Assyria

Walking into Gallery 401 of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the student stops dead in his tracks. Looming in front of him are two sculptures of creatures that are part man, part beast. The student notices informational placards by the creatures and steps forward to read them. The placard informs him of the “winged bull and lion… statues [that provide] magical protection from demonic forces.” Also known as lamassu, the “winged bull and lion” are designed to confront visitors, as well as to…

In ancient Hebrew times, Nineveh was the ancient capital of Assyria. The Assyrian empire became very powerful because Nineveh was right in the middle. Nineveh was described as a very prosperous city. The city of Nineveh was built by Nimrod mentioned in the book of Genesis 10:11: “From that land he went into Assyria and built Nineveh” Nimrod was the hunter who helped build the tower of Babel and escorted the world in a rebellion against God. The roots of that city was build up from a rebellious…

tribes are Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, and Joseph (whose tribe was isolated into the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh). The vast majority of the general population of the Northern Kingdom were extradited to old Assyria (2 Kings 17:6). A significant number of the Jews who stayed in the land intermarried with individuals from Cutha, Ava, Hamath, and Sepharvaim who had been sent by the Assyrian ruler to possess Samaria (2 Kings 17:24; Ezra 4:2– 11). Therefore,…

Its inhabitants were not considered Assyrians; rather, their local rulers held power as subjects of Assyria. Instead of Supplying agricultural goods and manpower, these subordinated states had a great burden of delivering massive amounts of tribute in the form of gold and silver. This wealth went directly to the king, who used it to pay for extravagant…

734, when Isaiah the prophet exhorted Ahaz to trust in God, but Ahaz turned instead to the powerful Assyria to defend them against northern Israel and Damascus. Assyria did defend Judah, and defeated these two kingdoms. However, Ahaz of Judah became a vassal of Assyria, and northern Israel was divided into three Assyrian provinces. Later on in 705 BC, King Hezekiah of Judah rebelled against Assyria and obtained freedom. However, four years later, the Assyrian army attacked and destroyed all of…

of a deadly plaque. “And that night the angel of the Lord went forth, and slew a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. Then Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went home, and dwelt at Nineveh. (2 Kings 19:32-36) (Like a bird in a…

A king who stayed in his fortress! The roar of the enemy is building to a crescendo. They are so vast that when you look out from the city walls it is difficult to see where they end and the countryside begins. That countryside now battered and bruised by the marching of thousands of feet. Those same feet shuffle impatiently adding to the noise of swords being sharpened and horses neighing, the battle calls of men itching for the encounter to begin. They know this fight will be easily won.…

Secondly, personal turmoil may also have played a pivotal role in bringing about the pact between Hattusili and Ramesses. Each king faced grueling opposition, Hattusili, in particular, became aware of the dangers he would face due to his ascent in power. Hattusili rose to power by ousting his own nephew (who fled to Egypt) from inheriting the throne. For this reason, Hattusili may have been constantly fearful of a coup and attempted to negotiate the extradition of fugitives as a clause in…

Babylon and Assyria…

talks about issues before the exile. Isaiah 40-66 addresses a future hope and is written by someone other than Isaiah (ETOT pg. 355). When Isaiah responds to God’s call, the Northern Kingdom of Israel has less than twenty years before to fell to Assyria. The first main section focuses on Isaiah’s vision of judgment and hope for Jerusalem. It begins as Isaiah accuses the cities leader of covenant rebellion, idolatry, and injustice. The next section of the book focuses on Isaiah’s temple vision.…