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大家熟悉亞述王西拿基立嗎？沒有印象不要緊，但你一定認識猶大王希西家。亞述王西拿基立就是那個曾經圍堵耶路撒冷城，要求猶大王希西家投降的亞述皇帝。亞述王西拿基立是亞述帝國其中一個最偉大及出名的皇帝，在《舊約聖經》中也提及他多達十五次[1]。這篇文章會探討從考古學中，關於亞述王西拿基立的發現，及其與《舊約聖經》脗合的記載。
亞述帝國的考古發現中，找到一些名為史冊的石柱，記載了不同皇帝的事蹟。西拿基立史冊(Sennacherib’s Annals) 是三條六角柱體的石碑，上面記載了亞述王西拿基立在公元前704-681年的軍事事蹟，分別名為 Taylor Prism, Oriental Institute Prism 及 Jerusalem Prism。 這三塊石碑所記載關於亞述王西拿基立的事蹟幾乎是一樣。
（1）第一個在西拿基立史冊上吻合《聖經》記載的細節
在西拿基立史冊上就記載了這一段事蹟：
“In my first campaign, I accomplished the defeat of Merodach-Baladan, king of Babylonia, together with the army of Elam, his ally in the plain of Kish.”[2]
這裡記載了亞述王西拿基立打敗了巴比倫王 Merodach-Baladan，這個巴比倫王在聖經《列王記下20:12》都有記載他的事蹟：
那時，巴拉但的兒子，巴比倫王米羅達‧巴拉但 (Merodach-Baladan)聽見希西家生病了，就送書信和禮物給他。希西家聽使者的話，就將自己一切寶庫裏的金子、銀子、香料、貴重的膏油和他軍械庫裏的兵器，以及他所有的財寶，都給他們看；在他家中和全國之內，希西家沒有一樣東西不給他們看的。
列王紀下 20:12-13
聖經《列王紀下》記載希西家病重，但神加增他十五年的壽數，之後就提及這個巴比倫王米羅達‧巴拉但來拜訪希西家，希西家忍不住炫耀自己皇宮及聖殿一切的財物，先知以賽亞就責備希西家。
我們可以推斷，這個巴比倫王米羅達‧巴拉但及猶大王希西家，兩者都不敵亞述王西拿基立，因此互相建交，希望有機會一起軍事聯盟，對抗亞述。
（2）第二個在西拿基立史冊上吻合《聖經》記載的細節
亞述王西拿基立對研讀聖經的人來說，最令人記得的就是他在公元前 701年圍堵耶路撒冷，強逼猶大王希西家投降的事蹟：
… they offered battle. With the aid of Assur, my lord, I fought with them and brought about their defeat. The Egyptian charioteers and princes, together with the Ethiopian king’s charioteers, my hands captured alive in the midst of the battle. Eltekeh and Timnah I besieged, I captured, and I took away their spoil. I approached Ekron and slew the governors and nobles who had rebelled, and hung their bodies on stakes around the city. The inhabitants who rebelled and treated (Assyria) lightly I counted as spoil. The rest of them, who were not guilty of rebellion and contempt, for whom there was no punishment, I declared their pardon. Padi, their king, I brought out to Jerusalem, set him on the royal throne over them, and imposed upon him my royal tribute. As for Hezekiah the Judahite, who did not submit to my yoke: forty-six of his strong, walled cities, as well as the small towns in their area, which were without number, by levelling with battering-rams and by bringing up seige-engines, and by attacking and storming on foot, by mines, tunnels, and breeches, I besieged and took them. 200,150 people, great and small, male and female, horses, mules, asses, camels, cattle and sheep without number, I brought away from them and counted as spoil. (Hezekiah) himself, like a caged bird I shut up in Jerusalem, his royal city. [3]
這段西拿基立史冊上的記載，基本上都是炫耀西拿基立自己作為亞述皇帝及將軍，如何消滅敵國、如何生擒並把對手吊在樹上處死等的豐功偉績。但在描述對付猶大王希西家時，只記載他取了希西家四十六座城，奪了他的財富及資源，並像籠中鳥般把希西家關在耶路撒冷。讀者讀到這些記載，可覺得熟悉嗎？
絕對是，因為西拿基立史冊上的記載與我們讀到的《聖經》記載是一致的：
希西家王十四年，亞述王西拿基立上來攻擊猶大的一切堅固的城，將城攻取。猶大王希西家派人到拉吉，亞述王那裏，說：「我錯了，求你撤退離開我；凡你罰我的，我必承當。」於是亞述王罰猶大王希西家三百他連得銀子，三十他連得金子。希西家把耶和華殿裏和王宮府庫裏所有的銀子都給了他。那時，猶大王希西家將耶和華殿門上的金子和他自己包在柱子上的金子都刮下來，給了亞述王。
列王紀下 18:13-16
《列王紀下》第18章記載了亞述王西拿基立攻取了猶大一切堅固的城，及後希西家需要進貢，希望亞述王西拿基立不會攻擊耶路撒冷。接著記載，亞述的元帥及將軍臨到耶路撒冷，警告耶路撒冷的人民不要被希西家欺哄，快快出來投降。但希西家決意依靠耶和華，神就派使者將亞述的軍隊擊敗：
當夜，耶和華的使者出去，在亞述營中殺了十八萬五千人。清早有人起來，看哪，都是死屍。亞述王西拿基立就拔營回去，住在尼尼微。
列王紀下 19:35-36
不論是西拿基立史冊或是《聖經》都記載了相同的事蹟，就是亞述王西拿基立沒有完全佔領耶路撒冷，只能將希西家困在耶路撒冷城。
（3）在西拿基立兒子以撒哈頓史冊上吻合《聖經》記載的細節
一日，他在他的神明尼斯洛廟裏叩拜，他兒子亞得米勒和沙利色用刀殺了他，然後逃到亞拉臘地；他兒子以撒‧哈頓接續他作王。
列王紀下 19:37
《聖經》明確記載了亞述王西拿基立是被他的兩個兒子用刀殺了，然後他們逃到亞拉臘地；另外一個兒子以撒‧哈頓接續他作王。《列王紀下 19:37》這個細節，在亞述王以撒哈頓史冊中就找到了，可見《聖經》是絕對符合歷史記載的文獻。
