The following article is part of the "Biblical Obscurities" blog series by Mike Velthouse, author of Journey Through the Psalms. For years, Mike has been writing articles for his church's monthly newsletter on a number of "obscurities" within the Bible. We will be reprinting many of those articles here on the RFPA blog. Join our email list here to receive a notification in your inbox for new additions to this blog series! PC: Pinterest.

If given a list of ancient world empires, you probably know enough information about some of them to impress your friends. You most likely have some knowledge of Babylon or Rome. Maybe even Persia or Greece. But what about the world power that existed before the ones just mentioned, which, at its height around 650 B.C., was the largest empire the world had ever seen? What do you know about Assyria?

Although Assyria plays a vital role in the history of both Judah and Israel during the time of the kings, its beginnings go back to the second chapter of the Bible. In Genesis 2, when listing the four major rivers of creation, Moses records this: "And the name of the third river is Hiddekel [you may know this river as the Tigris]: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria" (v. 14).

So, how did Assyria come into existence in the land along the Hiddekel (Tigris) River? We read in Genesis 10 that Shem, son of Noah, had five sons of his own, one of which had the name Asshur (v. 22). This same Asshur (the most crucial name in Assyrian history) left his home in mighty Nimrod’s city of Babel and built the city of Nineveh for his family and generations (v. 11). This is the beginning of Assyria.

Assyria appears on the early biblical scene on two more occasions (only to then disappear from the scene as quickly as it arrived). Genesis 25 refers to Ishmael's death, letting us know that his descendants dwelt in the region of Shur, located on the trade route to Assyria (v. 17-18). And if we fast forward to Numbers 24, we read the account of the false prophet Balaam attempting to curse Israel for the king of Moab, Balak. Balaam failed, instead prophesying the coming of Christ, the Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre out of Israel. Balaam says this about the Kenites, descendants of Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses: "Nevertheless, the Kenites shall be wasted, until Asshur (Assyria) shall carry thee away captive" (v. 21-22).

All nations rise and fall according to God's eternal plan and providence. Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome were five of the most dominant world powers history has ever known. But they all fell.

The falls of all empires have certain things in common, including sibling rivalries for the throne, overextension of empire borders, or rebellions led by envious men. We turn one page after another in the book of history, again and again leaving once-unbeatable empires nothing but memories and legends.

Assyria, however, is the only empire with three rises and three falls. Assyrian history can be divided into these three empires.

Even though we only have vague references to Assyria in the Bible during the first two periods, remember that it existed as a nation. That means Assyria had a language, culture, and borders. Assyrians were real people who had lives, homes, and families like we have.

The first empire is known as the Old Assyrian Period. This began in 2025 B.C. (around the time of Isaac) and lasted until 1364 B.C. (between Joshua and Judges). The Assyrians from this time are known for developing the cuneiform writing system (wedge-shaped symbols carved into wet clay tablets, cylinders, or prisms, then baked), dividing a circle into 360 degrees, and advances in the wheel.

The Middle Assyrian Period started in 1364 B.C. and continued until 912 B.C. (about the time of Jeroboam’s rebellion against Rehoboam). The Assyrians of this era are known for their national expansion through military conquests, use of iron for weapons, the construction of extensive road systems, and further development of their legal system. 

The period of Assyria that Bible readers may be most familiar with is called the Neo-Assyrian Period. This period begins in 912 B.C. and ends with the destruction of Nineveh, that great city, at the hands of the Babylonians and Medes in 609 B.C.

During this last period, Assyria was a dominant world power. But more importantly, this period was the first time the nation played a significant role in Bible history.

In addition to Bible narratives, we have many sources to help us learn about the Assyrians, because they were the first empire to record and restore their own historical documents. Archeological discoveries of stone and clay tablets, paintings, and wall reliefs (artistic scenes carved onto rock walls) allow us even today to read first-hand accounts of Assyrian culture, military victories, worship of gods, construction projects, and political intrigue.

For example, these discoveries show the Assyrians' love of gardens, trees, plants, and waterways. We learn about their love of language and the recording of history. Their passion for art is also evident, as shown in the discoveries of reliefs and sculptures that once adorned their cities. Through their recorded history, we learn about their worship of Asshur, their national god of war and empire. We read about their construction projects, such as grand palaces, impressive temples for their gods, libraries of a never-before-seen size and scale, and impenetrable city walls.

However, we also determine that the Assyrians were the most brutal conquerors the world had ever known. True, the empire allowed some conquered countries to continue to exist as long as they kept peace with their conqueror and paid tributes, but punishment for rebellion was devastating. The Assyrians' goal with such punishments was to annihilate the rebelling country's very existence. People were carried away into captivity and dispersed throughout the Assyrian empire, never to return home. The Assyrians then filled these destroyed cities with a mixture of peoples from other conquered nations (remember Samaria?). In doing so, they ensured that the rebelling nation's very identity would be forgotten entirely. It was also not uncommon for a captured ruler to have his head cut off and paraded back to Assyria to be hung as an ornament for all to see in the king's parlor. Ruthless and merciless!

Now that we know a little about Assyria's history, we can examine its role in the Old Testament narrative of the kings of Judah and Israel. But for that, we'll have to wait until the next article.

Like what you've read? Click the image below to read more from author Mike Velthouse in the thirty-day devotional Journey Through the Psalms, available now on rfpa.org and in Christian bookstores near you!