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The King of Ethiopia, 700 BC

Taharqa was the King of Ethiopia (also known as the land of Cush or Kush). He reigned during the 7th century BC and is listed on the Biblical Timeline Chart during that time period.

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King of Ethiopia 700 bc Taharqa
“His crown as Pharaoh bore two snakes to show that he was the king of both lands.”

Taharqa was also the Pharaoh of Egypt, and a king of its Twenty-Fifth Dynasty, later to be known as the only Nubian dynasty of that ancient kingdom. His crown as Pharaoh bore two snakes to show that he was the king of both lands.

Taharqa lived during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah, a time when the Assyrians, under King Sennacherib, attacked Jerusalem.

The Bible says in 2 Kings 19:9 that King Sennacherib received news that “Tirhaka”, the King of Cush, was marching out against him. Both the Bible and nonbiblical records show that the Assyrian army withdrew because of this and Jerusalem was saved from destruction.

It was an important triumph in both Hebrew and world history because Judaism, a fledgling religion during this time, was protected and allowed to evolve by this victory.

He was said to be about twenty years old when he marched out to Jerusalem to fight the Assyrians in 701 BC. However, his reign is traced from 690 – 664 BC. It would seem that he was not yet king when he saved Jerusalem. This difference in the dates may be explained by the suggestion that the “title of king in the Biblical text refers to his future
royal title, when at the time of this account he was likely only a military commander.”

Tirhaka, Tarkakah, also Tarakos, Tearkos, Tharsikes and Tarku are some of the variations of this Ethiopian ruler’s name, whose existence has been confirmed by accounts from other ancient historians such as Herodotus, Manetho, Strabo, and Josephus.

Taharqa was the son of Piye, Nubian King of Napata, who conquered Egypt and established what was to become its TwentyFifth Dynasty. His mother was Abar.

Taharqa was the successor to his brother Shebitku. Under his rule, Egypt
and Kush enjoyed peace and prosperity. The military campaigns of Piye and Shabaka before him led to both lands flourishing under Taharqa’s reign. During this time of wealth, he “restored existing temples, built new ones, and constructed the largest pyramid in the Napatan region. His additions to the Temple at Karnak,
the new temple at Kawa, and the temple at Jebel Barkalwere particularly impressive.

It was also during his reign, that Assyria, under Sennacherib’s son and successor Esarhaddon began invading Egypt in 677 BC.
By the year 671 BC, Esarhaddon had conquered Memphis and captured several members of Taharqa’s family. Taharqa escaped to Nubia but continued to incite rebellion against the Assyrians.

Finally, in 664 BC, he was defeated by Esarhaddon’s
son Ashurbanipal and fled to Thebes where he died and was buried in Nuri, North Sudan. He was then succeeded by Tantamani.

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5 thoughts on “The King of Ethiopia, 700 BC

  1. Interesting reading that were very helpful; THANKS

  2. The Hebrews would seem to be in debt to the Nubians. Is their survival the result of divine intervention misplaced loyalty, like a colonial complex?

  3. I met and escorted HIM during a visit to the state of Eritrea back in 1969. A Royal old man, whom the people praised, adored and also feared, as many Royals have been throughout history. As a minor honor, of many, he was named an Honorary Member of the Boy Scouts of America, and in turn gave a gold coin, with his likeness to the Senior Patrol Leader of the American troop in Eritrea, at that time.

    1. In Heaven as not on Earth things are as they seem

  4. Interesting and always disappointing how history has been selectively shared in order to depress and oppress. Rewriting history is difficult work when it becomes no more than an interest and not seen as the facts!

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