Assyria was one of the great ancient kingdoms that rose to power in Mesopotamia, the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. It occupied parts of what are now northern Iraq, southeastern Turkey, and northwestern Iran. The Assyrian empire dominated the Near East from about 900 to 612 BC.
The Bible contains many references to Assyria as both a nation and a geographic location. Assyria figures prominently in the history of Israel and Judah as recorded in the books of Kings, Chronicles, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and others. Here are some of the key ways that Assyria is significant in the biblical narrative:
Assyria as an Instrument of God’s Judgment
On numerous occasions, God used Assyria as an instrument to punish the Israelites when they turned away from Him. The prophets often warned that if Israel and Judah did not repent, God would send the Assyrian army to conquer them as judgment for their idolatry and injustice. For example:
“Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger, in whose hand is the club of my wrath! I send him against a godless nation, I dispatch him against a people who anger me, to seize loot and snatch plunder, and to trample them down like mud in the streets.” (Isaiah 10:5-6)
“From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land. I am about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms,” declares the Lord. “Their kings will come and set up their thrones in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem; they will come against all her surrounding walls and against all the towns of Judah.” (Jeremiah 1:14-15)
As prophesied, the Assyrian king Shalmaneser V conquered the northern kingdom of Israel and deported many Israelites from the land (2 Kings 17). Later, the Assyrian king Sennacherib invaded Judah and besieged Jerusalem during the reign of King Hezekiah (2 Kings 18-19; Isaiah 36-37). Though Sennacherib failed to capture Jerusalem, he devastated much of Judah.
Assyria’s Pride and Fall
The prophets also foretold that after God used Assyria to punish His people, He would then punish Assyria for its own arrogance and cruelty. Though the Assyrian kings thought of themselves as irresistible, they were merely tools in the hands of the Lord.
“When the Lord has finished all his work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, he will say, ‘I will punish the king of Assyria for the willful pride of his heart and the haughty look in his eyes.'” (Isaiah 10:12)
“What will you say when the Lord sets over you those you cultivated as your special allies? Will you not be filled with pains like those of a woman in labor?
And if you say in your heart,
‘Why have these things come upon me?’ it is for your many sins that your skirts have been stripped off and your body mistreated. Can the Cushite change his skin or the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil.” (Jeremiah 13:21-23)
As prophesied, the Neo-Assyrian Empire collapsed between 616-609 BC due to civil wars and attacks from the Medes, Babylonians, and others. The mighty Assyria ceased to be an independent kingdom.
Typology Between Assyria and End Times Events
Some scholars see typological connections between Assyria’s invasion of Israel/Judah and events that will occur in the end times. For example, the sudden destruction that will come “from the north” upon Israel (Jer 1:14) reminds some of the invasion of Gog from the land of Magog, “from the far north” (Ezekiel 38:15). The repentance of Nineveh, the Assyrian capital, at Jonah’s preaching may foreshadow the salvation of Israel in the last days.
However, these connections should be made cautiously and with wisdom. The prophets used the Assyrian invasion as a living illustration of judgment to call their listeners to repentance. Historical events in the OT can have multiple applications.
Prophecies About Assyria Fulfilled
The detailed prophecies about Assyria’s rise and fall demonstrate God’s sovereignty over all nations. Through His prophets, God made predictions that were astonishingly fulfilled many decades later. The uncanny accuracy of these prophecies highlight the divine inspiration of Scripture.
For instance:
- Isaiah and Nahum foretold the total destruction of Nineveh long before it occurred (Isa 10:12; Nahum 1-3)
- Isaiah accurately predicted Sennacherib’s failure to capture Jerusalem (Isa 37:33-37)
- Ezekiel precisely envisioned the downfall of the proud king of Assyria (Ezek 31)
The fulfillment of these prophecies should encourage our confidence that God’s Word is true and will come to pass just as He has declared.
Interaction With Biblical Characters
Several significant biblical characters interacted directly with the Assyrian empire. Here are some examples:
- Jonah – The prophet Jonah was sent by God to preach to the people of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, causing the entire city to repent (Jonah 3).
- Hoshea – The last king of Israel who was attacked and deposed by the Assyrian king Shalmaneser V (2 Kings 17).
- Hezekiah – The king of Judah when Sennacherib invaded the land. Hezekiah prayed to the Lord for deliverance, which he received (2 Kings 18-19).
- Sennacherib – The Assyrian king who besieged Jerusalem but failed to capture it, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy (2 Kings 18-19; Isaiah 36-37).
- Tiglath-Pileser III – Powerful Assyrian king who invaded Israel, forced tribute from Judah, and pioneered policies of mass exile and resettlement (2 Kings 15-16; 1 Chron 5).
