### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew lemma שַׁלְמַנְאֶסֶר (Shalmanʼeçer), Strong's number `{{H8022}}`, is a proper noun of foreign, specifically Assyrian, derivation. It designates a prominent historical figure, Shalmaneser V, king of the Neo-Assyrian Empire (reigned c. 727–722 BCE). The name itself is likely Akkadian, with "Shalman" referring to the Assyrian god Shulmanu, and "eser" meaning "chief" or "foremost," thus translating roughly to "Shulmanu is chief" or "Shulmanu is preeminent." Its semantic range in the biblical text is exclusively limited to this specific individual and his historical role as the Assyrian monarch who initiated the final siege and ultimate subjugation of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Shalmaneser is mentioned by name in two primary passages within the book of 2 Kings, both detailing his involvement in the demise of the Northern Kingdom of Israel:
* [[2 Kings 17:3]]: "Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant and paid him tribute." This verse introduces Shalmaneser as the dominant power asserting suzerainty over Hoshea, the last king of Israel. Hoshea's initial submission highlights the precarious political state of Israel and the growing Assyrian threat.
* [[2 Kings 17:4]]: "But the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea, for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year; therefore Shalmaneser shut him up and bound him in prison." This details Hoshea's rebellion, seeking an alliance with Egypt, which directly provoked Shalmaneser's decisive military response.
* [[2 Kings 17:5]]: "Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria and besieged it for three years." Shalmaneser's siege of Samaria, the capital of Israel, marked the beginning of the end for the Northern Kingdom. The three-year duration underscores the city's resilience but also the relentless pressure of the Assyrian war machine.
* [[2 Kings 17:6]]: "In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and deported Israel to Assyria, and settled them in Halah and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes." While historical records suggest Shalmaneser V died during the siege and his successor, Sargon II, completed the conquest and deportation, the biblical narrative attributes the entire process, from siege to deportation, to "the king of Assyria" who began the campaign, namely Shalmaneser. This reflects a common biblical practice of attributing the outcome of a prolonged campaign to its instigator.
* [[2 Kings 18:9]]: "In the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah, king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria and besieged it." This verse serves as a chronological marker, reiterating Shalmaneser's role in initiating the siege of Samaria.
The contextual analysis reveals Shalmaneser as the primary human agent in the final collapse of the Northern Kingdom, executing the judgment of God upon a nation that had persistently turned away from Him.
### Related Words & Concepts
The study of Shalmaneser naturally connects to several key biblical and historical concepts:
* **Assyria/Assyrians:** The empire and people `{{H0804}}` he ruled, representing a dominant world power and God's chosen instrument of judgment.
* **Hoshea:** The last king of Israel, whose rebellion against Shalmaneser directly led to the kingdom's downfall.
* **Samaria:** The capital city of the Northern Kingdom, which endured a three-year siege before its fall.
* **Exile/Deportation:** The policy implemented by Shalmaneser (or his successor, Sargon II) to remove the Israelite population from their land, effectively ending the Northern Kingdom. This concept is central to understanding the consequences of disobedience.
* **Tribute/Vassalage:** The system of political subservience and payment that Assyria imposed on conquered nations, which Hoshea violated.
* **Divine Judgment:** The overarching theological concept that Shalmaneser's actions serve to fulfill God's righteous judgment against Israel's idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness.
* **Sargon II:** Shalmaneser's successor, who, according to extra-biblical sources, completed the conquest of Samaria and the deportation of Israel. The biblical account's attribution to "the king of Assyria" (Shalmaneser) in [[2 Kings 17:6]] may encompass the continuity of the Assyrian royal line or the initial instigator of the campaign.
### Theological Significance
Shalmaneser, though a pagan king with his own imperial ambitions, stands as a profound theological figure in the biblical narrative. He serves as an unwitting instrument in the hand of the sovereign God, Yahweh, to execute divine judgment upon the Northern Kingdom of Israel. For centuries, Israel had rejected God's prophets, embraced idolatry, and engaged in moral corruption, thus violating the covenant established at Sinai. Shalmaneser's military campaigns and the subsequent Assyrian exile were not merely geopolitical events but the outworking of God's righteous wrath and His faithfulness to His covenant warnings (e.g., [[Deuteronomy 28]]).
His role underscores the biblical principle that God uses even wicked nations and their leaders to accomplish His divine purposes, demonstrating His ultimate control over human history. The fall of Samaria under Shalmaneser's initiative marks a pivotal moment, signifying the end of the Northern Kingdom's independent existence and a severe act of divine discipline, intended to bring about repentance or, failing that, to demonstrate the consequences of persistent disobedience. Shalmaneser's actions, therefore, are a stark reminder of God's justice and His unwavering commitment to His covenant, both in blessing and in judgment.
### Summary
Shalmaneser (שַׁלְמַנְאֶסֶר, `{{H8022}}`) was an Assyrian king who played a crucial role in the final days of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Mentioned primarily in 2 Kings, he initiated the siege of Samaria and the subsequent deportation of the Israelites, actions that led to the permanent dissolution of the Northern Kingdom. Theologically, Shalmaneser serves as a powerful illustration of God's sovereignty, acting as an instrument of divine judgment against Israel's persistent idolatry and disobedience. His historical actions fulfill prophetic warnings and underscore the severe consequences of covenant unfaithfulness, demonstrating God's ultimate control over the rise and fall of nations.
TRV