Assyrian siege of Jerusalem

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Siege of Jerusalem
Part of Sennacherib's campaign in the Levant
Hezekiah's Wall
Date 701 BC Location Jerusalem, Kingdom of Judah Result Both sides claim victory Kingdom of Judah subjugated King Hezekiah of Judah remains in power
Belligerents
Neo-Assyrian Empire	Kingdom of Judah
Commanders and leaders
Sennacherib's Rabshakeh Sennacherib's Rabsaris Sennacherib's Tartan	King Hezekiah of Judah Eliakim ben Hilkiyahu Yoah ben Asaf Shebna
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown Ancient Sources: 185,000 (According to the Biblical account)	Unknown

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The Assyrian siege of Jerusalem (circa 701 BC) was an aborted siege of Jerusalem, then capital of the Kingdom of Judah, carried out by Sennacherib, king of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. The siege concluded Sennacharib's campaign in the Levant, in which he attacked the fortified cities and devastated the countryside of Judah in a campaign of subjugation. Sennacherib besieged Jerusalem, but did not capture it.

Sennacherib's Annals describe how the king trapped Hezekiah of Judah in Jerusalem "like a caged bird" and later returned to Assyria when he received tribute from Judah. In the Hebrew Bible, Hezekiah is described as paying 300 talents of silver and 30 talents of gold to Assyria. The biblical story then adds a miraculous ending in which Sennacherib marches on Jerusalem with his army only to have it struck down near the gates of Jerusalem by an angel, prompting his retreat to Nineveh.

According to biblical archaeological theory, Siloam tunnel and the Broad Wall in Jerusalem were built by Hezekiah in preparation for the impending siege.