093 Taylor Prism

Museum Description: The Taylor Prism

Room: 55/Case: 3/Number: ME 91032

Scripture: Isaiah 37:36

This is another world famous artefact of Bible archaeology on display in The British Museum.  There are three identical records of Sennacherib's conquests.  One is in Chicago, one is in Jerusalem, and this is the third - the Taylor Prism.  They are important because they record of his campaign against Jerusalem.  Sennacherib famously states on this prism that he had King Hezekiah trapped "like a bird in a cage".  There the account ends.  There is no record of him destroying Jerusalem, unlike all the other town and cities he encountered.  Of course, we know this was because Jehovah's angel destroyed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night.  Other ancient historians also confirm Sennacherib had to return unsuccessful.  One record states this was because a sickness broke out in the camp, so they had to return home.  Another says there was a plague of field mice that ate the strings from all their bows, so they could no longer fight!