NINEVEH DURING THE TIME OF JONAH
The first mention of Jonah in the Bible is a prophecy he
made during the reign of Jeroboam II, the son of Joash:
2
Kings 14:25 He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto
the sea of the plain, according to the word of the Lord God of Israel, which he
spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which
was of Gathhepher.
During the reign of Jeroboam II, Assyria was not as
powerful as it had been in the past and would be in the future. Therefore,
Jeroboam was able to take back some of Israel’s land as prophesied.
However, the Assyrians were well known for their cruelty.
For example, the following inscription is ascribed to King Ashurnasirpal II whose
reign began in 883 BC, before the time of Jonah:
Their men, young and old, I took as prisoners.
Of some I cut off the feet and hands; of others I cut off the noses, ears, and
lips; of the young men's ears I made a heap; of the old men's heads I built a
minaret.
Assyria, the capital of which was Nineveh, was well known
for its cruelty to those taken captive when they conquered nations. No wonder
Jonah feared them and had the attitude that they did not deserve a chance to
repent!
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