Jonah, Nahum and Nineveh, Jonah's message

    The Assyrian city of Nineveh is an example of both the mercy and judgment of God. In spite of its shocking surprises and sensational elements, the book of Jonah should be understood as a historical and prophetic narrative. Jewish tradition regards the story as history, and Christ's references to the story (Matthew 12:38-41 and Luke 11:29-32) lend further support to the historicity of the work. Jesus did not understand the story as a parable, but as a narrative firmly rooted in historical reality. Outside the book of Jonah, he is mentioned only once in 2 Kings 14:25, prophesying that Jeroboam II the king of Israel would restore the borders to those under Solomon. "He restored the border of Israel from the entrance of Hamath as far as the sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the LORD, the God of Israel, which He spoke through His servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was the Gath-Hepher (near Nazareth)." (1) Israel had been under severe subjugation by Assyria and God raised up one last great king to restore her fortunes. 2 Kings 14:26-27, "For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, which was very bitter, for there was neither bond nor free, nor was there any helper for Israel. And the LORD did not say that He would blot out the name of Israel under heaven, but He saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Jerash." By the hand of the LORD Assyria went into a steep decline for eighty-five years. During the reign of the Assyrian king Ashur-Dan III several plagues broke out in 765 and 759 B.C. (2) A civil war erupted between branches of the royal family at Harran, Ashur and Arrapha, in the heart of Assyria from 761-759 B.C. causing unrest and disorder. (3) Beginning in the 760's Assyrian victories were rare, and the kingdom suffered serious setbacks. For many years, the Assyrian Eponym Chronicle records, the king and his troops stayed "in the land" a clear indication that Assyria lacked the means to assert its role as the region's preeminent political power. (4) In addition, there were repeated rebellions in various provinces during this period (5) along with an eclipse of the sun which was always looked upon as a bad omen in Assyria in 763 B.C. (6) MacArthur stated God brought about these events to prepared Assyria for Jonah's message of judgment. (7) It must have been about this time when Jonah arrived in Nineveh with his message of doom. 

   NOTES: (1) R.C. Sproul, Reformation Study Bible, p.1560-1561; (2) and (3) Josette Elayi, Tiglath-pileser III, Founder of the Assyrian Empire, p.21; (4) And (5) Eckart Frahm, Assyria the Rise and Fall of the World's First Empire, p.120, (6) Josette Elayi, Tiglath-Pileser III, Founder of the Assyrian Empire, p.21; (7) John MacArthur, MacArthur Study Bible, p.1006.

     Jonah chapter 3, Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and proclaim to it the proclamation I am going to tell you." So, Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was (8) an exceedingly great city, a three day's walk; (9) Then Jonah began to go through the city one day's walk; and he cried out and said, "Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown." Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them. When the word reached the king of Nineveh, (10) he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes. And he issued a proclamation and it said, "In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let man, beast, herd, or flock taste a thing. Do not let them eat or drink water. But both man and beast must be covered in sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands. (11) Who knows, God may turn and relent, and withdraw His burning anger so that we may not perish?" When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.

     NOTES: (8) R.C. Sproul, Reformation Study Bible, p.1567, Some have suggested that the use of past tense indicates the city no longer existed at the time of the writing, however past tense does not preclude an eighth century date, for it may indicate the status of the city when the prophet arrived. (9) Sproul, p.1567, The expression "Great city" could refer to "Greater Nineveh" a region that also included the cities of Rehoboth-Irr, Calath, and Resen. Also, Andrew Lawler, Science magazine, December 19, 2017, the great cities in the Middle East were often surrounded by tent cities of nomads far beyond the walls. Archaeologist's Hammer, Arbuckle and Dan Potts of New York University in New York City, "argue that nomads stayed largely on the outside of cities to meet urban demand for meat, milk and textiles." (10) MacArthur, "It is generally believed the acid from the fish's stomach would have bleached Jonah's face, thus validating his experience." A ghostly looking prophet would have made quite the impression on the people of Nineveh. MacArthur also stated the king of Nineveh most likely refers to Ashur-Dan III, p.1012, while Sproul said since Nineveh was not the capitol of the Assyrian Empire at the time, the "king of Nineveh" may refer to a governor who exercised control over the region. p.1567; (11) Sproul, p.1568, The inclusion of animal's points to the genuine nature of their repentance. The Persians also included domesticated animals in rites of mourning.

