Topical Encyclopedia
Assyria, an ancient Mesopotamian empire, plays a significant role in the biblical narrative, particularly in the Old Testament. Known for its military prowess and expansive empire, Assyria is often depicted as an instrument of God's judgment against the nations, including Israel and Judah.
Historical BackgroundAssyria was located in the northern part of Mesopotamia, with its heartland in what is now modern-day northern Iraq. The empire reached its zenith between the 9th and 7th centuries BC, under rulers such as Tiglath-Pileser III, Sargon II, Sennacherib, and Ashurbanipal. The capital cities of Assyria included Ashur, Nineveh, and later, Calah (Nimrud).
Assyria in the Bible1.
Judgment and Prophecy: Assyria is frequently mentioned in the prophetic books of the Bible as a tool of divine judgment. The prophets Isaiah, Hosea, and Micah, among others, speak of Assyria's role in God's plan to discipline His people.
Isaiah 10:5-6 states, "Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger; the staff in their hands is My wrath. I will send him against a godless nation; I will dispatch him against a people destined for My rage, to take spoil and seize plunder, and to trample them down like clay in the streets."
2.
Conquest of Israel: Assyria's most notable biblical action is the conquest of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. In
2 Kings 17:6 , it is recorded, "In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and deported the Israelites to Assyria. He settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River, and in the towns of the Medes." This event marked the end of the Northern Kingdom and the beginning of the Assyrian captivity.
3.
Threat to Judah: Assyria also posed a significant threat to the Southern Kingdom of Judah. King Sennacherib's invasion during the reign of King Hezekiah is a prominent biblical account. In
2 Kings 19:35 , the miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem is described: "That night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies!"
4.
Nineveh and Jonah: The city of Nineveh, the Assyrian capital, is central to the account of the prophet Jonah. God commands Jonah to go to Nineveh and call the city to repentance.
Jonah 3:4-5 recounts, "On the first day of his journey, Jonah set out into the city and proclaimed, 'Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned!' And the people of Nineveh believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least."
5.
Fall of Assyria: Despite its might, Assyria's fall was prophesied by Nahum and Zephaniah.
Nahum 3:7 declares, "All who see you will flee from you, saying, 'Nineveh is devastated; who will mourn for her?' Where can I find anyone to comfort you?" The empire eventually fell to the Babylonians and Medes in 612 BC, marking the end of Assyrian dominance.
Theological SignificanceAssyria's role in the Bible underscores themes of divine sovereignty and judgment. The Assyrian empire, despite its power, was ultimately subject to God's will. The biblical narrative uses Assyria to demonstrate that God can use even the most formidable nations to accomplish His purposes, and yet, He holds them accountable for their actions. The account of Assyria serves as a reminder of God's justice and mercy, as seen in the repentance of Nineveh and the deliverance of Jerusalem.
Library
A Farther Quotation from virgilius Maro Respecting Christ, with...
... Footnotes: [3468] [Amomum.--Bag.] "Assyrian cinnamon," Kennedy, p. 28; "the cardamon's
spice shall grow, That fromAssyria's gardens," Wilstach, 1, p. 157...
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, andAssyria, V 7
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, andAssyria, V 7. <.... Title
Page. HISTORY OF EGYPT CHALDEA, SYRIA, BABYLONIA, ANDASSYRIA...
Nahum
... steeds, the flashing swords, the glittering spears, iii.2,3. The poetry glows with
passionate joy as it contemplates the ruin of cruel and victoriousAssyria....
Power of Prayer.
... Iron bars and brazen gates. Hezekiah on his knees. ProudAssyria's host subdued;
And when smitten with disease,. Had his life by prayer renewed....
God the Joy-Bringer
... That 'the king ofAssyria's heart is turned'; shall we thank the king of
Assyria? Yes and No! For it was God who 'turned' it. Oh!...
The History Books
... All around great empires watched them with eager eyes; the powerful kings ofAssyria,
Egypt, and Babylonia, the learned Greeks, and, in later times, the...
The Resurrection.
... be under persecution in Egypt. Elisha by it could tell what was done in
the king ofAssyria's bedchamber. Abijah by this could know...
The Prophet --His Youth and his Call.
... Just before his birth Egypt and the small states of Palestine broke from allegiance
toAssyria.... ButAssyria, though weakened, had not become negligible....
The Sovereignty of God in Operation
... Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart
to destroy and cut off nations not a few."Assyria's king had determined to...
The Power ofAssyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, andAssyria, V 8. <.... CHAPTER
II"THE POWER OFASSYRIA AT ITS ZENITH; ESARHADDON AND ASSUR-BANI-PAL....
Thesaurus
Assyria's (1 Occurrence)... Multi-Version Concordance
Assyria's (1 Occurrence). Zechariah 10:11 And
He hath passed over through the sea, And hath pressed and
...Assyrians (15 Occurrences)
... ASSYRIANS. a-sir'-i-ans ('ashshur): The inhabitants ofAssyria. In Hebrew the name
of the people is the same as that of the country. SeeASSYRIA....
Nineveh (23 Occurrences)
... First mentioned in Genesis 10:11, which is rendered in the Revised Version, "He
[ie, Nimrod] went forth intoAssyria and builded Nineveh." It is not again...
Jareb (2 Occurrences)
... should plead"), being derived from the ribh, "to strive." The rendering would then
be "King Combat," "King Contentious," indicatingAssyria's general hostility...
Astad
Isaiah (64 Occurrences)
... attacked and defeated by Rezin of Damascus and Pekah of Samaria (2 Kings 16:5; 2
Chronicles 28:5, 6). Ahaz, thus humbled, sided withAssyria, and sought the...
Elamites (2 Occurrences)
... 7) Hurbatila's Challenge to Kuri-galzu (8) Elam Again Supreme (9) Elam Again Defeated,
but Recovers (10) The Conflict between Elam andAssyria (11) Sennacherib...
Elam (24 Occurrences)
... 7) Hurbatila's Challenge to Kuri-galzu (8) Elam Again Supreme (9) Elam Again Defeated,
but Recovers (10) The Conflict between Elam andAssyria (11) Sennacherib...
Hoshea (13 Occurrences)
... HOSHEA. ho-she'-a (hoshea`, "salvation"; Hosee, 2 Kings 17:1-9): 1. A Satrap
ofAssyria: Son of Elah, the 19th and last king of Israel....
Chronology
... This period may properly be said to begin with the death in 626 BC of
Ashurbanipal, the last great ruler ofAssyria. At this time...
Resources
When and how was Israel conquered by the Assyrians? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is blasphemy? What does it mean to blaspheme? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the significance of Assyria in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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