8th-century BC Neo-Assyrian royal slabs naming Menahem of Samaria, Pekah, and Hoshea King of Israel
Alabaster palace wall slabs recording the military conquests and administrative reorganizations of Tiglath-Pileser III (biblical 'Pul'), who introduced mass deportations across the Levant.
Rigorous 4-part empirical analysis separating ancient text from bias and consensus
The annals record receiving tribute from 'Me-ni-hi-im-me Sa-me-ri-na-a-a' (Menahem of Samaria) alongside Rezin of Damascus; later slabs state: 'They overthrew their king Pekah (Pa-qa-ha) and I placed Hoshea (A-u-si-') as king over them.'
Corroborates 2 Kings 15:19–20 ('Pul king of Assyria came against the land, and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver') and 2 Kings 15:29–30 regarding the assassination of Pekah and accession of Hoshea.
Confirms that 'Pul' in 2 Kings 15:19 was the personal Babylonian throne name of Tiglath-Pileser III as demonstrated by the Babylonian King List A.
Tiglath-Pileser takes total credit for Hoshea's accession, framing domestic Israelite assassination conspiracies as direct imperial appointments.