Ancient Evidence of Sennacherib’s Campaign Impact on Judah Unearthed Near Jerusalem

Neria Sapir, one of the excavation directors on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority Photo: Yoli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority

In a groundbreaking discovery near Jerusalem, archaeologists have unearthed evidence of the significant impact Sennacherib’s military campaign had on the Kingdom of Judah’s economy. During excavations funded by the Israel Land Authority and conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority prior to the construction of the new Mordot Arnona neighborhood, researchers identified changes in the Judahite administration dating back to the reign of King Hezekiah, following the Assyrian invasion and its aftermath.

Sennacherib was a king of the Neo-Assyrian Empire who ruled from 705 BCE to 681 BCE. He is known for his military conquests, including his invasion of the Kingdom of Judah.

Sennacherib’s most famous campaign was his siege of Jerusalem in 701 BCE. This siege was a result of Judah’s rebellion against Assyrian rule. Although Sennacherib ultimately failed to capture Jerusalem, he inflicted heavy damage on the city and its surrounding areas.

While previous evidence of this campaign, which followed Judah’s rebellion, had been limited to the Judean Lowlands, this new discovery provides valuable insights into the broader impact of the event. From the recent excavations, a picture emerges indicating that the original Judahite administrative structure that existed on this site was completely destroyed.

“We discovered remains of a significant royal administrative center from the days of King Hezekiah, and perhaps even from the reign of his father, King Ahaz,” say Neria Sapir, Natan Ben-Ari and Benyamin Storchan, excavation directors on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority. “The center functioned in the last third of the 8th century BCE but was destroyed down to its foundations and buried under a massive heap of stones. The stone pile formed a platform upon which subsequent structure was erected, holding a commanding view of all the agricultural areas to the east of the Armon Ha-Natziv – Ramat Raḥel ridge, and could be seen from afar. Large building stones originating from the early structure were deliberately incorporated into the heap.”

“We interpret these dramatic changes as a statement by the Assyrian imperial government, intended to convey a political-diplomatic message to the surrounding region and make it clear ‘who is really in charge’ by overhauling the administrative structure and its function. As the Assyrians were still interested in the agricultural produce and taxes Judah could provide, they did allow for the existence of an independent Judahite administration, buy rather intensified its heavy economic demands.”

The administrative activities of Judah included the centralization and management of agricultural produce, which farmers used to pay taxes to the kingdom. These goods were transported and stored in large ceramic storage jars, likely serving as a reserve during times of scarcity. Additionally, evidence suggests that wine and potentially olive oil were produced in the Morodot Arnona neighborhood. The discovery of an array of stamp impression jar handles in Morodot Arnona highlights changes in the Judahite administration following Sennacherib’s military campaign. The long chronology of these seal impressions underscores the significance and continuity of Mordot Arnona throughout various administrative stages.

Dating from the 8th century BCE onwards, dozens of lmlk – ‘(belonging) to the king’ stamp impressions were discovered here, as well as 17 handles with ‘private’ names written in Hebrew script. Among the names on the ‘private’ jar-handle stamps are Menachem Yubna (lmnḥm/ywbnh), Peqach Tavra (lṗqḥ/tbr’), Tzophen Azaryahu (ṣpn.ʿ/zryhw), and others.

The Judahite stamp impressions from the Israel Antiquities Authority’s excavations at Mordot Arnona are now on display to the public for the first time at the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel. Details can be found on the Israel Antiquities Authority website.