Bible Dictionary
Pul
Pul was an Assyrian king who invaded Israel during the reign of Menahem and received tribute from him. The name also identifies a people or land mentioned with distant nations in Isaiah.
Definition
Pul was an Assyrian king who is commonly identified with Tiglath-pileser III, though the identification was once questioned. The name also refers to a people or country mentioned among distant nations.
Biblical Usage
Pul invaded Israel during the reign of Menahem. Menahem paid him a large tribute so that he would support Israel. Pul is also mentioned in Isaiah among nations associated with the distant peoples.
Historical Background
Pul consolidated the second Assyrian empire, subdued northern Syria and Hamath, and later conquered Babylon, taking the title King of Sumer and Accad. The supplied material identifies the geographical Pul with Phut or Put, though other proposals have also been made.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(1.) An Assyrian king. It has been a question whether he was identical with Tiglath-pileser III. (q.v.), or was his predecessor. The weight of evidence is certainly in favour of their identity. Pul was the throne-name he bore in Babylonia as king of Babylon, and Tiglath-pileser the throne-name he bore as king of Assyria. He was the founder of what is called the second Assyrian empire. He consolidated and organized his conquests on a large scale. He subdued Northern Syria and Hamath, and the kings of Syria rendered him homage and paid him tribute. His ambition was to found in Western Asia a kingdom which should embrace the whole civilized world, having Nineveh as its centre. Menahem, king of Israel, gave him the enormous tribute of a thousand talents of silver, “that his hand might be with him” (2 Kings 15:19; 1 Chr. 5:26). The fact that this tribute could be paid showed the wealthy condition of the little kingdom of Israel even in this age of disorder and misgovernment. Having reduced Syria, he turned his arms against Babylon, which he subdued. The Babylonian king was slain, and Babylon and other Chaldean cities were taken, and Pul assumed the title of “King of Sumer [i.e., Shinar] and Accad.” He was succeeded by Shalmanezer IV. (2.) A geographical name in Isa. 66:19. Probably = Phut (Gen. 10:6; Jer. 46:9, R.V. “Put;” Ezek. 27:10).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
an Assyrian king, and the first Assyrian monarch mentioned in Scripture. He made an expedition against Menahem, king of Israel, about B.C. 770. (2 Kings 15:19) (lord), a country or nation mentioned in (Isaiah 66:19) It is spoken of with distant nations, and is supposed by some to represent the island Philae in Egypt, and by others Libya.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>pul:</p><p>(1) An Assyrian king (2Ki 15:19).</p><p>See TIGLATH-PILESER.</p><p>(2) An African country and people (Isa 66:19).</p><p>See PUT.</p>