Inscription translation :
(1) Palace of Esarhaddon, the great king, the powerful king,
(2) king of the universe, king of Assyria, regent of Babylon,
(3) king of Shumer and Akkad, king of the four regions :
(4) the legitimate ruler, the favourite of the great gods,
(5) whose name from his youth up Ashur, Shamash, Bel and Nabu,
(6) Ishtar of Nineveh, Ishtar of Arbela,
(7) for the kingship of Assyria had proclaimed.
(8) Of my elder brothers their younger brother was I;
(9) (but) by the command of Ashur, Sin, Shamash, Bel, and Nabu,
(10) Ishtar of Nineveh, Ishtar of Arbela, (my) father who begat me
(11) exalted me in all due right amid all my brothers, and
(12) thus (he spake): “Is this the son of my succession ? ”
(13) asking Shamash and Adad by oracle, and with a true affirmative
(14) they answered him thus : “He is thy second self (?).”
(15) Their solemn utterance he respected and the people of Assyria, small and great,
(16) my brothers, of the name of my father’s house together he assembled :
(17) before Ashur, Sin, Shamash, Nabu, Marduk, the gods of Assyria,
(18) the gods dwelling in heaven and earth, with regard to the securing of my legitimate succession,
(19) he made them repeat their solemn utterance.
(20) In a propitious month, on a favourable day, according to their exalted command,
(21) into the House of Succession, the place of awe, wherein
(22) is destiny of royalty, joyfully I entered and
(23) the true fact of (my) succession was brought home to my brothers, and
(24) the (way) of the gods they abandoned and to their own violent deeds
(25) trusted, plotting evil,
(26) evil tongue, lying slander, against the will of the gods,
(27) they set afoot against me and (with) unholy disloyalty
(28) behind my back they planned rebellion with each other.
(29) (Any) who interpreted my father’s wish, against the (intent of the) gods they made him angry against me;
(30) (any) who was deep of heart, him they treated kindly,
(31) his eyes (i.e. apparent intent) being set as though to sustain my royalty.
(32) I communed in my heart and pondered in my soul
(33) thus : ” Their works—are they violent and to their own wit
(34) do they trust, and is it evil against the gods that they will do ? “
(35) Ashur, the merciful king of the gods (and) Marduk, to whom
iniquity is an abomination—(36) with supplication, lamentation and prostration
(37) I implored them, and they accepted my prayers :
(38) according to the wisdom of the great gods, my lords, in the face of evil doings
(39) they let medwell in a secret, place, their kindly aegis
(40) over me they spread and safeguarded me for the royalty.
(41) Thereafter my brothers went mad and whatever was wicked
(42) against gods and men they did, and plotted evil:
(43) they drew the sword in the midst of Nineveh godlessly :
(44) to exercise the kingship against each other they rushed like young steers.
(45) Ashur, Sin, Shamash, Bel, Nabu, Ishtar of Nineveh, Ishtar of Arbela,
(46) the doings of the scoundrels which had been wrought against the will of the gods
(47) saw with displeasure and helped them not:
(48) they brought their strength to weakness and
(49) humbled them beneath me.
