The Assyrians were an ancient people who inhabited parts of Mesopotamia and the Near East. They established the powerful Assyrian Empire, which dominated the ancient Near East during the Iron Age from around 900 BC to 612 BC.
The Assyrians played a major role in the Bible and biblical history. They are mentioned frequently throughout the Old Testament, often as enemies and conquerors of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Some key things to know about the Assyrians in the Bible include:
Origins and Early History
The Assyrians traced their origins back to the 25th century BC, when the ancient city of Assur was founded on the Tigris River. Over the centuries the Assyrians gradually expanded their territory, conquering cities such as Nineveh, which later became their capital (see Genesis 10:11).
In the early history of Israel, during the period of the Judges, the Assyrians attacked and oppressed the tribes in the northern part of the country (see Judges 3:8). The Bible refers to the conflict between the early Israelites and Assyrians during this time period.
Growth of the Assyrian Empire
The Assyrians began to grow in power during the 9th century BC. Under rulers such as Ashurnasirpal II, Shalmaneser III, Tiglath-Pileser III, Sargon II, and Sennacherib, the Assyrians conquered a vast empire encompassing Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, the Levant, and Egypt.
The capital of the empire was the city of Nineveh, mentioned over 60 times in the Bible. Nineveh and other Assyrian cities figure prominently in books such as Jonah and Nahum (see 2 Kings 19:36; Jonah 1:2; Nahum 1:1).
Invasion and Conquest of Israel and Judah
As the Assyrian Empire expanded westward, it inevitably came into conflict with the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. In approximately 740 BC, the Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III invaded Israel and made it a vassal state. Later, in 722 BC, the Assyrians, led by King Shalmaneser V and then Sargon II, conquered Israel, destroyed its capital Samaria, and carried many of the people into exile (2 Kings 17:5-6).
The southern kingdom of Judah managed to avoid conquest for over a century after the fall of Israel, even expanding under righteous kings such as Hezekiah. However, in approximately 701 BC the Assyrian king Sennacherib invaded Judah and besieged Jerusalem. God intervened and Jerusalem was delivered, but the Assyrian threat remained (2 Kings 18:13-19:37; Isaiah 36-37).
Defeat of the Assyrians
After dominating the Near East for over two centuries, the Assyrian Empire finally fell. The decline began with civil war and political instability. Then, between 616-609 BC, the Assyrian heartland was attacked by an alliance of Medes, Babylonians, and others. Nineveh was sacked in 612 BC, fulfilling the prophecies of Nahum.
The Assyrian imperial records end between 609-605 BC as their empire collapsed. Remnants of the Assyrian army aligned with Egypt, but were defeated at the Battle of Carchemish by King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon in 605 BC (Jeremiah 46:2). This marked the end of Assyria as an independent power.
Culture and Identity
The Assyrians developed a distinctive culture and national identity. Their language, Akkadian, was written in cuneiform script. They were fierce warriors, as described in the Bible (Isaiah 10:5-19), and were known for innovations in siege warfare. The Assyrians also produced monumental architectural works, such as the palaces at Kalhu and Nineveh.
Religiously, the Assyrians worshiped gods such as Ashur, Ishtar, and Shamash. The kings considered themselves to rule on behalf of the national god Ashur. The Assyrians were pagans who did not follow the God of Israel.
Interactions with Israel and Judah
As seen from the biblical accounts, the interactions between the Assyrians and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah were largely hostile. The Assyrian policy was to utterly destroy conquered peoples who rebelled against them (2 Kings 17:5; Isaiah 10:7).
However, there were exceptions. For example, the Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III showed mercy to King Ahaz of Judah and supported him against Israel and Syria (2 Kings 16:7-9). But later, Sennacherib invaded Judah and besieged Jerusalem.
The prophets such as Isaiah, Micah, and Nahum prophesied both judgment and hope concerning Assyria (Isaiah 10:5-34; Micah 5:5-6; Nahum 3:1-7). Ultimately, God used the Assyrians to punish His people, and then punished Assyria itself for its arrogance.
Archaeological Evidence
The Bible’s depiction of the Assyrians has been confirmed by archaeology. Numerous Assyrian palaces, reliefs, monuments, tablets, and other artifacts have been discovered by excavators. These provide both inscriptional and pictorial evidence of the Assyrian military campaigns, culture, and religious practices.
Key Assyrian archaeological sites proving the biblical account include Nineveh, Nimrud, Dur Sharrukin, and the Nabonidus Cylinder (which mentions King Hezekiah of Judah). Through such findings, the Assyrians have emerged as one of the great powers of the biblical world.
Assyrian Identity Today
The Assyrian people and identity did not disappear after the fall of their empire. Descendants of the ancient Assyrians still exist today as an ethnic and religious minority in the Near East. The modern Assyrians are indigenous Aramaic-speaking Christians who belong to churches such as the Chaldean Catholic Church, Ancient Church of the East, Assyrian Church of the East, and Syriac Orthodox Church.
Many Assyrians live in northern Iraq, southeast Turkey, northeast Syria and northwest Iran. There are also Assyrian diaspora communities worldwide, including in America. The continuing existence of the Assyrian people helps confirm the historicity of this civilization known from the Bible.
In summary, the Assyrians were a powerful nation that dominated the ancient Near East for centuries. They figure prominently in the Old Testament, particularly for their invasions and conquests of Israel and Judah. While a brutal pagan people, God used the Assyrians to punish His rebellious people. But He also punished Assyrian arrogance and brought about the empire’s destruction. The Assyrian civilization has been remarkably confirmed by archaeology and their descendants continue to exist today.