(Texts: All Artifacts, Color Coding, & Writings in Bold Type With Italics Inside Parenthesis, are Added by Editor R. Brown, not the Authors, Translators, or Publishers!)

(gods in blue …mixed-breed demigods in teal…)

 

According to the Old Testament, after Sennacherib returned to Nineveh,

        “it came to pass, as he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch,

        that Adrammelech and Sharezzer his sons smote him with a sword;

        and they escaped unto the land of Ararat.

        And Esarhaddon, his son , reigned in his stead …”

An inscription of Esarhaddon known as the Prism B describes the circumstances…On the command of the great gods, Sennacherib had publicly proclaimed that his younger son as successor:

        “He called together the people of Assyria, young and old,

        and he made my brothers, the male offspring of my father,

        take a solemn oath in the presence of the gods of Assyria…

        in order to secure my succession …”

The brothers then broke their oath, killing Sennacherib and seeking to kill Esarhaddon. But the gods snatched him away

        “and made me stay in a hiding place…preserving me for kingship …”

After a period of turmoil Esarhaddon received

        “a trustworthy command from the gods: …”

        “Go, do not delay! We will march with you! …”

The deity who was delegated to accompany Esarhaddon was Ishtar. As his brothers’ forces came out of Nineveh to beat off his attack on the capitol,

       “Ishtar (Inanna), the Lady of Battle,

       who wished me to be her high priest, stood at my side.

       She broke their bows, scattered their orderly battle array …”

Once the Ninevite troops were disorganized, Ishtar addressed them in behalf of Esarhaddon.

       “Upon her lofty command, they went over in masses to me

       and rallied behind me, and recognized me as their king …”