King Menahem of Israel and Tiglath-Pileser III (Pul), King of Assyria

Tiglath-Pileser III was the architect of the Neo-Assyrian Empire’s most extensive westward expansion.  His troops swept toward the Mediterranean Sea encountering Israel and cities in Lebanon and Judah.  He recorded his military campaigns and conquests on the Iran Stele, pictured here, circa 738 BCE.

One of the sections of the inscription records a list of kings who paid tribute to Tiglath-Pileser III including “Menahem of Samaria,”. The Inscription reads as follows:“ I (Tiglath-Pileser) received tribute from . . . Menahem of Samaria.”

“Samaria” refers to the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. This corroborates with the biblical account in which the Israelite King Menahem paid a large tribute to Tiglath-Pileser, who is known as “Pul” in the Bible.  2 Kings 15:19-20 Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver... every man of means had to pay fifty shekels of silver for the king of Assyria.