The Destruction of Nineveh

From: Jonah and Balaam By: William Woldridge Fereday

• 7 min. read • grade level: 9

THESE studies would scarcely be complete without some reference to the after history of Nineveh, the great city in which Jonah preached, with results that will never be forgotten. It was founded by Asshur not long after the flood, apparently as a rival to Nimrod's Babylon (Gen. 10:11¹¹Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah, (Genesis 10:11)). The latter was built on the Euphrates, and the former on the Tigris (otherwise Hiddekel), both rivers being branches of the river which watered the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:13-14¹³And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia. ¹⁴And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates. (Genesis 2:13‑14)).

But where is Nineveh today? Opposite the town of Mosul there are miles of ruins from which many objects of interest have been excavated, and which are now in the Museums of Europe and America. The city was taken and destroyed by the Medes in B.C. 625. There has been no effort to rebuild it since that time, and it is not the will of God that it should ever be rebuilt. Its destruction was predicted with much detail by Nahum—remarkably, a Galilean prophet, as was Jonah. Nahum's book was written about 100 years after Jonah's mission, and the ruin therein foretold was still another century ahead. Who told Nahum about the great disaster? The very principle is largely discredited in our time; but if God be God, it is as easy for Him to speak of the future as of the present. This was His challenge to the deities of the heathen: “Let them bring forth and show us what shall happen: let them show the former things, what they be, that we may consider them and know the latter end of them; or declare us things to come” (Isa. 41:22²²Let them bring them forth, and show us what shall happen: let them show the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. (Isaiah 41:22)).

Nahum's book begins thus: “The burden of Nineveh.” The word “burden” occurs a number of times in the books of the Old Testament prophets. It means a heavy message—a message of judgment, a message which tends to weigh down the soul of him who has to deliver it. Nineveh was the capital of the Kingdom of Assyria. It is the city rather than the Kingdom that is denounced in Nahum; whereas in Isaiah the Kingdom is condemned, with no special mention of its capital. This distinction is important. In the wonderful ways of God Assyria Is to be restored and blessed in the Kingdom age (Isa. 19:23-25²³In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. ²⁴In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: ²⁵Whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance. (Isaiah 19:23‑25)), but its proud capital will never rise again. Why is this? The reason is that Nineveh was singularly favored by God in its day. He sent Jonah there on a special mission, and the whole population trembled at the preaching, and cried to God for mercy. It does not appear to have led the Ninevites to the knowledge of Jehovah, as the great storm led the sailors in Jonah's vessel; but the merciful Creator does not despise national repentance at any time. What wonderful results might be seen today if any of the contending nations were to humble themselves before God! In His righteous Government He is chastening many nations as we write, for all deserve it in a greater or lesser degree. What joy it would give to the hearts of those who know God could we hear that any King, President, or Premier has called upon his people to repent, and that all have humbly responded!

Nahum says that “God is jealous, and Jehovah avengeth: Jehovah avengeth, and is furious; Jehovah will take vengeance on His adversaries and He reserveth wrath for His enemies,” but he also says that “Jehovah is slow to anger,” and that “Jehovah is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble: and He knoweth them that trust in Him” (Nah. 1:2-3,7²God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. ³The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. (Nahum 1:2‑3)
⁷The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. (Nahum 1:7)).

God is indeed “slow to anger.” The evil of the Canaanitish nations was great in Abraham's day; but even so He held back their judgment 400 years, “for;” said He “the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full” (Gen. 15:16¹⁶But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. (Genesis 15:16)). From Rahab's words to the spies we learn that the guilty nations were aware that God's executioners were on their way. She said, “I know that Jehovah hath given you the land, and your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you” (Josh. 2:9⁹And she said unto the men, I know that the Lord hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. (Joshua 2:9)). They had heard of God's heavy hand upon Egypt, and of the destruction of Sihon and Og, yet their was no repentance on their part.

Nineveh was granted forty days respite, with blessed results; but the people soon returned to their wicked ways. Hence Nahum 3:1¹Woe to the bloody city! it is all full of lies and robbery; the prey departeth not; (Nahum 3:1) “Woe to the bloody city: it is full of lies and robbery.” This, as we have already remarked, was about 100 years after Jonah's visit, and even then the execution of judgment was delayed another century. We have said that Nineveh will never rise again, but in contrast with this, Sodom and her daughter cities are to be divinely restored for Millennial blessing (Ezek. 16:55⁵⁵When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate. (Ezekiel 16:55)). Does this strike any reader as strange? The explanation is that Nineveh was favored with a special message from God and submitted to it; but the generations that followed profited nothing by the fact, and returned to the old vomit. But Sodom was never favored as Nineveh was. In Matt. 11:25²⁵At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. (Matthew 11:25) we hear our Lord saying that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for Capernaum, which city was honored by His presence, ministry, and miracles. Favor divinely granted but despised brings heavy judgment from God. In Luke 12:47-48⁴⁷And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. ⁴⁸But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. (Luke 12:47‑48) the Lord distinguishes between those who know His will and do it not, and those who sin without knowing His will. He says: “Unto whosoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” What could be more equitable? In the light of our Lord's words where do the people of Great Britain stand? Where in all the earth has the Gospel been so fully preached and the Scriptures more abundantly circulated? The responsibility of people so privileged is great, and judgment will be meted out accordingly.

It is said that the overflowing of the river facilitated the capture of Nineveh by the Medes. Nahum 2:6⁶The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved. (Nahum 2:6) seems to teach this. Assyria —the nation—is to be blessed; but to the once favored city of Nineveh God has said: “Jehovah hath given commandment that no more of thy seed be sown.” Deeply solemn words! Truly, “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31³¹It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:31)).

Jonah's behavior as Jehovah's witness to the wicked city was most reprehensible. He was evidently puffed up with a sense of his own importance as he marched through the streets of Nineveh, the most famous city on earth at that time, and pronounced its impending overthrow. When the sentence was canceled in answer to the people's repentance, Jonah should have rejoiced. Instead he felt piqued. His dignity was touched. Oh, the pettiness of poor flesh! How ready it is to clothe itself with importance even in connection with the ministry of the word of God. Had the prophet been right with God, he would have delighted to proclaim that He is a gracious God, merciful, slow to anger, and repenting Him the evil (Jonah 4:2²And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil. (Jonah 4:2)). Jonah's own nation, so persistently unfaithful has proved this repeatedly; why should not others, less favored, and therefore less guilty, also taste the mercy of a pardoning God?

How blessed to be living in this Gospel age! Let us feast our souls upon the words of our Lord Jesus: “God sent not His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not judged: but he that believeth not is judged already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only Begotten Son of God” (John 3:17-18¹⁷For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. ¹⁸He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:17‑18)). “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My word and believeth Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24²⁴Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)).

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