6 Peter Dubovsk´ y The description of the invasion of Shalmaneser V contains several clues to the biblical reading of history. First, Hoshea did what was evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Kgs 17,2). Second, the Assyrian invasion was not a capricious destruction of the weaker by the stronger, but rather a response to Hoshea’s violation of the treaty with Assyria (2 Kgs 17,3-6). Third, a lengthy theological comment points out the real cause of the destruction. The Israelites sinned against their God, did not listen to their prophets, followed other gods, and committed all kinds of abominations (2 Kgs 17,7-23). Thus the end of the Northern kingdom is explained as a natural consequence of Israelite sins. This idea is reaffirmed in 2 Kgs 18,12. These theological comments lead us to the following conclusions. According to the Bible, starting with Tiglath-pileser III Assyria became an important political player on the stage of world history. However, the Assyrians conformed to clear rules. They required loyalty from their vassals and punished adequately any violation of a treaty with them. On the other hand, the Assyrians were also loyal to their loyal vassals and willing to save them, if they were under attack (15). The Assyrian support of local kings, however, was not a disinterested matter, but it was given in exchange for a substantial payment. Finally, the extensive theological comment following the fall of Samaria makes it clear that the Assyrian intervention was part of God’s plan to punish the Israelites’ sins. Since all the kings during whose reign the Assyrians intervened did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, the Assyrians can be understood as a punitive instrument, hired by God to carry out God’s mission in recompense for the payment received. The last encounter with the Assyrians described in 2 Kgs 18–19 presents a different scenario. In contrast to chapter 17, this passage does not contain a theological discussion explaining the defeat of the Assyrian troops. In order to bring to light the interpretative clues contained in these chapters it will be necessary to start with a short literary analysis. Chapter 18 opens with an introductory regnal résumé (2 Kgs 18,1-8) (16). This narrative introduction incorporates a short historical report, which is illustrated by the verse “he (Hezekiah) did (15) See for example SAA XV 116. (16) B.O. LONG, 2 Kings (FOTL 10; Grand Rapids, MI 1991) 193-246. For propaganda speech and letter-address genres, see E. BEN-ZVI, “Who Wrote the Speech of Rabshakeh and When?”, JBL 109 (1990) 72-92; P. MACHINIST, “The Rabπaqeh at the Wall of Jerusalem: Israelite Identity in the Face of the Assyrian “Other””, Hebrew Studies 41 (2000) 79-92.