In B.C.689 Babylon was taken by storm, and a savage vengeance wreaked upon it.

The sacred city of western Asia was levelled with the dust, the temple of Bel himself was not spared, and the Arakhtu canal which flowed past it was choked with ruins.

The Babylonian chronicler tells us that for eight years there were "no kings;" the image of Bel-Merodach had been cast to the ground by the sacrilegious conqueror, and there was none who could legitimise his right to rule.
On the 20th of Tebet, or December, B.C.681, Sennacherib was murdered by his two sons, and the Babylonians saw in the deed the punishment of his crimes.

His favourite son, Esar-haddon, was at the time commanding the Assyrian army in a war against Erimenas of Ararat.

As soon as the news of the murder reached him, he determined to dispute the crown with his brothers, and accordingly marched against them.