Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire that was known for the terrible atrocities they committed on their captives. Many of their victims were subjected to beheading, set afire, disemboweled, tongues removed, or skinned alive. ([[Zondervan2008-xj]], [[Baxter2019-yj]]) >[!quote] [Mark Altaweel](https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35669056 'Museum of Lost Objects: The Winged Bull of Nineveh') > Nineveh, Sennacherib's capital "would have been the city of cities", says Altaweel. "The largest city anywhere on Earth, probably, by the time it reaches its peak in the 7th Century BC. All roads would have literally led to Nineveh." > The book of Nahum, as well as [Zephaniah 2:13-15](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ZEP.2.13-15), predicts the defeat and destruction of Nineveh as a judgment from God. About 150 years prior to Nahum's prophecy, the prophet Jonah had prophesied against the city as well,[Jonah 3:3-10](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JON.3.3-10)e people and their king repented (Jonah 3:3-10). Despite this, Nineveh turned back to their cruel ways, and Nahum was sent to speak of the coming judgment upon them. These prophecies were fulfilled 38 years later when a coalition of Babylonians, Medes, and Scythians overthrew the city in 612 B.C.([[Siculus1933-jo]], [[Gadd1923-zp]], [[Herodotus2014-li]], [[Pritchard2016-wt]], [[Wiseman1956-iz]]) ## Key Points in the Prophecy Against Nineveh It's one thing to say that God would send judgment against a city, but here are some key details that point to the foreknowledge of the event that make it clear that it's not just an <i>*educated guess*</i>. (The following list partially taken from *[Randy Dockens](https://randydockens.com/news/2022/7/30/prophecy-against-nineveh 'Prophecy Against Nineveh')*) 1. An **"overflowing flood"** would put a complete end to the city ([Nahum 1:8](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/NAM.1.8)); 2. Nineveh would be consumed while they where **drunk**. ([Nahum 1:10](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/NAM.1.10)); 3. Nineveh would be unprotected because "**fire** shall devour the bars of your gates". ([Nahum 3:13](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/NAM.3.13)); 4. Nineveh's destruction was swift and complete ([Nahum 1:9](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/NAM.1.9); [Isaiah 10:5-19](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ISA.10.5-19)). 5. Nineveh would **<i>never</i> recover** ([Nahum 3:19](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/NAM.3.19)); ### 1. An "overflowing flood" would put a complete end to the city. ([Nahum 1:8](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/NAM.1.8)) At the end of a three-year siege on Nineveh, the Tigris river overflowed from heavy rainfall, forcing the walls to collapse and causing structural damage to parts of the gates. ([[Millard1968-mr]], [[Gadd1923-zp]], [[Wiseman1956-iz]]). The following quotes is from [[A1929-wr| Layard]], the man that rediscovered Nineveh in the 1800s. >[!quote] [[Layard2013-hk]] > We learn from the fact that Nineveh sustained a siege for nearly three years in the time of Sardanapalus, and could only be taken by the combined armies of the Persians and Babylonians when the river had overflowed its bed, and had carried away a part of the wall. >[!quote] [[Layard1853-pu]] > "This was the extent of my discoveries at Kouyunjik (Nineveh). From the dimensions of some of the halls, it is evident that the ruins are those of a building of great extent and magnificence. The mound upon which it stood was once washed by the river ### 2. Nineveh would be consumed while they were drunk. ([Nahum 1:10](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/NAM.1.10)) According to the ancient historian Diodorus Siculus who lived in the First Century BC, the Assyrian king became too comfortable with the opposing siege, giving out wine to his soldiers in celebration. >[!quote] [[Siculus1933-jo| Diodorus Siculus]] > The King of Assyria had become overjoyed with his past victories, so he began a celebration for his soldiers serving them with great quantities of wine and other provisions. Learning that the army was drunken and relaxed, the Medes quickly attacked their camp by the cover of night catching them off-guard. ### 3. Nineveh would be unprotected because "fire shall devour the bars of your gates". ([Nahum 3:13](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/NAM.3.13)) In his prophecy, Nahum mentioned that fire would burn the city a few times. While it was common for a city to be ransacked by an opposing army, we can get further confirmation from history. Encyclopedia Britannica states: >[!quote] [[UnknownUnknown-oh|Outline of the city]] > Nineveh suffered a defeat from which it never recovered. Extensive traces of ash, representing the sack of the city by Babylonians, Scythians, and Medes in 612 BCE, have been found in many parts of the Acropolis. This is an account of the destruction of the Nineveh palace by fire: >[!quote] [[Layard1853-pu|Discoveries in the Ruins of Nineveh and Babylon]] >The palace had been destroyed by fire. The alabaster slabs were almost reduced to lime, and many of them fell to pieces as soon as uncovered. The places, which others had occupied, could only be traced by a thin white deposit, like a coat of plaster, left by the burnt alabaster upon the wall of sun-dried brick. ### 4. Nineveh's destruction was swift and complete (Nahum 1:9; Isaiah 10:5-19) & Nineveh would never recover. (Nahum 3:19) Nineveh was destroyed. When Alexander the Great came through this area during his conquests, he could not even tell that a city had ever been there ([Charlie Taylor](https://charlietaylorministries.com/topical/the-fall-of-nineveh/ 'The Fall of Nineveh')). The city was lost to history until 1839 AD by Paulmile Botta of France, where archaeologists uncovered the site. Up until then, it had been assumed by some that the city never existed. >[!quote] [[Layard1853-pu|Discoveries in the Ruins of Nineveh and Babylon]] > Nineveh the wonder of the ancient world, and her fall, the theme of the prophets, is the signal most instance of divine vengeance. Without the evidence that these monuments afford, we might have doubted that the great Nineveh ever existed, so completely "has she become a desolation and a waste." Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire known for the terrible atrocities committed on their captives. It was prophesied that God would send judgment against the city, and after 150 years, Nineveh was eventually destroyed by a coalition of Babylonians, Medes, and Scythians in 612 B.C. In fulfillment of the prophecy, the city was destroyed with an overflowing flood, while they were drunk, by fire, and it was complete and irrecoverable.