Assyria

אַשּׁוּר · ash.shur · H0804G“country of Assur or Ashur” Hitchcock's 1869136 mentions in 17 books, most in 2 Kings (41)

Where it is

36.36° N, 43.15° E · Located through Nineveh · region

Coordinates and map: OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding · CC BY 4.0 · drawn without map tiles

Mentioned most in

2 Kings · 41 Isaiah · 41 2 Chronicles · 13 Ezekiel · 9 Hosea · 9 Jeremiah · 4 + 11 books

Counted from 136 references · STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

About this place

Assyria, also known as Asshur, was a powerful ancient empire centered in Mesopotamia, in what is now modern-day Iraq. The Assyrians are mentioned extensively throughout the Old Testament, often in the context of their military conquests and their interactions with the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

The name "Asshur" first appears in Genesis 10:11, where it is associated with Nimrod, who is said to have built several cities, including Nineveh, the capital of Assyria. In Genesis 25:18, the descendants of Ishmael are described as living in the region from Havilah to Shur, near the border of Egypt, as one goes toward Assyria.

Assyria began to emerge as a significant power in the 9th century BC, and its kings are mentioned in the books of Kings and Chronicles. The Assyrian king Shalmaneser III is recorded as receiving tribute from Jehu, king of Israel (2Ki.15.19-20). Later, Tiglath-Pileser III, also known as Pul, conquered parts of Israel and deported some of its inhabitants (2Ki.15.29; 1Ch.5.6, 26).

The Assyrian Empire reached its zenith during the reign of Sennacherib, who is known for his military campaigns against Judah and his siege of Jerusalem during the reign of King Hezekiah (2Kings 18-19; 2Chronicles 32; Isaiah 36-37). The prophet Isaiah played a significant role in encouraging Hezekiah to trust in God and resist the Assyrian threat.

Other Assyrian kings, such as Esarhaddon and Ashurbanipal, are also mentioned in the Bible (Ezra 4:2; 2Ch.33.11). The fall of the Assyrian Empire is alluded to in the prophetic books, particularly in Nahum, which foretells the destruction of Nineveh (Nam.3.18-19).

Article: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Every mention

136 references, counted from STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0 · verse text: World English Bible (public domain)

Genesis3 mentions

Genesis 2:14The name of the third river is Hiddekel. This is the one which flows in front of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates.Genesis 10:11Out of that land he went into Assyria, and built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah,Genesis 25:18They lived from Havilah to Shur that is before Egypt, as you go toward Assyria. He lived opposite all his relatives.

Numbers2 mentions

Numbers 24:22Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted, until Asshur carries you away captive.”Numbers 24:24But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim. They shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber. He also shall come to destruction.”

2 Kings41 mentions

1 Chronicles2 mentions

1 Chronicles 5:6and Beerah his son, whom Tilgath Pilneser king of Assyria carried away captive. He was prince of the Reubenites.1 Chronicles 5:26So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgath Pilneser king of Assyria, and he carried away the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe…

2 Chronicles13 mentions

2 Chronicles 28:16At that time King Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria to help him.2 Chronicles 28:20Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came to him and gave him trouble, but didn’t strengthen him.2 Chronicles 28:21For Ahaz took away a portion out of Yahweh’s house, and out of the house of the king and of the princes, and gave it to the king of Assyria; but it didn’t help him.2 Chronicles 30:6So the couriers went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, according to the commandment of the king, saying, “You children of Israel, turn again…2 Chronicles 32:1After these things and this faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, entered into Judah, encamped against the fortified cities, and intended to win them for himself.2 Chronicles 32:4Then many people gathered together and they stopped all the springs and the brook that flowed through the middle of the land, saying, “Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find…2 Chronicles 32:7“Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or dismayed because of the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude who is with him; for there is a greater one with us than with him.2 Chronicles 32:9After this, Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem, (now he was attacking Lachish, and all his forces were with him), to Hezekiah king of Judah, and to all Judah who…2 Chronicles 32:10Sennacherib king of Assyria says, “In whom do you trust, that you remain under siege in Jerusalem?2 Chronicles 32:11Doesn’t Hezekiah persuade you to give you over to die by famine and by thirst, saying, ‘Yahweh our God will deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria’?2 Chronicles 32:21Yahweh sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty men of valor, the leaders, and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. When he had…2 Chronicles 32:22Thus Yahweh saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria and from the hand of all others, and guided them on every side.2 Chronicles 33:11Therefore Yahweh brought on them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh in chains, bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.

