* This individual is called Sua, Seveh, and So in the Hebrew text (2 Kings xvii. 4), and the Septuagint gives the transliteration Sebek side by side with Segos.  He is found again under the forms Shibahi, Shabi, Shabe, in Sargon’s inscriptions.

Hannon of Gaza had by this time returned from exile, and it was, doubtless, owing to Shabi’s support that he had been able to drive out the Assyrian generals and recover his crown.* The Israelite aristocracy was led away by his example, but Shalmaneser hastened to the spot before the Egyptian bowmen had time to cross the isthmus.  Hoshea begged for mercy, and was deported into Assyria and condemned to lifelong imprisonment.** Though deserted by her king, Samaria did not despair; she refused to open her gates, and, being strongly fortified, compelled the Assyrians to lay regular siege to the city.  It would seem that at one moment, at the beginning of operations, when it was rumoured on all sides that Pharaoh would speedily intervene, Ahaz began to fear for his own personal safety, and seriously considered whether it would not be wiser to join forces with Israel or with Egypt.***

     * This seems to be the inference from Sargon’s inscription,
     in which he is referred to as relying on the army of Shabi,
     the tartan of Egypt.

     ** 2 Kings xvii. 4.

*** The Second Book of Kings (xviii. 9,10; cf. xvii. 6) places the beginning of the siege of Samaria in the seventh year of Hoshea ( = fourth year of Hezekiah), and the capture of the town in the ninth year of Hoshea ( = sixth year of Hezekiah); further on it adds that Sennacherib’s campaign against Hezekiah took place in the fourteenth year of the latter’s reign (2 Kings xviii. 13; cf.  Isa. xxxvi. 1).  Now, Sennacherib’s campaign against Hezekiah took place (as will be shown later on, in vol. viii.  Chapter I.) in 702 B.C., and Samaria was captured in 722.  The synchronisms in the Hebrew narrative are therefore fictitious, and rest on no real historical basis—­at any rate, in so far as the king who occupied the throne of Judah at the time of the fall of Samaria is concerned; Ahaz was still alive at that date, and continued to reign till 716 or 715, or perhaps only till 720.

[Illustration:  328.jpg The Sword Dance]

     After Painting by Gerome

The rapid sequence of events, however, backed by the counsel of Isaiah, speedily recalled him to a more reasonable view of the situation.  The prophet showed him Samaria spread out before him like one of those wreaths of flowers which the guests at a banquet bind round their brows, and which gradually fade as their wearers drink deeper and deeper.  “Woe to the crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley of them that are overcome with wine.  Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one; as a tempest of hail, a destroying