The Assyrians John Stevenson 2017 Maps by David

The Assyrians © John Stevenson, 2017 Maps by David P. Barrett used by permission

How would you define a “Terrorist Nation”?

2000 – 1200 Early B. C. Assyrian Period Dark Ages 1200 – 900 B. C. • Kassites in Babylon • Mitanni Period • Migrations • Assyrian Cavalry

2000 – 1200 Early B. C. Assyrian Period Dark Ages 1200 – 900 B. C. Neo. Assyrian Period Fall of Nineveh 900 – 626 B. C. 626 – 612 B. C. • Kassites in Babylon • Mitanni Period • • • Migrations Assyrian Cavalry Expansion into the Levant • Terror tactics • Conquest of Egypt

• A Literary People – Akkadian – Aramaic • • Assyrian Eponym Lists Agriculture and Technology – Canals and irrigation – Chariots – Magnifying Glass

“You have increased your traders more than the stars of heaven” (Nahum 3: 16). Trading wares – Bronze – Wheat – Clothing – Furniture

Assyrian Terror Tactics

Tiglath-Pileser I 1116 – 1076 B. C. • Conquered most of Syria, Urartu, and Babylon • Took tribute from Sidon and Byblos • Followed by a period of decline

Shalmaneser III Not the good-looking fellow in the foreground • Fought Ahab at Qarqar • Laid siege to Damascus • Tribute from Jehu

• Nineveh Joppa • • Jerusalem

The Edict of the King • He is not named • The Assyrian Empire was in a state of decline at the end of the 9 th century • Adad-Nirari III (810 -782 B. C. )

810 – 782 B. C. • Young when he came to throne • Mother influential • Campaign against Damascus • Jehoash of Israel paid tribute • Israel prosperous

Salmaneser IV Ashur-Dan III Ashur-Nirari V • Brothers • Assyria gradually gave up her foreign possessions

Reign 745 – 727 B. C. • Pul • Ascended to throne via assassination • Rewrote records, claiming to be royal line • Aggressive military policy • Began policy of deportations

Reign 745 – 727 B. C. • Took Galilee and Gilead into captivity (2 Kings 15: 29) • Bribed by Ahaz of Judah to attack Aram (2 Kings 16: 7 -10) – Paid from temple treasures

727 – 722 B. C. • Accepted tribute from Hoshea of Israel • Hoshea entered into an alliance with Egypt • Besieged Samaria for three years before he died

Reigned 722 – 705 B. C. • Brother of Shalmaneser V • Completed siege of Samaria • Carried Israel off into captivity – Ten Lost Tribes – Outsiders settled

Reigned 705 – 681 B. C. • Brother of Sargon II – “Sin has replaced the brothers” • Invaded Judah in days of Hezekiah – Siege of Lachish – Jerusalem

Reigned 705 – 681 B. C. • Taylor Prism

Reigned 705 – 681 B. C. • Taylor Prism • Repeated rebellions in Babylon – Son made ruler – Taken by Elam – He destroyed Babylon • Assassinated (2 nd Kings 19: 37)

Reign 681 – 669 B. C. • Youngest son of Sennacherib • Rebuilt Babylon • Imprisoned Manasseh, King of Judah • Invaded Lower Egypt

668 – 627 B. C. • His older brother died before becoming king • Trained to be a Scholar • Collected library of more than 6000 cuneiform texts

668 – 627 B. C. “I learned the craft of the sage Adapa, the secret (and) hidden lore of all of the scribal arts. I am able to recognize celestial and terrestrial omens (and) can discuss (them) in an assembly of scholars. ”

668 – 627 B. C. “I am capable of arguing with expert diviners about (the series) ‘If the liver is a mirror image of the heavens’. I can resolve complex (mathematical) divisions (and) multiplications that do not have an easy solution. ”

668 – 627 B. C. “I have read cunningly written text(s) in obscure Sumerian (and) Akkadian that are difficult to interpret. I have carefully examined inscriptions on stone from before the Deluge that are sealed, stopped up, (and) confused. ”