Ezra2 mentions

Ezra 4:2they came near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of fathers’ households, and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do; and we have been sacrificing to him since…Ezra 6:22and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy; because Yahweh had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the…

Nehemiah1 mention

Nehemiah 9:32Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness, don’t let all the travail seem little before you that has come on us, on our…

Psalms1 mention

Psalms 83:8Assyria also is joined with them. They have helped the children of Lot. Selah.

Isaiah41 mentions

Jeremiah4 mentions

Jeremiah 2:18Now what do you gain by going to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Shihor? Or why do you go on the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?Jeremiah 2:36Why do you go about so much to change your ways? You will be ashamed of Egypt also, as you were ashamed of Assyria.Jeremiah 50:17“Israel is a hunted sheep. The lions have driven him away. First, the king of Assyria devoured him, and now at last Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has broken his bones.”Jeremiah 50:18Therefore Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria.

Lamentations1 mention

Lamentations 5:6We have given our hands to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.

Ezekiel9 mentions

Ezekiel 16:28You have played the prostitute also with the Assyrians, because you were insatiable; yes, you have played the prostitute with them, and yet you weren’t satisfied.Ezekiel 23:5“Oholah played the prostitute when she was mine. She doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbors,Ezekiel 23:7She gave herself as a prostitute to them, all of them the choicest men of Assyria. She defiled herself with the idols of whomever she lusted after.Ezekiel 23:9“Therefore I delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians on whom she doted.Ezekiel 23:12She lusted after the Assyrians, governors and rulers—her neighbors, clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding on horses, all of them desirable young men.Ezekiel 23:23the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, Shoa, Koa, and all the Assyrians with them; all of them desirable young men, governors and rulers, princes and men of renown, all of them…Ezekiel 27:23“‘“Haran, Canneh, Eden, the traders of Sheba, Asshur and Chilmad, were your traders.Ezekiel 31:3Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with beautiful branches, and with a forest-like shade, of high stature; and its top was among the thick boughs.Ezekiel 32:22“Asshur is there with all her company. Her graves are all around her. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword,

Hosea9 mentions

Hosea 5:13“When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his wound, then Ephraim went to Assyria, and sent to King Jareb: but he is not able to heal you, neither will he cure you of your wound.Hosea 7:11“Ephraim is like an easily deceived dove, without understanding. They call to Egypt. They go to Assyria.Hosea 8:9For they have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has hired lovers for himself.Hosea 9:3They won’t dwell in Yahweh’s land; but Ephraim will return to Egypt, and they will eat unclean food in Assyria.Hosea 10:6It also will be carried to Assyria for a present to a great king. Ephraim will receive shame, and Israel will be ashamed of his own counsel.Hosea 11:5“They won’t return into the land of Egypt; but the Assyrian will be their king, because they refused to repent.Hosea 11:11They will come trembling like a bird out of Egypt, and like a dove out of the land of Assyria; and I will settle them in their houses,” says Yahweh.Hosea 12:1Ephraim feeds on wind, and chases the east wind. He continually multiplies lies and desolation. They make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt.Hosea 14:3Assyria can’t save us. We won’t ride on horses; neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, ‘Our gods!’ for in you the fatherless finds mercy.”

Micah3 mentions

Micah 5:5He will be our peace when Assyria invades our land and when he marches through our fortresses, then we will raise against him seven shepherds, and eight leaders of men.Micah 5:6They will rule the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in its gates. He will deliver us from the Assyrian, when he invades our land, and when he marches within our border.Micah 7:12In that day they will come to you from Assyria and the cities of Egypt, and from Egypt even to the River, and from sea to sea, and mountain to mountain.

Nahum1 mention

Nahum 3:18Your shepherds slumber, king of Assyria. Your nobles lie down. Your people are scattered on the mountains, and there is no one to gather them.

Zephaniah1 mention

Zephaniah 2:13He will stretch out his hand against the north, destroy Assyria, and will make Nineveh a desolation, as dry as the wilderness.

Zechariah2 mentions

Zechariah 10:10I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria. I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and there won’t be room enough for them.Zechariah 10:11He will pass through the sea of affliction, and will strike the waves in the sea, and all the depths of the Nile will dry up; and the pride of Assyria will be brought down, and the scepter…

What the dictionary says

The name derived from the city Asshur on the Tigris, the original capital of the country, was originally a colony from Babylonia, and was ruled by viceroys…

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)

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Sources

STEPBible TIPNR · Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References · CC BY 4.0 · github.com/STEPBible/STEPBible-Data
OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding · CC BY 4.0 · www.openbible.info/geo/
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (1869) · Public domain