Assyria
“From Asshur, son of Shem, or the city of that name”
Summary
A powerful ancient empire centered on the Tigris River whose aggressive expansion brought it into conflict with Israel and Judah, eventually conquering the northern kingdom and threatening Jerusalem before its own dramatic fall.
☩Geography and Origins
Assyria was situated along the Tigris River, extending from the Kurdish mountains in the north to Babylonia in the south, with the Zagros Mountains forming its eastern boundary. The name derives from Asshur, the second son of Shem, and from the ancient city of the same name on the Tigris. The land was more rugged and temperate than the alluvial plain of Babylonia, producing a hardy population inclined to military pursuits. Its principal cities were Nineveh, Calah, and Asshur, which served successively as capitals of the empire.
☩Rise of the Empire
From a small kingdom on the upper Tigris, Assyria gradually expanded to become the dominant power of the ancient Near East. Under Tiglath-pileser I (c. 1100 BC), Assyria first achieved imperial status. After a period of decline, Ashurnasirpal II and Shalmaneser II revived Assyrian power in the ninth century, bringing them into contact with Israel. Shalmaneser II fought against a coalition including Ahab of Israel at Karkar (853 BC) and later received tribute from Jehu. The empire reached its zenith under Tiglath-pileser III, Sargon II, and their successors.
☩Conflict with Israel and Judah
Tiglath-pileser III (also called Pul in Scripture) invaded Israel and carried away captives from the tribes east of Jordan. When Hoshea of Israel rebelled by seeking alliance with Egypt, Shalmaneser IV besieged Samaria, which fell to Sargon II in 722 BC. The Assyrians deported the Israelites and resettled foreigners in their land, ending the northern kingdom. Sennacherib later invaded Judah under Hezekiah, capturing its fortified cities and besieging Jerusalem, but God miraculously destroyed 185,000 of his army.
☩Character and Religion
The Assyrians were noted for their cruelty in war and their stern military discipline. Their culture, writing, and religion were largely derived from Babylonia, though adapted to their more martial character. Their chief god was Asshur, the national deity, alongside the Babylonian pantheon including Ishtar, Shamash, and others. Royal inscriptions boast of brutal treatment of conquered peoples, flaying kings alive and impaling prisoners—practices that made Assyria a byword for terror throughout the ancient world.
☩Fall and Prophetic Significance
Despite its fearsome power, Assyria was destined for sudden destruction. The prophets declared God's judgment upon it for its arrogance and cruelty. Nahum's entire prophecy celebrates Nineveh's coming doom. About 612 BC, the Babylonians and Medes combined to destroy Nineveh so completely that its location was forgotten until modern excavations. This dramatic reversal demonstrated that Assyria, though used by God as 'the rod of his anger,' was itself accountable for its proud boasting and excessive violence against the nations.
Related Verses127 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Assyria," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Assyria," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.Philip Schaff and Johann Herzog (ed.), "Assyria," in The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, vol. I (Funk and Wagnalls, 1908–1914).
- 4.George Morrish, "Assyria," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).