The Assyrians were a cruel and aggressive people who became one of the dominant nations of the ancient world from
about 1300 to 600 B.C. During this long period, they often clashed with the Hebrew people. The ultimate outrage occurred in
the eighth century when thousands of residents of the northern kingdom were carried to Asstria as captives and resettled in
pagan territory.
The Assyrian Empire developed between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in a region known as Upper Mesopotamia.
The Assyrians defeated Babylon, their neighbors to the south, in 1300 B.C., a move that propelled them to the status of a
world power. Assyria was actually the most powerful nation of the ancient world for two centuries...from about 850 to 650
B.C.
In 722 B.C., King Shalmaneser of Assyria began a long siege of Samaria, capital city of Israel, which
resulted in complete destruction of this city. Thousands of Jews were deported to Assyrian territory, and most never returned.
This was a blow from which the nation of Israel (northern kingdom) never recovered.
The southern kingdom also suffered from oppression by the Assyrians. King Ahaz of Judah appealed to
King Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria for protection, in spite of the prophet Isaiah's warnings against such an alliance. Ahaz was
eventually forced to pay tribute to Assyria and adopt some of the pagan nation's worship practices (2
Kin. 16).
Assyria emphasized the worship of nature, believing that the natural elements were possessed by a
spirit. Along with the national deity, Assur, the Asstrian people worshipped Shemach, the sun god; Sin, the moon god; and
Hadad, the god of thunder. The pagan worship of these people was soundly condemned by several prophets of the Old Testament (Is. 10:5, 6; Ezek. 16:28; Hos. 8:9).
The Assyrians were notorious for their savagery in warfare. They burned and looted cities and showed
little mercy to their captives. In stone carvings discovered by archaeologists, Assyrian soldiers are shown torturing children,
blinding warriors, chopping off hands, impaling victims on stakes, and beheading their enemies.
Because of the cruelty and paganism of the Assyrians, the Hebrew people harbored deep-seated resentment
and hostility toward this nation. This attitude is revealed clearly in the book of Jonah. When God instructed the prophet
to preach to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, Jonah refused and went in the opposite direction (Jon. 1:1-3).
After he finally went to Nineveh, he was disappointed with God because He spared the city (Jon. 4:1-3).
The entire Book of Nahum is a prediction of God's judgement against the Assyrians. Nahum informed
the nation that its days as a world power were drawing to a close. In an oracle of woe, the prophet described Nineveh as a
"bloody city...full of lies and robbery" (Nah. 3:1). But soon the city of Nineveh would be laid
waste, and Assyria would crumble before the judgement of God. This happened as Nahum prophesied when the Babylonians and Medians
formed a coalition to defeat the Assyrians about 612 B.C.
