The Language of Power in the Simile “Like a Caged Bird”: A Critical Discourse Analysis of the Assyrian Royal Lion Hunt and Sennacherib’s Military Campaign Against Hezekiah of Judah
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
This book presents a sociolinguistic study of the Assyrian royal lion hunt and military inscriptions and reliefs, focusing on Sennacherib’s campaign against Hezekiah of Jerusalem in 701 BCE. Through a comparative analysis of the lion hunt imagery and Assyrian military tactics, it examines the goals, outcomes, and conflicting ideologies surrounding the campaign as depicted in both Assyrian sources and biblical texts.
While much scholarly attention has centered on the biblical narrative, relatively little has been said about the role of Assyrian lion hunt motifs and their relationship to military rhetoric--particularly in the use of the simile “shut up/enclosed like a caged bird” (kīma iṣṣur quppi esirsu). This academic imbalance has led to a limited, and potentially biased, understanding of the campaign.
By drawing on a broader spectrum of Assyrian cultural expressions--including royal hunting practices and military records--this book opens the door to a more comprehensive and nuanced discussion of Sennacherib’s campaign against Judah.
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- Presents a sociolinguistic study of Assyrian royal lion hunt and military inscriptions and reliefs
- Examines the goals and ideologies of Sennacherib’s campaign against Hezekiah
- Draws on Assyrian lion hunt motifs and military rhetoric to provide a more comprehensive understanding
This groundbreaking work sets a new standard in biblical and Near Eastern studies. With exceptional sociolinguistic and historical insight, it examines Sennacherib’s 701 BCE campaign against Jerusalem through Assyrian and biblical sources. By exploring trauma, resilience, and cultural memory, it reveals why and how the Assyrian Empire and Judah remembered the same event so differently, offering fresh perspectives on conflict, survival, and meaning making.
——Kah-Jin Jeffrey Kuan, Co-President, Claremont School of Theology
Numerous works have been written on the third campaign of Sennacherib of Assyria to the west. This meticulous monograph, which is written in fluent language and accompanied by beautiful images, focuses on the siege of Jerusalem, where Hezekiah of Judah was described ‘“enclosed
——Isaac Kalimi, Gutenberg Professor Emeritus of Biblical and Jewish Studies, Johannes Gutenberg University
- Title: The Language of Power in the Simile “Like a Caged Bird”: A Critical Discourse Analysis of the Assyrian Royal Lion Hunt and Sennacherib’s Military Campaign Against Hezekiah of Judah
- Author: Woo Min Lee
- Publisher: Pickwick Publications
- Print Publication Date: 2025
- Logos Release Date: 2025
- Pages: 240
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
- ISBNs: 9798385235308, 9798385235292, 9798385235285
- Resource ID: LLS:9798385235308
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2025-11-20T20:00:47Z