The "Black Obelisk" of Shalmaneser III (reigned 858-824 BC) is a black limestone Assyrian bas-relief sculpture from Nimrud (ancient Calah, fortress city defending Nineveh), in northern Iraq. Height: 197.85 cm. Width: 45.08 cm. It is currently displayed in the British Museum. It records the military exploits of Shalmaneser which include taking tribute from Jehu son of Omri??? see below. The panel showing Jehu bowing to Shalmaneser is seen above on the lower picture. The inscription reads: "Jehu of Bit Omri" (Jehu of the House of Omri), and in more detail the tribute is described:

“The tribute of Jehu, of the house of Omri: I received from him silver, gold, a golden bowl, a golden vase with pointed bottom, golden tumblers, golden buckets, tin, a staff for a king [and] spears."

The translation "son of Omri" is incorrect as "Bit Omri" means house of Omri. In the related Hebrew and Aramaic languages house of Omri would be "beth Omri" Jehu was not Omri's son but was the successpor to Omri's son Ahab whose house he inherited when he massacred Ahab and all his decendents. See 2 Kings 10:11 and 2 Chron. 22:7.

It is the most complete Assyrian obelisk yet discovered, and is historically significant because it displays the earliest ancient depiction of Israelites. It was erected as a public monument in 825 BCE at a time of civil war. It was discovered by archaeologist Sir Henry Layard in 1846.

The major significance it has to a reader of the Bible is the support it gives to the historical accuracy of the Biblical text. It is not too many years from the condition of Biblical critics questioning the whole of the Bible as a fable. This is one more item that dismisses the critical opinions in support of the Biblical text.