Adad-nirari IV, the son or husband of Sammu-rammat, was a vigorous and successful campaigner.  He was the Assyrian king who became the “saviour” of Israel.  Although it is not possible to give a detailed account of his various expeditions, we find from the list of these which survives in the Eponym Chronicle that he included in the Assyrian Empire a larger extent of territory than any of his predecessors.  In the north-east he overcame the Median and other tribes, and acquired a large portion of the Iranian plateau; he compelled Edom to pay tribute, and established his hold in Babylonia by restricting the power of the Chaldaeans in Sealand.  In the north he swayed—­at least, so he claimed—­the wide domains of the Nairi people.  He also confirmed his supremacy over the Hittites.

The Aramaean state of Damascus, which had withstood the attack of the great Shalmaneser and afterwards oppressed, as we have seen, the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, was completely overpowered by Adad-nirari.  The old king, Hazael, died when Assyria’s power was being strengthened and increased along his frontiers.  He was succeeded by his son Mari, who is believed to be identical with the Biblical Ben-Hadad III.[498]

Shortly after this new monarch came to the throne, Adad-nirari IV led a great army against him.  The Syrian ruler appears to have been taken by surprise; probably his kingdom was suffering from the three defeats which had been previously administered by the revolting Israelites.[499] At any rate Mari was unable to gather together an army of allies to resist the Assyrian advance, and took refuge behind the walls of Damascus.  This strongly fortified city was closely invested, and Mari had at length to submit and acknowledge Adad-nirari as his overlord.  The price of peace included 23,000 talents of silver, 20 of gold, 3000 of copper, and 5000 of iron, as well as ivory ornaments and furniture, embroidered materials, and other goods “to a countless amount”.  Thus “the Lord gave Israel a saviour, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians:  and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents, as beforetime”.  This significant reference to the conquest of Damascus by the Assyrian king is followed by another which throws light on the religious phenomena of the period:  “Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked therein:  and there remained the grove also in Samaria".[500] Ashtoreth and her golden calf continued to be venerated, and doves were sacrificed to the local Adonis.

It is not certain whether Adad-nirari penetrated farther than Damascus.  Possibly all the states which owed allegiance to the king of that city became at once the willing vassals of Assyria, their protector.  The tribute received by Adad-nirari from Tyre, Sidon, the land of Omri (Israel), Edom, and Palastu (Philistia) may have been gifted as a formal acknowledgment of his suzerainty and with purpose to bring them directly under Assyrian control, so that Damascus might be prevented from taking vengeance against them.