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   The book of Nahum is straightforward a prophetic announcement of judgment against Assyria and her capitol Nineveh for cruel atrocities and idolatrous practices. Nahum forms a sequel to the book of Jonah, who prophesied over a century earlier. The prophet Nahum probably wrote late in the reign of Manasseh and during the time of Assyria's last great king Ashurbanipal. The prophet mentioned the fall of No-Amon (Thebes), which very likely means the sack of the capitol of Egypt in 663 B. C. by Assyria was still fresh in their minds. (1)  After Esarhaddon conquered Egypt, Kush on its southern border invaded and captured the country again. The Assyrian king died on the way to reconquer the country and his son Ashurbanipal became king. Ashurbanipal sent a large army that quickly vanquished Egypt. After taking Thebes, the Assyrian's sent vast spoils of war back to Nineveh which was now the Assyrian capitol. "Moreover, my troops cut down with the sword the people of the cities, as many as had sided with them (the enemy) and plotted evil plans, young and old, and they did not spare a single person among them. Furthermore, they brought them (their leaders) to Nineveh." (2)

    Ashurbanipal's brother, king of Babylon revolted, and it took four years to put down the insurrection. "There was a considerable amount of chaos not only in Babylonia but also Assyria," during that war. A second revolt in Elam was crushed severely, destabilizing and weakening that country. (3) The last eight years of Ashurbanipal's reign the records cease, which may mean the empire was becoming unstable. (4) The Roman Empire took centuries to fall, but the fall of Nineveh and Assyria was sudden and dramatic. (5) It is difficult for historians to understand how a wealthy and powerful empire like Assyria with a dynasty in place for 1,000 years could collapse so quickly. (6) Assyriologist Echart Frahm stated a "perfect storm" brought down Assyria. (7) It is startling to note that an entire book of the Bible is devoted to the destruction of one city. The prophet Nahum advances the single theme of the certainty, the inevitability, of the awesome judgment of God. (8)

     God's patience must never be understood as weakness. God ultimately ordains all the events of history. Against this evil city, Nahum delivered the message that no earthly power that defied God's law would finally escape His judgement. Assyria adopted an expansionist policy characterized by ruthless cruelty, attested to both by subject nations and Assyrian records of the torture and mutilation the Assyrians inflicted. (9) The following inscriptions by Ashurbanipal are a typical record of Assyrian kings.

    "As for the cities Sais, Mendes, and Tanis which had rebelled and sided with Taharqa, (the enemy) I conquered those cities, and I killed the people living inside them with the sword. I hung their corpses on poles, flayed them, and draped the city walls with their skins... As for Mannu-ki-ahhe, the deputy of Dananu and Nabu-usalli, city overseer of the of the land Gambulu, who had uttered grievous blasphemies against my gods, I ripped out their tongues and flayed them by the city of Arbela. As for Dunanu, they laid him on a slaughtering block inside Nineveh and slaughtered him like a lamb. As for the rest of the brothers of Dunanu and Aplaya, I killed them, chopped up their flesh, and sent them to be a spectacle of all lands." (10)

    NOTES: (1) R.C. Sproul, The Reformation Study Bible, p.1586; (2) Jamie Novotny and Joshua Jeffers, The Royal Inscriptions of Ashurbanipal (668-631 BC), Assur-etel-ilani (630-627 BC, and Sin-sarra-iskun (626-612 BC), Kings of Assyria, Part 1, p.49; (3) Eckart Frahm, Assyria the rise and Fall of the World's First Empire, p.285, and (4) p.285, and (5) p.324, and (6) p.324, and (7) p.347; (8) O. Palmer Robertson, The New International Commentary of the Old Testament, The Books of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah, p.56; (9) Sproul, The Reformation Study Bible, p.1587; (10) Jamie Novotny and Joshua Jeffers, the Royal Inscriptions of Ashurbanipal, Kings of Assyria Part 1, p.85 and p.95.

