King Jehu and Israelites Depicted on the Black Obelisk

In this picture is a depiction of King Jehu and Israelites on the Black Obelisk as part of the annals of Shalmaneser III circa 841 BCE. It reads:“I received tribute from Jehu son of Omri: silver, gold, a golden bowl, a golden vase with pointed bottom, golden tumblers, golden buckets, tin, a staff for a king [and] spears.One of the most renowned artifacts from ancient Assyria is Shalmaneser III’s Black Obelisk, a four-sided black alabaster stele standing over six feet tall.

‍Interestingly the annals consistently refer to Jehu as “Jehu, son of Omri,” despite the fact that Jehu usurped the throne according to 2 Kings 9–10.2 Kings 9:24Then Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram (son of Ahab) between the shoulders. The arrow pierced his heart, and he slumped down in his chariot. Not only was he not Omri’s son, but Jehu was not even his descendant. The 9th-8th centuries BCE chiefdoms were often referred to by a dynastic title as “House of X,” X being the dynasty’s founder. Therefore, “son of Omri” either refers to the name of Jehu’s dynasty or the “Omride Dynasty” as referred to by scholars. Even though he was not part of Omri’s lineage, the Assyrians seem to have understood his kingship as a continuation of the kingdom of Israel that rose to stature under Omri.