Page 50 - Biblical Backgrounds student textbook

The Assyrian empire became extremely
great and powerful with Nineveh as its
center, all the way until its final
destruction by the Chaldeans and the
Medes. Nineveh was located in a very
desirable place, east of the Tigris River in
a very fertile plain. Today the ancient
ruins are located just opposite of the
present-day city of Mosul. The size of
Nineveh is revealed in the Bible, in Jonah
3:3 and 4:11 (A 3 days journey in
breadth with over 120,000 people). The
classical writers describe Nineveh as
being over 60 miles around the city
walls. The city of Nineveh is described in
Genesis 10:11 as having been founded
by Nimrod, the hunter who built the
tower of Babel and led the world into a rebellion against God. The Old Testament also mentions Nineveh
in relation to the prophet Jonah who preached judgment against Nineveh, and afterward the city
repented.

Nineveh took its turn as one of three cities to be the capital of Assyria, whose rule over Mesopotamia
dates back to 2400 BC and was an incredible civilization that rose from humble beginnings into a
fearsome empire that ruled much of known world until its fall in 612 BC. Because we read of the
judgments upon Assyria, we might tend to look upon them as some demon-possessed frothing people of
whom nothing comes but evil. But the truth for Nineveh and the Assyrian Empire is true of every nation
on earth. They had many kinds of people, subject to the cultural
norms of the time, and doing the best they can to raise their
children, survive and prosper. God through Jonah showed great
mercy on its people because they repented hearing the word of
God. (8th Century BCEE.) The Assyrians brought many scientific,
philosophical and practical advances to humanity including many
inventions that we take for granted today. Everyday most of us
lock our doors when we leave the house, locks and keys were
invented in Assyria. They also invented a system that kept time
and ascribed 360 degrees to a circle. They are given credit for
inventing paved roads, the first postal system, the first use of iron,
the first libraries, the first plumbing, flush toilets and aqueducts.
They came up with the first governmental administration of
dividing of territories ruled by local governors reporting to a
central authority.

The Book of Jonah, set in the days of the Assyrian empire,
describes it as an "exceedingly great city of three days' journey in
breadth", whose population at that time is given as "more than

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