Archaeology
Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III
- Era
- c. 825 BC
- Location
- Nimrud, Iraq
- Discovered
- 1846
An Assyrian victory monument depicting "Jehu, son of Omri" bowing before Shalmaneser III. As far as we know, it is the only surviving contemporary image of an Israelite king.
The find
Found by A.H. Layard at Nimrud, the 2-meter limestone obelisk records tribute paid to Shalmaneser III by various kings. Panel 2 shows a bearded figure bowing and bringing tribute, with a caption naming "Jehu son of Omri" — the same Jehu of 2 Kings 9-10 (though the Assyrians anachronistically labelled him as belonging to the Omride dynasty he had overthrown).
Why it matters
Here is a pictorial and inscriptional witness to a named king of Israel — from within a few years of his actual reign. Scripture and stone tell the same story.
Cross-linked Scripture
Doctrine check
Sources
Image: British Museum · Photo: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Discuss with AI