    Nahum 1:1-8, The burden of Nineveh, the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite. A jealous and avenging God is the LORD; The LORD is avenging and wrathful. The Lord takes vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies. The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. In the whirlwind and the storm is His way, and the clouds are the dust beneath His feet. He rebukes the sea and makes it dry; He dries up all the rivers. Bashan and Carmel wither; The blossoms of Lebanon wither. Mountain's quake because of Him, and the hills dissolve; Indeed, the earth is upheaved by his presence. The world and all the inhabitants in it. Who can stand before His indignation? Who can endure the burning of His anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken up by Him. The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him. But with an overflowing flood, He will make a complete end of its site, (Nineveh) and will pursue His enemies into darkness. (11), (12), (13)

    NOTES: (11) O. Palmer Robertson, The New International Commentary of the Old Testament, The Books of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah. P. 59-63, Chapter one opens with a public announcement of Nineveh's judgement. The northern territory of Israel was ruled by Assyrian overlords at this time when this bold prophet of the LORD builds his case against Assyria. "The impact of Nahum's poetic structure is felt immediately as the prophet opens with a picture of God as judge. Because idolatry, covetousness, and brutality insult His honor, God shall destroy the wicked and also save His rebellious people." Although the city of Nineveh repented in Jonah's day, the same city found it impossible to repent in Nahum's time. The LORD may be forgiving and merciful, but the point of no return has been passed by Nineveh. In an earlier day, the prophet Isaiah had used the imagery of a flood to describe the assault of Assyria against Israel (Isaiah 8:7-8). But now Assyria will experience a flood tide of invaders. (12) John MacArthur, the MacArthur Bible Commentary, p.1023-1024, God although patient, he will eventually punish the wicked. The "whirlwind and the storm," frequently describe the LORD's appearances in Judgement. The violent shaking of the earth provides another evidence of God's awesome power. Nahum describes Nineveh's actual judgment metaphorically as an engulfing flood and darkness from which none will escape. (13) Sproul, The Reformation Study Bible, p.1590, "Jealousy" refers to God's passionate reaction against any infringement on His holiness or any attempt to share His glory. His jealousy demands individual loyalty and reveals itself as wrath against rejection of His lordship.

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   NAHUM AND THE FALL OF NINEVEH

   Nahum 2:1-7, The one who scatters has come up against you. Man, the fortress, watch the road; Strengthen your back, summon all your strength. For the LORD will restore the splendor of Jacob, like the splendor of Israel, even though devastators have devastated and destroyed their vine branches. The shields of his mighty men are colored red, the warriors are dressed in scarlet, the chariots are enveloped in flashing steel, when he is prepared to march, and the cypress spears are brandished. The chariots race madly in the streets, they rush wildly in the squares, their appearance is like torches, they dash to and fro like lightning flashes. He remembers his nobles; they stumble in their march, they hurry to her wall, but the (siege) covering is prepared. The gates of the rivers are opened, and the palace is dissolved, and it is fixed: she is stripped, she is carried away, and her handmaids are moaning like the sound of doves, beating on her breasts. (24), (25), (26

     NOTES: (24) O. Palmer Robertson, The New International Commentary of the Old Testament, The Books of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah, p.86-90, "The one who scatters," could refer to the LORD Himself, but more likely that reference could refer to a ruthless enemy who would be cruel and merciless. The prophet challenges the people of Nineveh to ready their defense. But the defenders are hardly adequate. They stumble to their places in the defense of the wall of the city. The reason for this divinely engineered devastation is Assyria's previous attack on Israel. Nineveh had plundered Israel and had left nothing, and now it was her turn to experience a similar fate. The breach of the wall has not yet occurred. The last resistance of the city has retreated behind the city walls. So, all the enemies of God await the day of judgment. No escape from the sword of vengeance is possible. How shall people protect themselves against the almighty when He rises up against them. "The gates of the rivers are opened, and the temple is melted," corresponds to the testimony of the Greek historian Diodorus Siculus who stated heavy rains collapsed two miles of the wall of Nineveh and flooded parts of the city during the siege. (25) R.C. Sproul, The Reformation Study Bible, p.1592, "Red and scarlet," these terms emphasize the awe-inspiring splendor of the approaching army, whether the colors refer to their clothes or bloodstains. "The siege covering is prepared," may refer to a siege tower moved against the walls. (26) John MacArthur, Bible Commentary, p.1025, Confusion reigned in Nineveh, where battle preparations were hurriedly made. According to Diodorus, Nineveh had defensive towers reaching two hundred feet high. Nahum depicts Nineveh's royalty and military leaders rushing to their defensive positions. The collapsed walls from the flood allow the palace to be overrun. "She is carried away," the goddess of Nineveh, probably Ishtar, was taken away by the attackers. The temple prostitutes "her handmaids," mourning the fate of their goddess.                                                                                                                                                                                               