(50) The people of Assyria who the covenants by the oath of the great gods
(51) had sworn with water and oil to guard my royalty,
(52) went not to their aid.
(53) I, Esarhaddon, who by the help of the great gods, his lords,
(54) hath not turned his back in the midst of battle,
(55) soon heard of their wicked doings, and,
(56) crying ” Woe ! ” rent my princely robe and
(57) uttered lamentation. Like a lion I roared and my spirit was stirred.
(58) To carry on the royal rule of my father’s house I clapped my hands ;
(59) to Ashur, Sin, Shamash, Bel, Nabu, and Nergal, Ishtar of Nineveh, Ishtar of Arbela,
(60) I raised my hands, and they received my prayer with favour: with their true ” yea ”
(61) they sent a helpful oracle thus : ” Go, stay not:
(62) We will march at thy side and destroy thine enemies.”
(63) One day, two days I waited not, the van of my army I did not inspect,
(64) nor saw the rearguard; nor did I consider the trappings of the horses, the harnessing of the yokes,
(65) nor the furniture of battle, nor issue provisions for my campaign.
(66) I feared not the snow (or) cold of Sebat, the rigorous frost,
(67) Like the flying …(?)
(68) to overwhelm my enemies I spread my forces.
(69) The road to Nineveh with difficulty and in all haste I took.
(70) In front of me in the land of Hanigalbe all their stout warriors
(71) taking post in front of my expedition, sharpened their weapons.
(72) The fear of the great gods, my lords, overwhelmed them and
(73) they saw the fierce front of my array, and became as though possessed :
(74) Ishtar, the lady of war and battle, who loveth my priesthood,
(75) took her stand at my side and shattered their bows,
(76) broke up their well-knit battle array and
(77) amid themselves they spake thus : ” This is our king.”
(78) By her supreme command they returned to my side, coming after me.
(79) Weak as young lambs they besought my lordship.
(80) The people of Assyria who had sworn agreements by the name of the great gods before me
(81) came into my presence and kissed my feet,
(82) while, as for those scoundrels who were making rebellion and revolt,
(83) they heard of the march of my expedition and deserted the troops who were helping them, and
(84) fled to an unknown land. I reached the river wall of the Tigris and
(85) by command of Sin (and) Shamash the gods, the lord(s) of the river wall,
(86) I made the whole of my troops leap the broad Tigris as though it were a ditch.
(87) In Adar, a favourable month, on the eighth day, the festival of Nabu, (translation after Campbell Thompson 1931)[4]
以撒哈頓史冊（第一面）
以撒哈頓史冊一共有六個面，分別有六段文字，以上是第一面所記載的，說明以撒哈頓是被眾神明及其爸爸所揀選的皇帝。用底線強調的文字，大約記載了他是家庭中的弟弟，但他的哥哥們並沒有被揀選接續爸爸的皇位。因此，他的哥哥們策劃邪惡的政變，務求推翻爸爸的決定；以撒哈頓卻果斷地鎮壓了這場叛亂，那些歹徒也逃亡走了。雖然《聖經》及以撒哈頓史冊的記載並不是百分之一百的相同，但兩個版本的細節並沒有衝突，反而有互補的功效，將歷史的事實還原出來。單憑《聖經》不會明白為何亞述王西拿基立最後竟被他的兩個兒子殺死，但一閱讀以撒哈頓史冊，原因就呼之欲出了。
總結：
亞述王西拿基立是個差不多戰無不勝的皇帝，這也使他成為一個十分驕傲的人。在面對猶大王希西家時，他本該領略耶和華的偉大，因為耶和華與他之前所遇到及認識的假神是截然不同的。沒有謙卑下來的西拿基立，最終的結局不是為國捐軀，不是安心終老，而是被親生的兒子密謀殺死，這絕對是他的悲劇收場。透過這篇文章，既幫助我們對《聖經》脗合歷史的真確性更有信心，也激勵我們學習希西家的謙卑，遇到難關時去依靠真神耶和華，而不是像西拿基立般，一生依靠自己的聰明行事，最後不得善終。
[1] 列王記下18:13, 19:16, 19:20, 19:36；歷代志下32:1, 32:2, 32:9, 32:10, 32:16, 32:17, 32:22；以賽亞書36:1, 37:17, 37:21, 37:37
[2] Column 1:20-22 https://bibledudes.com/biblical-studies/finds/prism-translation.ph
[3] Column 3:1-28 https://bibledudes.com/biblical-studies/finds/prism-translation.php
[4] Column 1, https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/W_1929-1012-1