SABACON King of Egypt. Herodotus gives an Account, that Sabacus, or Sabacon, King of Ethiopia, having made an Incursion Herodot. l. 2.into Egypt, Anysis, who reigned there at that time, being blind, made his Escape into the Marshes, and abandon’d his Kingdom to Sabacon, who reigned there fifty Years. His Maxim was, Never to put any Person to Death, but to condemn all Offenders to work upon the Banks of the Nile, to prevent the Inundations of that River. At last he withdrew into his Kingdom of Ethiopia, having first had a Dream, which commanded him to put to Death all the Priests of Egypt, and to cut them in two in the Middle. He could not comply with this Command, and chose rather to quit the Country; and this so much the rather, because the Number of Years was compleated, which the Oracle had told him he should reign in Egypt. After he was withdrawn, Anysis came again out of his Retreat, and resumed the Government of his Kingdom. He had Sethon for his Successor, who lived under SENNECHARIB. See his Article.
2 Kings xviii. 9. See Africanus in Syncellus, 8, 74. Euseb. Chronic.Some Authors relate, that when Sabacon invaded Egypt, he laid hold of King Bocchoris, then reigning there, and caused him to be inhumanely burnt alive, and seized his Kingdom. It is probable, that Sabacon is the same whom the Scripture calls So. After this Usurper had in a short time made himself very powerful, Hoshea King of Israel made an Alliance with him; thinking, by his Assistance, to shake off the 2 Kings xvii. 4.Yoke of the Assyrians. With this Hope, he refused to pay to the Assyrians the Tribute that was due to them. To revenge this, Shal-manesar marched with an Army against him, ravaged all the plain Country, and besieged Hoshea in Samaria. He was forced to surrender, after he had sustained a Siege of three Years, in the Year of the World 3283, before Christ 717, before the Vulgar Era 721.