Assyrian Kings Who Had Contact With Israel and Judah | Assyrian Kings Who Had Contact With Israel and Judah
| Shalmaneser III (858-824 B.C.) / Shamshi-Adad V (823-811 B.C.) / Adad-Nirari III (810-783 B.C.) / Shalmaneser IV (782-773 B.C.) / Ashur-dan III (772-755 B.C.) / Ashur-Nirari V (754-745 B.C.) / Tiglath-pileser III (744-727 B.C.) / Shalmaneser V (726-722 B.C.) / Sargon III (721-705 B.C.) / Sennacherib (704-681 B.C.) / Esarhaddon (680-669 B.C.) / Ashurbanipal (668-633 B.C.) / Ashur-eti-ilani (632-629 B.C.) / Sin-shum-lishir (628-624 B.C.) / Sin-shar-ishkum (623-612 B.C.) / Ashur-uballit (611-608 B.C.)
Nineveh- Capital of the Assyrian Empire
Nineveh was located on the eastern bank of the Tigris River in northeastern Mesopotamia (Iraq). It flourished from about 800 to 610 B.C. as the capital of the Assyrian empire (see Ancient Empires - Assyria). It is first mentioned in the Bible back in Genesis as being founded by Nimrod (Genesis 10:9-12).
During its time of power, the Assyrian empire conquered the northern Israelite kingdom of Israel, with their capital at Samaria, and transported them away into captivity. Unlike the southern Israelite kingdom of Judah, with their capital at Jerusalem Fact File, they never returned, and became known as the “Lost Ten Tribes” of Israel. The Assyrians themselves eventually were lost, although some identify their descendants as being in central Europe today.
Nineveh was the city that the reluctant prophet Jonah was sent to by God. Jonah did not want to go, so he ran away. However, after a famous adventure with a whale at sea he accepted what he was to do - get the people of Nineveh to repent of their evil. He went, and was successful. The photo shows the remains of the gate of ancient Nineveh where Jonah entered the city (Jonah 3:4).
Jonah however still was not happy because he did not very much like the Assyrians because of all of the harm that they had inflicted upon Israel. He was hoping that they would refuse to repent so that God would destroy them. He may well have been the only prophet in history that hoped that his ministry would fail! Eventually, the Assyrian empire declined and fell. It was overtaken by the Persian (see Ancient Empires - Persia) and Babylonian (see King Nebuchadnezzar) empires who were themselves just then on the rise. Today, Nineveh is just a vast stretch of ancient ruins.
Fact Finder: How many people in Nineveh did Jonah convince to repent?
(a) 120 (b) 1,200 (c) 12,000 (d) 120,000
Persian Kings In Bible History | Persian Kings In Bible History | Persian Kings In Bible History | Persian Kings In Bible History | Persian Kings In Bible History
Common Name | B.C. Date | Name In Persian | Name In Bible | Bible References
Cyrus | 539-530 | Koorush | Cyrus | Isaiah 45, Daniel, Ezra 1-3
Cambysses | 530-521 | Cambujieh | Ahasruerus | Ezra 4-6
Pseudo Smerdis | 521 | Berooyeh Doroughi | Artaxerxes | Ezra 4:7-23
Darius the Great | 521-486 | Darryoosh | Darius | Ezra 5,6
Xerxes | 486-465 | Khashayarshah | Ahasurerus | Esther 1-10
Artaxerxes I | 464-423 | Ardeshier Deraz Dast | Artaxerxes | Nehemiah 1 - 13, Ezra 7-10
Fact Finder: Which Persian (Mede) king conquered the Babylonian King Belshazzar after the famous “handwriting on the wall” incident? Daniel 5:30-31
By The Book - Jonah
1. Where did The Lord send Jonah to preach against the people’s wickedness? (Jonah 1:1-2)
2. What did Jonah do instead of going to where God sent him? (Jonah 1:3) (see Joppa)
3. What happened to Jonah while he was trying to run away by sea? (Jonah 1:4-17) (see The Mediterranean Sea)
4. What happened to Jonah while he was inside the great fish? (Jonah 2:1-10)
5. Did Jonah then go to Nineveh? (the ruins of the ancient city are shown in the photograph) (Jonah 3:1-3)
6. Was Nineveh a very large city in the Tigris-Euphrates Region? (Jonah 3:3)
7. Did the people of Nineveh believe Jonah’s warning? Did they repent? (Jonah 3:4-9)
8. Did The Lord then not destroy Nineveh as would have happened if they had not repented? (Jonah 3:10)
9. Was Jonah happy that the people of Nineveh had repented, or would he have rather seen them all destroyed? (Jonah 4:1)
By The Book - Amos
1. What was the prophet Amos’ profession? (Amos 1:1)
2. During what time period was Amos active? (Amos 1:1) (see Kings of Israel and Judah)
3. Did Amos write of the coming destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel because of their sinful behavior? (Amos 2:6-16) (see The Ten Commandments and The Ten Commandments Now?)
4. Did God again give the northern kingdom a chance to repent of their evil and so avoid destruction? (Amos 5:4-6) (see Repent!)
5. Was Israel also warned of their impending exile? (Amos 9:4) (see Ancient Empires - Assyria)
6. Did God also speak of Israel’s future restoration after their destruction? (Amos 9:11-15)
By The Book - Hosea
1. Whose Word was the prophet Hosea speaking? (Hosea 1:1) (see Prophets)
2. At what time period was Hosea active? (Hosea 1:1) (see Kings of Israel and Judah)
3. What sins were being committed by the Israelites? (Hosea 4:1-3) (see The Ten Commandments and The Ten Commandments Now?)
4. Did they also reject the knowledge of God that He had given them? (Hosea 4:6) (see The Bible and 52-Week Bible Reading Plan)
5. What did God desire of them? (Hosea 6:6) (see Christian Living)
6. Were the Israelites destroyed for the wickedness? (Hosea 13:16)
7. Would repentance from their evil behavior have brought forgiveness from God, not destruction? (Hosea 14:1-2) (see Repent!)