On a black alabaster monument, now in the British Museum, are what are probably the final editions of the annals of Shalmaneser III. The famous black obelisk comes from the central building at Nimrud (Calhu) and is inscribed on all four sides with the record of the king's military achievements from the year of his accession to the thirty-first year. In addition to this inscription there are twenty small l reliefs, with annotations, depicting the payment of tribute of five conquered regions. Among those who prostrate themselves before the great king is Jehu, king of Israel.

In the first year of my reign I crossed the Euphrates at its flood. I washed my weapons in the sea; I offered sacrifices to my gods. I climbed Mount Amanus; i cut cedar and cypress timbers. I climbed Mount Lallar and there I set up my royal image. (558)

Campaign against Ahuni and Til-Barsip

In my second year I drew near to Til-Barsip. The cities of Ahuni, son of Adini, I captured. I shut him up in his city. I crossed the Euphrates at its flood; I captured Dabigu, a fortified city of Hatti, together with all the cities in the neighborhood. (559)

Campaign against Ahuni and return to Assyria

In the third year of my reign, Ahuni, son of Adini, took fright before my mighty weapons and forsook Til-Barsip, his royal city. I crossed the Euphrates. The city of Ana-Assur-utir-asbat, that lies on the other side of the Euphrates, on the Sagur River, which the Hittite people call Pitru, I seized for myself. (560)

Defeat and Capture of Ahuni

At that time I departed from Nineveh, crossed the Euphrates at its flood, pursued Ahuni, the son of Adini. He made Shitamrat, a mountain peak which is on the west bank of the Euphrates ,his stronghold. The mountain peak I stormed and captured. Ahuni, together with his gods, his chariots, his horses, his sons, his daughters, his troops I carried off and brought them to my city Assur. (561)

March to the source of the Tigris

I advanced to the source of the Tigris, where the waters gush forth. The weapon of Assur, my lord, I washed in those waters. I offered sacrifices to my gods. I spread a gladsome banquet. I fashioned a heroic image of myself. The glory of Assur, my lo;rd, every one of my brave deeds which I performed in different lands, I wrote upon that stele and I set it up there. (564)

Campaign against Carchemnish

In the tenth year of my reign I crossed the Euphrates for the eighth time. The cities of Sangars of Carchemish I captured. I drew near the cities of Arame. (567)

To Mount Amanus

In the seventeenth year of my reign I crossed the Euphrates. I went up to Mount Amanus; I cut cedar timbers. (574)

In my nineteenth year I crossed the Euphrates for the eighteenth time. I went up to Mount Amanus. I cut cedar timbers. (576)

To Mount Taurus

In my twenty-second year i crossed the Euphrates for the twenty-second time. I advanced to Mount Taurus, the silver mountain and Mount Muli, the marble mountain. (580)

Campaign against Urartu

In my twenty-seventh year I sent my turtan, Daian-Assur to campaign against Urartu once again. (584)

Year 31, The Great Revolt Begins

Daian-Assur iat the head of the Assyrian army is sent all about the empire to collect tribute and taxes from the king's vassals probably because the king is too old and weak to go himself. Urartians Persians, men of the Mediterranean coast are mentioned as defeated and paying tribute. Under the engravings on the black obelish in the British Museum are the following captions: The reference to Jehu is the first reference in Assyrian texts to a known biblical king.

Tribute of Sua, the Gilzanite; Silver, gold, lead, copper vessels, staves for the hand of the king, horses, camels whose backs have two humps I received from him. (588)

Tribute from Jehu, son of Omri. Silver, gold, a golden bowl, a golden beaker, golden goblets, pitchers of gold, lead, staves for the hand of the king, javeling, I received from him. (589)