Map of the Assyrian Empire (650 B.C.)

Map of the New Assyrian Empire in 650 B.C.

This map reveals the Assyrian Empire at the time of Ashurbanipal who conquered kingdoms all the way to Thebes in Egypt. The map shows how vast the Assyrian Empires territory had extended, which covered lands from the Persian Gulf to Egypt to present day Turkey.

The Assyrians were remarkable warriors and had been for some time. Their tactically organized and well-equipped army was able to storm enemy cities like a mighty machine, on foot, on their swift horses and their war chariots. Once the Assyrian troops had battered down a city gate, they showed no mercy. They ruthlessly murdered, tortured, and enslaved their enemies. Their practice of relocating rebellious peoples made them very despised. Any conquered people would forever hate the cruel Assyrians. Their extreme measures of exacting tribute have been some of the most brutal scenes of human cruelty that the world has ever known as seen from archaeological finds.

One of the ancient monuments discovered in the ruins of ancient Assyria has this inscription by King Assurnasirpal of a conquered city: 

"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." - (Asshurnasirpal Inscription)

The Bible Mentions a lot Concerning the "Assyrians"

Isaiah 19:23 - In 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.

Ezekiel 23:9 - Wherefore I have delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, upon whom she doted.

Hosea 5:13 - When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah [saw] his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.

Micah 5:6 - And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver [us] from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders.

Isaiah 31:8 - Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be discomfited.

Isaiah 23:13 - Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, [till] the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness: they set up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof; [and] he brought it to ruin.

Isaiah 10:24 - Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt.

Isaiah 10:5 - O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.

Hosea 11:5 - He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return.

Isaiah 14:25 - That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders.

Ezekiel 31:3 - Behold, the Assyrian [was] a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs.

Isaiah 52:4 - For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.

Micah 5:5 - And this [man] shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.

Isaiah 30:31 - For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian be beaten down, [which] smote with a rod.

Ezekiel 16:28 - Thou hast played the whore also with the Assyrians, because thou wast unsatiable; yea, thou hast played the harlot with them, and yet couldest not be satisfied.

Isaiah 19:23 - In 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.

Hosea 12:1 - Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.

2 Kings 19:35 - And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they [were] all dead corpses.

Isaiah 37:36 - Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they [were] all dead corpses.

Ezekiel 23:23 - The Babylonians, and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, and Shoa, and Koa, [and] all the Assyrians with them: all of them desirable young men, captains and rulers, great lords and renowned, all of them riding upon horses.

Ezekiel 23:12 - She doted upon the Assyrians [her] neighbours, captains and rulers clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding upon horses, all of them desirable young men.

Ezekiel 23:5 - And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians [her] neighbours,

Lamentations 5:6 - We have given the hand [to] the Egyptians, [and to] the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.