   Nahum 2:8-13, Though Nineveh was like a pool of water throughout her (ancient) days, now they are fleeing; "Stop, stop," but no one turns back. Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold! For there is no limit to the treasure, wealth from every kind of desirable object. She is emptied! Yes, she is desolate and waste! Hearts are melting and the knees shake! Also, anguish is in the whole body, and all their faces are grown pale! Where is the den of lions and the feeding place of the young lions. Where the lion, lioness, and the lion's cub prowled, with nothing to disturb them? The lion tore enough for his cubs, killed enough for his lionesses, and filled his lairs with prey and his dens with torn flesh. "Behold, I am against you," declares the LORD of hosts. "I will burn up her chariots in smoke, a sword will devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the land, and no longer will the voice of your messengers be heard." (27), (28), (29)

   NOTES: (27) O. Palmer Robertson, p.93-98, The image of an ancient pool of water fits well with Nineveh. Nineveh had made full use of its natural resources, which makes her disappearance from the face of the earth remarkable. Now that the wall has been broken through, the inhabitants panic, now in terror, they are being hunted down themselves. Those who had made themselves wealthy by terrifying others are terrified themselves. The kings of Assyria had boasted of the treasures they had collected by robbing other nations. Their faces have become pale in terror, now they know the horrors of divine judgement. The kings of Nineveh presented themselves reflecting the behavior of lions. Oblivious to the agony of its victim, the lion strips and tears flesh from its victim. For two hundred years they ravaged the peoples of the Middle East until God brought them down. The burning of the chariots is the destruction of instruments of oppression. The young lions, the princes of Assyria would be put to death. (28) Sproul, p.1593, Merciless devastation creates terror and paralysis among the people of Nineveh. God is the author of Nineveh's humiliation and disappearance, and the famous city will be reduced to oblivion. (29) MacArthur, p.1025, Though Nineveh was like an oasis in the desert that attracted many people, now they fled in terror. Nineveh ruthlessly tore in pieces her prey like lions, now she herself will become prey to other nations. "I am against you" should be the most feared words a nation could receive from God. The messengers who carried the edicts of the kings of Assyria to other nations, will become mute.

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         Nahum 3:16-19, You have increased your traders more than the stars of heaven. The creeping locust strips and flies away. Your guardsmen are like the swarming locust. Your marshals are like hordes of grasshoppers, settling in the stone walls on a cold day. The sun rises and they flee, and the place where they are is not known. Your shepherds are sleeping, O king of Assyria; Your nobles are lying down. Your people are scattered on the mountains, and there is no one to regather them. There is no relief for your breakdown, your wound is incurable. All who hear about you will clap their hands over you, for on whom has not your evil passed continually. (34), (35)

           NOTES: (34) MacArthur, p.1027, Nineveh had multiplied her merchants, bringing in in immense wealth, which only provides more to destroy. Not only was Nineveh's commercial strength gone, but all of her resources disappeared as well. After camping for the night within the walls of her citadel, Assyria's leaders like locusts, fled away. The Assyrian leaders and the army, described in terms of exhaustion and sleep, were dead; the people were scattered. There were none left to help against the invasion. The destiny of Nineveh was certain. She had received a death blow; she would not recover. All who hear of it would rejoice. The news of her downfall brought happiness among the nations.

