CHAPTER XXVII

HEZEKIAH AND ASSYRIA (B.C. 701) 319

Greatness of Sargon--His campaigns--Defeat of Egypt at the battle of Raphia--Ashdod--Defeat of Merodach-Baladan--Grandeur of Sennacherib--His invasion of Judæa--Earlier collisions--His campaigns--1. Against Babylon--2. Against Elam--3. Against the Hittites and Philistines--Defeat of the Ethiopian Tirhakah at Altaqu--Heavy mulct imposed on Hezekiah--Siege of Lachish--Sennacherib breaks his compact--Distress of Jerusalem.