8k

Medes (15 Occurrences)
... Tiglath-pileser IV (in Babylonian called Pulu, the "Pul" of 2 Kings
15:19) and Sargon also overran parts of Media. Sargon in 716 ...
/m/medes.htm - 18k

Merodach-baladan (2 Occurrences)
... This Merodach-baladan was a king of the Chaldeans of the house of Yakin, and was
the most dangerous and inveterate foe of Sargon and his son Sennacherib, kings ...
/m/merodach-baladan.htm - 9k

Merodachbaladan (1 Occurrence)
... This Merodach-baladan was a king of the Chaldeans of the house of Yakin, and was
the most dangerous and inveterate foe of Sargon and his son Sennacherib, kings ...
/m/merodachbaladan.htm - 9k

Ashdod (21 Occurrences)
... According to Sargon's record, it was captured by him in BC 711. ...Sargon at once
dispatched a force to subdue the rebels and the city was severely punished. ...
/a/ashdod.htm - 17k

Babylon (270 Occurrences)
... The most famous of the early kings of Babylonia were Sargon of Accad (BC.3800) and
his son, Naram-Sin, who conquered a large part of Western Asia, establishing ...
/b/babylon.htm - 93k

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