        (35) O. Palmer Robertson, p.126-132, Their leaders are so many in number that they are compared to hordes of grasshoppers. Its leaders perhaps cowardly and indecisive disappear in the heat of battle. Where are they in the heat of battle. Where are those impressive princes of Assyria? They are nowhere to be counted. "Your shepherds' slumber...your nobles lie down." Nahum describes leaders who flee away like the locust horde. The citizens of the kingdom have been forced to flee to the mountains. God will destroy the Assyrian king and the world will rejoice. Jonah proclaimed a message that would bring about the salvation of the people off Nineveh, including their king, despite their great sin. Nahum's message was the unrepentant ultimately shall be judged. Nahum's prophecy means in principle that each successive world kingdom, its king, its officials, and its citizens must take heed. For the message of the judgment of Nineveh applies to all kingdoms of the world which have risen up against God until the end of the world.

        Eckart Frahm describes the last great Assyrian king Ashurbanipal as a spiteful, brutal man who enjoyed thinking up new tortures for his enemies but was too afraid to go on campaign as the kings of the past had done. (36) He resembled more of a Nero than a great leader and as the empire began to deteriorate in the second halve of his reign, he withdrew from public life. (37) As said before, the western provinces were lost late in his reign and the empire seemed to be wasting away. Nabopolassar took advantage of the civil wars, proclaimed himself king and after the long war, joined forces with the Medes in the attack on Nineveh. Nineveh was so large it was difficult to defend and after a three months siege the city fell in 612 B.C. (38) Much of the population was slaughtered, and archaeologists found many skeletons of soldiers and civilians at the "Shamish" gate where they were cut down as they tried to flee. (39) The Assyrian king perished in the battle, but it is unknown how he died. (40) Nabopolassar stated that he "overthrew Assyria and turned their lands into tells and desolate places." (41) After Nineveh was burned and destroyed, the great cities of Assyria fell one by one like dominoes. The old Assyrian capitol Calah was also burned and destroyed at this time and archaeologists found a well filled with 180 skeletons of young men who were left to die. (42) Even the countryside was laid waste. "The number of people killed in the hostilities must have been colossal." There can be no question, then, that the countryside of Assyria underwent a massive depopulation. Those who escaped, fled to the mountains. (43) In 610 B.C. the last Assyrian king fortified the city of Harran but fled at the approach of Nabopolassar's army. (44)

         The crown prince Nebuchadnezzar wrote this letter to his colleagues as he left to join his father in the attack on Harran. "The king has arrived in Harran; he is accompanied by a great force of Medes. No one who loves the king (Nabopolassar) and loves me personally, shall hold someone else back. They should come until the end of the month. Is my .... safe? I will inspect the guards." (45) The last Assyrian king Ashur-uballit II, reenforced by an Egyptian army attacked Harran but failed to take it. The Assyrian king at this point, disappeared from history and Assyria was no more. The Babylonian army now led by the crown prince Nebuchadnezzar defeated the Egyptian army twice in two battles and pushed the Egyptians out of the Levant. (46) A Greek army passing through Nineveh some 250 years later found the city still in ruins and uninhabited. "All traces of an Assyrian identity, had been wiped out." (47) The Greeks were unsure who had built the city. The prophet Zephaniah writing in the reign of Josiah, also stated that all Assyria and Nineveh would be destroyed and made dry as a desert. Zephaniah 2:13. (48)

         NOTES: (36) Through (42) Eckart Frahm, Assyria: Rise and Fall of the Worlds First Empire, (36), p297, (37) p.299, (38) p.323, (39) p.324, (40) p.334, (41) p.325, (42) 335; (43) Edited by Gareth Brereton, I Am Ashurbanipal: King of the World, King of Assyria, p.282-283; (44) Eckart Frahm, Assyria, p.337; (45) Sandoweiz, M. and O. Drewnowska, 2017, Betting on the Right Horse-Loyalty in the Early Years of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, Fortune and Misfortune in the Ancient Near East, (Proceedings of the 60th RAI, Warsaw, p.187, (2014) Winona Lake, Indiana: 177-190; (46) Echart Frahm, Assyria, p.338 and (47) p.351-353; (48) O. Palmer Robertson, The New International Commentary of the Old Testament, The Books of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah, p.310.

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