These stories give greater insight into the historical context surrounding prophecies about Assyria. We see up close how real people responded to the conflict between the superpower Assyria and the small kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
Assyria in Prophecies of Exile and Restoration
After the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel to Assyria, the prophets began to warn Judah that they also faced exile if they did not turn back to God. Jeremiah, for example, foresaw a time when the Babylonians would do to Jerusalem what the Assyrians had done to Samaria (Jer 5:15-17).
Nevertheless, the prophets also promised that God would eventually restore a remnant of His people to the land. Isaiah looked forward to a highway of return “from Assyria” (Isa 11:16). Hosea assured Israel that though scattered, “they will come trembling like birds from Egypt, like doves from Assyria” back to their homes (Hos 11:11). Assyria’s exile of the northern tribes became a paradigm for biblical prophecies of both judgment and restoration.
Archaeological Finds About Assyria Confirm Scripture
In the mid-1800s, archaeologists began to excavate the ancient Assyrian capital of Nineveh. Their discoveries revealed the palaces of king Sennacherib and his grandson Ashurbanipal, confirming many details found in Scripture.
Hundreds of tablets were discovered testifying to the achievements of the Assyrian kings described in the Bible. Records unearthed in Nineveh by archaeologist Sir Austen Henry Layard matched the Assyrian accounts of the invasion of Judah mentioned in 2 Kings. Important artifacts like Sennacherib’s Prism and the Taylor Prism corroborate biblical history.
These archaeological finds support the historical reliability of the Bible. They enable us to read some of the actual documents drafted by the Assyrian scribes mentioned in 2 Kings (2Ki 18:17). Excavations continue to uncover artifacts that increase our knowledge of Assyrian culture.
Foreshadowing of Things to Come
In some passages, Assyria seems to foreshadow the Antichrist in typology. For example, the king of Assyria is presented as boastful, arrogant, and exalting himself above the true God. Isaiah 10:5-34 depicts God using Assyria as an instrument of judgment, followed by judgment on Assyria itself for its wickedness. This could anticipate the Antichrist who will mete out judgment during the Tribulation, only to face God’s judgment at Christ’s return.
However, identifying Assyria specifically with end times prophecy can be speculative. The passages about Assyria’s pride may simply illustrate how all human rulers who exalt themselves will eventually face God’s judgment.
Contrast Between Assyria and Israel
By comparing and contrasting Assyria with Israel/Judah, the prophets brought unique lessons to light. For instance, Ezekiel 31 contrasts Assyria to a great cedar tree that was chopped down, illustrating how divine judgment humbles the proud. Hosea and Amos highlight how Israel’s covenant relationship with God should have set them apart from other nations like Assyria, but their rampant sin eliminated that distinction.
These comparisons serve as warnings and calls to holiness. If the covenant people behaved just like pagan nations, they could expect similar judgment. God would not permit His people’s unique witness to be silenced.
Assyria in Prophecies Against Foreign Nations
The prophets pronounced judgment on various nations surrounding Israel, including Assyria and Babylon. These details give insight into God’s universal standards. For example:
- Nahum 3 – Judgment against Nineveh, the “city of blood”, for its evil brutality.
- Isaiah 10 – Woe to Assyria, the rod of God’s anger, which will in turn by punished for its arrogant heart.
- Habakkuk 1 – The treacherous Babylonians are even worse than the cruel Assyrians.
Though God used pagan nations as His instruments, they still faced consequences for their sin. Their judgment showed that God is sovereign over all.
Demonic Forces Behind Assyria’s Power
Some passages suggest demonic forces were active in empowering Assyria. For instance, the “prince of the kingdom of Persia” referenced in Daniel 10 may have been a territorial demon over the region resisting God’s purposes. The spiritual realm manifested itself in the events of earthly kingdoms.
This should caution us not to perceive world events as merely political in nature. Spiritual forces are at work behind the rise and fall of kings and kingdoms (Eph 6:12). God uses both the spiritual forces of good and evil to accomplish His sovereign plans (Isa 10:5-7).
Summary
In summary, the biblical authors portrayed Assyria as a dominant Mesopotamian empire that God raised up to judge His covenant people, demonstrate His sovereignty over the nations, and stir up repentance among both Israelites and pagans. Though used for a time as God’s “rod of anger”, Assyria’s wickedness led to its eventual judgment and collapse. Its interaction with Israel and Judah provides essential context for the books of prophecy and history.
The Assyrian empire rose and fell, yet through it God worked out His redemptive plans. Assyria was a tool in the hands of the Creator to shape history and turn His people back to Himself. Just as God used Assyria, He is capable of using any person or nation—even evil empires—to further His sovereign purposes. The accounts of Assyria provide us with hope that even in times of judgment, God remains faithful to His promises.