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(No. 92,687), is a Babylonian map of the world. It shows the ocean surrounding the
world, and marks the position of Babylon on the Euphrates, the mountains at the source
of the river, and other details.
Near by (No. 92,668) is another interesting object, formed in the shape of a human
liver, and inscribed with magical formulæ. This was used for the purpose of divination,
and explains the strange words of Ezek. 21: 21, "He consulted with teraphim, he looked
into the liver."
In the same case (No. 92,693) is a Babylonian Syllabary or spelling book. This gives
names, pronunciations, meanings of a number of cuneiform characters. These Syllabaries
are numerous and have proved of great value in the interpretation of the cuneiform
inscriptions. This particular spelling book is dated the 10th year of Artaxerxes, and takes
us therefore to the days of Nehemiah. No. 46,226 is a Tablet giving the names of plants
in the garden of Merodach-Baladin 2:, King of Babylon. Another Tablet in this Case
referring to Sennacherib we leave until next time when we take notice of all that is said of
that King in this Room.
#9.
Sennacherib and Hezekiah.
pp. 41 - 42
II Kings 18: 13-16.
13. Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the
fenced cities of Judah, and took them.
14. And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return
from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king
of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.
15. And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of
the king's house.
16. At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the Lord, and from the
pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.
In II Kings 18: 13-16 we have an account of the invasion of Judah by Sennacherib,
king of Assyria. Hezekiah is appointed by Sennacherib to pay 300 talents of silver, and
30 talents of gold, to pay for exemption from the siege that was threatened. In Table
Case H will be found a six-sided cylinder bearing the number 91,032, which gives
Sennacherib's own account of the same event. The cylinder contains a record of eight
campaigns, one of them, the third, including the invasion of Palestine and the siege of
Jerusalem. The inscription which deals with Hezekiah reads as follows:-
"I then besieged HEZEKIAH OF JUDAH who had not submitted to my yoke, and I
captured forty-six of his strong cities and fortresses and innumerable small cities which
were round about them with the battering of rams and the assault of engines and the
attack of foot soldiers, and by mines and breaches (made in the walls) . . . . . (Hezekiah)
Himself, like a caged bird, I shut up within JERUSALEM HIS ROYAL CITY . . . . . The