Sharezer, Son of Sennacherib

Background and Family

Sharezer was a member of the Sargonid dynasty, the ruling house of the Neo-Assyrian Empire at the height of its power. He was one of the sons of Sennacherib (reigned 705–681 BC), the monarch who famously campaigned against the Southern Kingdom of Judah. While the Bible does not explicitly name Sharezer's mother or provide details regarding his specific rank among the king's children, he was clearly a figure of significant influence and access, given his presence in the royal capital and proximity to the king.

Sharezer had at least two brothers mentioned in the biblical text: Adrammelech, who joined him in the conspiracy against their father, and Esarhaddon, who was the designated successor to the Assyrian throne. The existence of these siblings and the resulting power struggle suggests a volatile climate within the Assyrian palace following the empire's military setbacks in Judah.

Major Life Events

The primary event defining Sharezer’s life occurred in 681 BC. According to 2 Kings 19:37 and Isaiah 37:38, Sharezer and Adrammelech approached their father while he was in a state of worship. The text specifies the location as the temple of "Nisroch," a deity associated with the Assyrian capital of Nineveh.

"One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esarhaddon reigned in his place." (2 Kings 19:37)

This act of patricide was not merely a family dispute but a significant geopolitical event. By striking Sennacherib down with the sword, Sharezer participated in a coup that momentarily destabilized the most powerful empire in the ancient Near East. However, the assassination did not result in Sharezer taking the throne. Instead, he and Adrammelech were forced to flee northward to the land of Ararat (Urartu). The biblical record notes that their brother, Esarhaddon, successfully secured the kingship in their absence.

Relationship to Other Biblical Figures

Sharezer’s historical context is inextricably linked to King Hezekiah of Judah and the prophet Isaiah. The assassination occurred some years after the angel of the Lord struck down the Assyrian army outside Jerusalem (2 Kings 19:35). The biblical narrative positions Sharezer’s actions as the final resolution to Isaiah's prophecy regarding Sennacherib's downfall. Through his violent rebellion, Sharezer unknowingly served as the instrument by which the biblical prophecy—that Sennacherib would "fall by the sword in his own land" (Isaiah 37:7)—was brought to fruition.

Spiritual Significance

In the biblical framework, Sharezer represents the internal fragility of worldly empires that set themselves against the God of Israel. While Sennacherib had boasted of his invincibility and mocked Yahweh, his end came not at the hands of a foreign army, but through the treachery of his own son, Sharezer, within his own temple. This narrative emphasizes the theme of divine sovereignty: even the domestic betrayals of a pagan royal family are seen as fulfilling the word of God spoken through His prophets. Sharezer’s flight to Ararat marks his final exit from the biblical stage, leaving him as a cautionary figure of palace intrigue and the instruments of judgment.