Q&A Home > A > Assyria

What is the status of Assyria in the Old and New Testament?

The Assyrians adopted Babylonian doctrines, cults, and rites, with slight modifications. In Semitic times the principal god of Assyria was Asshur. The principal deities of both Assyria and Babylon were the three chief deities, Anu, the god of the heavenly expanse; Bel, the earth god and creator of mankind; Ea, the god of humanity par excellence, and of the water.

God blessed Nineveh when Jonah preached then and her great King wore sackcloth and sat down in ashes and ordered everyone to fast for 3 days and 3 nights. The ministry of Jonah in Nineveh was around the years 785-775 B.C. unfortunately, afterwards the Assyrians returned back to their pagan worship. In the holy book of Nahum, written in the seventh century around the year 622 B.C.  God sent his prophet Nahum to preach to Nineveh. Evil again reigned in the capital. Tragically, the people of Nineveh this time ignored Nahum's warning.

Chapter 2-3 of the holy book of Nahum contains prophecies concerning the coming judgment of Nineveh, the siege of the city and the woe oracle concerning the siege. The bloodthirstiness, greed, crafty and insidious policy of Nineveh were the cause of her overthrow. This is  most graphically depicted in:
(Nah 3:1-4) complete and shameful will be her downfall and no one will utter a word of pity

(Nah 3:5-7). As No-Ammon (a city inn Egypt) was mercilessly crushed, so Nineveh likewise will empty to the dregs the bitter cup of the divine vengeance

(Nah 3:8-11). In vain does she trust in her strongholds, her warriors, her preparations for a siege, and her officials and scribes.  

(Nah 3:12-17). Her empire is about to crumble, and its fall will be hailed by the triumphant applause by the whole universe (Nah 3:18-19).

These prophecies were fulfilled in 606 B.C when Nineveh was destroyed by the Medes and Babylonians, and Assyria became a province of those countries.

Isaiah prophesied saying, "Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance" (Isa 19:25). With regard to Egypt, it was prophesied, that there shall be an altar to the Lord in Egypt itself (Isa 19:19) and that they, with the Assyrians, shall become the people of God with the Israelites. Our loving God sent His Only Begotten Son to redeem both Jews and Gentiles "A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel" (Lk 2:32). Both nations converted to the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ in the first century A.D.