Researchers have uncovered evidence supporting a Biblical account of a battle that occurred approximately 2,700 years ago in Jerusalem. The archaeological discovery, reported by the Daily Mail, provides new insights into the confrontation between God’s angel and Assyrian soldiers.
According to Biblical scripture, an angel of the Lord descended upon the Assyrian troops as they attempted to capture Jerusalem, resulting in the deaths of around 185,000 soldiers in a single night.
The Assyrian Empire, which spanned from 1365 to 609 BC, was led by King Sennacherib during this campaign. Sennacherib sought to control key routes across the Syrian Desert leading to the Mediterranean Sea. Engravings on the walls of Sennacherib’s palace depict the conquest of Lachish, a city located 42 miles south of Jerusalem, and include a detailed military base floor plan.
Archaeologist Stephen Compton examined these ancient engravings and cross-referenced them with aerial photographs of the suspected historical site. This investigation led to the identification of the site in Jerusalem’s Ammunition Hill area, aligning with the Biblical narrative.
“This appears to be the site of Sennacherib’s camp from the siege of Jerusalem, which is referenced in three books of the Bible,” Compton stated in a June 4 press release.
The engravings pointed to the remains of a perimeter wall and pottery shards, which Compton’s analysis dated to approximately 2,600 years old. The site is believed to have been abandoned following Sennacherib’s invasion.
Researchers are eager to apply similar methods to locate other military bases and ancient cities destroyed by the Assyrian Empire.
“In some cases, it has also been possible to use the newly discovered camps to locate the sites of ancient cities that were known to have been besieged by the Assyrians but whose locations were unknown or uncertain,” Compton noted.
The story of God’s victory over the Assyrians in Jerusalem is detailed in three Biblical scriptures: Isaiah 37:36-38, 2 Kings 19:35, and 2 Chronicles 32:21.
According to the narrative, Jerusalem’s ruler Hezekiah prayed to Yahweh, the Israelite deity, for protection. In response, an angel was sent to ambush the soldiers as they slept. Alternative accounts describe a massacre in the Assyrian camp, while a version from Greek scripture recounts an invasion of mice that destroyed the soldiers’ weaponry.