Articles
Prophecy Fulfilled: Nineveh
As a result of such a positive response to last week’s sermons on fulfilled prophecy, this is another addition to that subject.
Nineveh was one of the first cities ever established (c. 4500 B.C.), but it rose to greatest influential prominence as the capital of the Assyrian Empire. D.J. Wiseman records that Shalmaneser I and Tukulti-Ninurta I developed Nineveh as one of the chief centers of Assyrian royal administration (Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, IV: 442). During the reigns of such infamous kings as Tiglath-Pileser I, Ashurbanipal II, and Sargon II, became even more eminent. Yet, Sennacherib is most noted historically for building fortress walls around the city and for establishing it on the grandest scale (c. 705-681 B.C.; see 2Kgs. 19:36f). Even God attests to their physical magnificence by calling Jonah to preach to “that great city” (1:2). Thanks to the immaculate skill of Assyria at recordkeeping (e.g. Black Obelisk, Prism of Sennacherib, and their Annals), we know a great deal about them as a powerful, militaristic nation. Most importantly though we know about the fulfillment of God’s prophecies (Is. 44:6f) regarding Assyria.
Oracles of Judgment (Is. 10:12-14; Nahum; Zeph. 2:13-15):
1. Nineveh would be taken when rulers were drunk (Nah. 1:10; 3:11)
2. They would experience a grievous wound (Nah. 1:9; 3:19)
3. Flooding of the river and fire to be involved (Nah. 1:8; 2:6, 13; 3:13)
4. They would become a desolate wilderness (Zeph. 2:13)
5. Shepherds would bring flocks to lie down there (Zeph. 2:14)
6. Passersby would hiss and wave their hand at its ruins (Zeph. 2:15)
Fulfillment (see the Babylonian Chronicle, British Museum, No. 21901):
1. Nineveh falls in 612 B.C. to the Babylonians, Scythians, and Medes
2. Assyria falls in 605 B.C. as the Battle of Carchemish to Babylon.
3. The taking of Nineveh – and precise fulfillment of the aforementioned prophecies – is detailed for us by the 1st century Greek historian Diodorus Siculus: “… but after three years and heavy rains, the [Tigris, EP] river, swelling wide, broke down a distance of the city walls and flooded a portion of the city. The king panicked, believing the aforementioned prophecy had been completed. He gave up hope and ordered his kingly possessions as well as concubines, etc. into a portion of his palace and sealing off that palace burned the whole thing down. The siegers, learning of the break in the wall, attacked this point, forcing entry into the city, and took over as victors of the whole city. Arbaces was crowned its king and given supreme authority” (Loeb Classical Library).
4. Sir Anthony Shirley remarked at the close of the 16th century, “Nineveh, that which God Himself calleth that great Citie, hath not one stone standing which may give meaning to the being of a town.” (Wycliffe Historical Geography of Bible Lands, pp. 38f).
The Bible presents the inspired Word of God (2Tim. 3:16f) and details hundreds of prophecies that prove its divine origin. Looking to these prophecies, we see that Nineveh fell because of its repudiation of the Almighty God. Had they repented of their sins and sought Him like they had done at the preaching of Jonah, they could have been (cf. Jer. 18:7-10); yet, their repentance did not last and they saw the wrath of God. May we learn from their example and seek God’s face in our time of need (Thanks to Ferrell Jenkins, Introduction to Christian Evidences, 101-102 for the outline and idea).
