Sargon the Biblical ApologistSargon the Biblical Apologist

Isaiah 2:22 Stop regarding man, Isaiah 2:22 Stop regarding man, whose breath is in his nostrils, whose breath is in his nostrils,

for why should he be esteemed?for why should he be esteemed?

Numbers 23:19 God is not a Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that He should lie… Has man, that He should lie… Has He said, and will He not do it?He said, and will He not do it?

AssyrianAssyrianEmpire Empire aboutabout732 BC732 BC

AssyrianAssyrianEmpireEmpireaboutabout730 BC:730 BC:Syria (Aram)Syria (Aram)and part of the and part of the Northern King-Northern King-dom of Israeldom of Israelconquered.conquered.

AssyrianAssyrianEmpireEmpireaboutabout722 BC:722 BC:All of NorthernAll of NorthernKingdom of IsraelKingdom of Israelconquered, conquered, includingincludingSamaria.Samaria.

About 720 BC:About 720 BC:Assyrian EmpireAssyrian Empireand Cushite and Cushite (Egyptian)(Egyptian)Empire.Empire.

720-712 BC:720-712 BC:Cush (Egypt) andCush (Egypt) andAssyria fight twoAssyria fight twoindecisive battlesindecisive battlesin Palestine.in Palestine.

Isaiah 20:1 In the year Isaiah 20:1 In the year [712/711BC][712/711BC] that the commander that the commander [lit. [lit. ‘tartan,’ transliteration of Assyrian ‘turtannu’, meaning second in ‘tartan,’ transliteration of Assyrian ‘turtannu’, meaning second in command]command] came to Ashdod, when Sargon came to Ashdod, when Sargon [reigned 722-705BC] [reigned 722-705BC] the king of Assyria sent him and he fought against Ashdod and the king of Assyria sent him and he fought against Ashdod and captured it, 2 at that time the LORD spoke through Isaiah the captured it, 2 at that time the LORD spoke through Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, "Go and loosen the sackcloth from your son of Amoz, saying, "Go and loosen the sackcloth from your hips and take your shoes off your feet." And he did so, going hips and take your shoes off your feet." And he did so, going naked and barefoot. 3 And the LORD said, "Even as My naked and barefoot. 3 And the LORD said, "Even as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot three years as a servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot three years as a sign and token against Egypt and Cush, 4 so the king of sign and token against Egypt and Cush, 4 so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old, naked and barefoot with buttocks Cush, young and old, naked and barefoot with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt. 5 "Then they will be uncovered, to the shame of Egypt. 5 "Then they will be dismayed and ashamed because of Cush their hope and Egypt dismayed and ashamed because of Cush their hope and Egypt their boast. 6 "So the inhabitants of this coastland will say in their boast. 6 "So the inhabitants of this coastland will say in that day, 'Behold, such is our hope, where we fled for help to be that day, 'Behold, such is our hope, where we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria; and we, how shall we delivered from the king of Assyria; and we, how shall we escape?"'escape?"'

712/11712/11 Ashdod revolts, is reconquered by Assyria Ashdod revolts, is reconquered by Assyria

711-708711-708 Isaiah goes naked and barefoot as a Isaiah goes naked and barefoot as a warning: Assyria will defeat Cush/Egyptwarning: Assyria will defeat Cush/Egypt

704704 Hezekiah allies with Cush/Egypt and Hezekiah allies with Cush/Egypt and Philistines to revolt against AssyriaPhilistines to revolt against Assyria

703-701703-701 Assyria invades Palestine, conquering Assyria invades Palestine, conquering down the coastline.down the coastline.

701701

Assyria invades Judah, takes 46 towns.Assyria invades Judah, takes 46 towns.

Battle of Eltekeh: Assyria defeats Battle of Eltekeh: Assyria defeats Cush/Egypt in southern JudahCush/Egypt in southern Judah

Jerusalem does Jerusalem does notnot fall; 185,000 Assyrians fall; 185,000 Assyrians die, Assyrian army withdraws.die, Assyrian army withdraws.

Isaiah 30:1 "Woe to the rebellious children," Isaiah 30:1 "Woe to the rebellious children," declares the LORD, "Who execute a plan, declares the LORD, "Who execute a plan, but not Mine, And make an alliance, but not but not Mine, And make an alliance, but not of My Spirit, In order to add sin to sin; 2 Who of My Spirit, In order to add sin to sin; 2 Who proceed down to Egypt Without consulting proceed down to Egypt Without consulting Me, To take refuge in the safety of Pharaoh Me, To take refuge in the safety of Pharaoh And to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt! And to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt! … 5 Everyone will be ashamed because of a … 5 Everyone will be ashamed because of a people who cannot profit them, Who are not people who cannot profit them, Who are not for help or profit, but for shame and also for for help or profit, but for shame and also for reproach. … 7 Even Egypt, whose help is reproach. … 7 Even Egypt, whose help is vain and empty. …vain and empty. …

Isaiah 20:1 In the year Isaiah 20:1 In the year [712/711BC][712/711BC] that the commander that the commander [lit. ‘tartan,’ [lit. ‘tartan,’ transliteration of Assyrian ‘turtannu’, transliteration of Assyrian ‘turtannu’, meaning ‘second in command’]meaning ‘second in command’] came came to Ashdod, when Sargon to Ashdod, when Sargon [reigned [reigned 722-705BC]722-705BC] the king of Assyria sent the king of Assyria sent him and he fought against Ashdod him and he fought against Ashdod and captured it,and captured it,

SargonSargon(King of Assyria, reigned (King of Assyria, reigned 722-05 BC722-05 BC))

•Only mentioned once in the BibleOnly mentioned once in the Bible•No record of him had been found No record of him had been found outside the Bible until 1843outside the Bible until 1843•Before that, some scholars Before that, some scholars questioned whether he had existedquestioned whether he had existed

HegelHegel （（ 1770-18311770-1831 ））

•The dialectic: HumanThe dialectic: Human society and religionsociety and religion all evolving.all evolving.

•Including the BibleIncluding the Bible ！！

In 1843, Sargon’s huge palace was found.In 1843, Sargon’s huge palace was found.

40 ton statue of human 40 ton statue of human headed winged bull headed winged bull from Sargon’s palacefrom Sargon’s palace

Sculpture of Sculpture of Sargon (right).Sargon (right).

Assyrian administrative pal- Assyrian tabletAssyrian administrative pal- Assyrian tabletace at Ashdod found in 2004 recording con-ace at Ashdod found in 2004 recording con- quest of Ashdodquest of Ashdod

Julius Wellhausen (1844-1918)Julius Wellhausen (1844-1918)

•Key developer / promot-Key developer / promot- er of Documentaryer of Documentary HypothesisHypothesis•Claimed the Bible was Claimed the Bible was composed of legendscomposed of legends stiched together bystiched together by editors across timeeditors across time•Refused to consider theRefused to consider the findings of archaeologyfindings of archaeology

SargonSargon(reigned (reigned 722-05 BC722-05 BC))

Assyrian administrative pal- Assyrian tabletAssyrian administrative pal- Assyrian tabletace at Ashdod found in 2004 recording con-ace at Ashdod found in 2004 recording con- quest of Ashdodquest of Ashdod

Proverbs 30:5 Every word of Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is tested; He is a shield God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in to those who take refuge in Him.Him.

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