Sargon the Biblical Apologist

Isaiah 2:22 Stop regarding man, whose breath is in his nostrils, for why should he be esteemed?

Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that He should lie… Has He said, and will He not do it?

AssyrianEmpireabout 732 BC

AssyrianEmpireabout 730 BC: Syria (Aram) and part of the Northern King- dom of Israel conquered.

AssyrianEmpireabout 722 BC: All of Northern Kingdom of Israel conquered,includingSamaria.

About 720 BC: Assyrian Empire and Cushite (Egyptian)Empire BC: Cush (Egypt) and Assyria fight two indecisive battles in Palestine.

Isaiah 20:1 In the year [712/711BC] that the commander [lit. ‘tartan,’ transliteration of Assyrian ‘turtannu’, meaning second in command] came to Ashdod, when Sargon [reigned BC] the king of Assyria sent him and he fought against Ashdod and captured it, 2 at that time the LORD spoke through Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, "Go and loosen the sackcloth from your hips and take your shoes off your feet." And he did so, going naked and barefoot. 3 And the LORD said, "Even as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot three years as a sign and token against Egypt and Cush, 4 so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old, naked and barefoot with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt. 5 "Then they will be dismayed and ashamed because of Cush their hope and Egypt their boast. 6 "So the inhabitants of this coastland will say in that day, 'Behold, such is our hope, where we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria; and we, how shall we escape?"'

712/11 Ashdod revolts, is reconquered by Assyria Isaiah goes naked and barefoot as a warning: Assyria will defeat Cush/Egypt 704 Hezekiah allies with Cush/Egypt and Philistines to revolt against Assyria Assyria invades Palestine, conquering down the coastline. 701 Assyria invades Judah, takes 46 towns. Battle of Eltekeh: Assyria defeats Cush/Egypt in southern Judah Jerusalem does not fall; 185,000 Assyrians die, Assyrian army withdraws.

Isaiah 30:1 "Woe to the rebellious children," declares the LORD, "Who execute a plan, but not Mine, And make an alliance, but not of My Spirit, In order to add sin to sin; 2 Who proceed down to Egypt Without consulting Me, To take refuge in the safety of Pharaoh And to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt! … 5 Everyone will be ashamed because of a people who cannot profit them, Who are not for help or profit, but for shame and also for reproach. … 7 Even Egypt, whose help is vain and empty. …

Isaiah 20:1 In the year [712/711BC] that the commander [lit. ‘tartan,’ transliteration of Assyrian ‘turtannu’, meaning ‘second in command’] came to Ashdod, when Sargon [reigned BC] the king of Assyria sent him and he fought against Ashdod and captured it,

Sargon (King of Assyria, reigned BC) Only mentioned once in the BibleOnly mentioned once in the Bible No record of him had been found outside the Bible until 1843No record of him had been found outside the Bible until 1843 Before that, some scholars questioned whether he had existedBefore that, some scholars questioned whether he had existed

Hegel （ ） The dialectic: HumanThe dialectic: Human society and religion society and religion all evolving. all evolving. Including the Bible ！Including the Bible ！

In 1843, Sargon’s huge palace was found.

40 ton statue of human headed winged bull from Sargon’s palace Sculpture of Sargon (right).

Assyrian administrative pal- Assyrian tablet ace at Ashdod found in 2004 recording con- quest of Ashdod quest of Ashdod

Julius Wellhausen ( ) Key developer / promot-Key developer / promot- er of Documentary er of Documentary Hypothesis Hypothesis Claimed the Bible wasClaimed the Bible was composed of legends composed of legends stiched together by stiched together by editors across time editors across time Refused to consider theRefused to consider the findings of archaeology findings of archaeology

Sargon (reigned BC)

Assyrian administrative pal- Assyrian tablet ace at Ashdod found in 2004 recording con- quest of Ashdod quest of Ashdod

Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

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