This is a re-formatting, but not a rewriting or updating, of my MA thesis submitted to the faculty of Columbia Biblical Seminary and Graduate School of Missions in Columbia, SC on May 21, 1987. It was written under the direction of Dr. Alex Luc. My second and third readers were Dr. Paul B. Fowler and Dr. William K. Phillips.

  • 21Feb

    by Gordon Franz
    BIBLIOGRAPHY
    Aharoni, Yohanan
    1979    The Land of the Bible. 2nd edition. Trans. by A. Rainey. Philadelphia, PA: Westminster.
    Albright, William F.
    1945    The Chronology of the Divided Monarch of Israel. Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 100: 16-22.
    1953    New Light from Egypt on the Chronology and History of Israel and Judah. Bulletin of the American [...]

  • 21Feb

    by Gordon Franz
    THE CHRONOLOGY OF ISAIAH 1-39
    There are four chronological indicators in the first half of the book of Isaiah (Isa. 1-39). They are, the “year that King Uzziah died” (Isa. 6:1), the “days of Ahaz” (7:1), the “year that King Ahaz died” (14:28), and the “fourteenth year of King Hezekiah” (36:1). Using these as [...]

  • 21Feb

    by Gordon Franz
    CONCLUSIONS

    Review
    The two major views which permeate the scholarly community, with regards to the Sennacherib / Hezekiah chronology problem, have been found wanting. Both have serious flaws in them and should be abandoned.
    This paper set forth a new reconstruction for the life of King Hezekiah and his two encounters with Sennacherib. Hezekiah came to [...]

  • 18Feb

    by Gordon Franz
    A NEW PROPOSAL

    Reconsidering the Data
    It has been demonstrated that the two standard interpretations of this period are wanting. A new historical reconstruction will be set forth which conforms to the Biblical records and does justice to the Assyrian, Egyptian, and Babylonian histories.[1]  Literary evidence which justifies this reconstruction will also be set forth.
    The [...]

  • 14Feb

    by Gordon Franz
    THE ONE-CAMPAIGN THEORY

    Introduction
    The one-campaign theory postulates that Hezekiah submitted to Sennacherib in the year 701 BC (2 Kings 18:14-16). Soon after, Sennacherib attempted to take Jerusalem, but was repulsed (2 Kings 19:17ff.). According to this theory, Hezekiah saw the Assyrian might in the victories that were achieved in Phoenicia and Philistia. This convinced [...]

  • 12Feb

    CHAPTER 2
    THE TWO CAMPAIGN THEORY
    The History and Proponents of the Theory
    In 1858, G. Rawlinson first introduced the idea that Sennacherib invaded Judah on two occasions (1884: 1: 584, footnote 454). Since then, scholars have been divided on this issue. The leading proponents for two campaigns are Albright (1953: 4-11; 1956: 23-27), Bright (1981: 278-288, 298-309), [...]

  • 12Feb

    by Gordon Franz
    Chapter 1
    INTRODUCTION
    The Significance of this Study
    Sennacherib’s campaign(s) against the land of Judah during the reign of King Hezekiah has created much debate among Bible scholars. Yet few Biblical events are as well attested as this one. It is recounted in several places in the Biblical records as well as on a number of [...]

  • 12Feb

    by Gordon Franz
    A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts in Old Testament
    Columbia Biblical Seminary and Graduate School of Missions
    Columbia, South Carolina
    May 1967
    ABSTRACT

    Sennacherib’s campaign(s), well attested in Biblical and Assyrian sources, against the Land of Judah during the reign of King Hezekiah has created much debate among [...]