ABSTRACT
After the conquest of Judah, Sennacherib was killed and succeeded by Esarhaddon, who became a successful ruler. Once he died, his empire was divided between two sons: Ashurbani-pal, who ruled in Nineveh, and Shamash-Shanakin, who resided in Babylon. At this time Assyria became the ascendant power in Mesopotamia. Under Ashurbani-pal Nineveh became a great cultural centre where artists created magnificent works and scribes collected together the literary products of Mesopotamian culture. During this period Hezekiah’s successor in Judah, Manasseh (687–642 bc), was dominated by Assyria, and pagan practices again became prevalent. Like Ahaz, Manasseh was compelled to worship Assyrian gods as a sign of submission, and his son and successor Amon (642–640 bc) continued this policy.
