Jehu and Shalmaneser III

Four of Shalmaneser III’s inscriptions mention King Jehu of Israel (841–814 bc; 2 Kgs 9–10) as an Assyrian tributary:

1. the Calah Bulls;

2. the Kurba’il Statue;

3. the Marble Slab;

4. the Black Obelisk.

The Old Testament contains no record of Jehu’s tribute. However, considering that Jehu was a usurper of the throne, it is reasonable to assume he would have sought to secure his throne by pledging allegiance to a powerful ruler (see Lamb, Righteous Jehu, 124–28).

The Black Obelisk (ca. 828 bc) presents an image of Jehu bowing to Shalmaneser III below its description of his tribute. This is the oldest surviving pictorial representation of a biblical figure. Younger, Cogan, and Tadmor suggest the image may represent Jehu’s envoy (COS 2:269; Cogan and Tadmor, II Kings, 121). However, it is more reasonable to assume that the image is of Jehu since the tribute was presented on Mount Carmel, only about 25 miles from Jezreel, where Jehu killed Jehoram and Jezebel (see Lamb, Righteous Jehu, 125–26). The depiction of Jehu’s tribute wraps around the four sides of the obelisk, suggesting it was a sizable gift. Elat argues that Jehu’s tribute was voluntary and not the result of a military defeat (Elat, “Campaigns of Shalmaneser,” 25–35). Lambert believes that Jehu gave his tribute to Shalmaneser III early in his reign to help Jehu consolidate power (Lambert, “When Did Jehu,” 51–56). This suggestion is reasonable since the northern kingdom was unstable and Jehu was one of many usurpers. Jehu’s Assyrian tribute may have contributed to the unusual longevity of his dynasty, which lasted more than twice as long as the next longest northern dynasty (the Omride dynasty). Green argues that the placement of Jehu’s panel in the second row of the obelisk indicates it was regarded as Shalmaneser’s second greatest accomplishment (Green, “Boundaries,” 35–39).

Although Jehu was the only northern ruler deemed righteous for wiping out the house of Ahab and Baal worship in Israel (2 Kgs 10:30), the Black Obelisk depicts Jehu worshiping not only Shalmaneser III but also the winged symbol of the Assyrian god Assur; thus, the obelisk portrays Jehu as an idolater. Jehu’s Assyrian tribute took place on Mount Carmel, the same location where Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal (1 Kgs 18:20–40).