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[[Image:Iraq sm 2007.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Location of the ruins of Nineveh, Iraq]]

[[Image:Iraq sm 2007.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Location of the ruins of Nineveh, Iraq]]

'''Nineveh''' (nin´ē-ve נינוה, nīnewēh) was the last capital of [[Assyria|the Assyrian empire]] from 5000 until 612 BC when it was destroyed by the [[Babylonians]].  The early date is based upon the biblical account of Asshur founding Nineveh in the biblical book of [[Genesis]] (Genesis 10:11), which would translate to roughtly 5000 B.C. based upon recorded geneologies.  The ruins of the city are on the banks of the [[Tigris River]] near modern [[Mosul]] in [[Iraq]].  

'''Nineveh''' (nin´ē-ve נינוה, nīnewēh) was the last capital of [[Assyria|the Assyrian empire]] from 5000 until 612 BC when it was destroyed by the [[Babylonians]].  The early date is based upon the biblical account of Asshur founding Nineveh in the biblical book of [[Genesis]] (Genesis 10:11), which would translate to roughtly 5000 B.C. based upon recorded genealogies.  The ruins of the city are on the banks of the [[Tigris River]] near modern [[Mosul]] in [[Iraq]].  

==First Biblical Mention==

==First Biblical Mention==

==Last Days and Fall of Nineveh==

==Last Days and Fall of Nineveh==

Nineveh, during the centuries of her existence, must have seen many stirring historical events; but the most noteworthy were probably Sennacherib's triumphal entries, including that following the capture of Lachish, the murder of that great conqueror by his sons (the recent theory that he was killed at Babylon needs confirmation); and the ceremonial triumphs of Aššur-banî-âpli  - the great and noble Osnappar of Ezra 4:10. After the reign of Aššur-banî-âpli came his son Aššur-êtil-îlāni, who was succeeded by Sin-šarra-iškun (Saracos), but the history of the country, and also of the city, is scant during these last two reigns. The Assyrian and Babylonian records are silent with regard to the fall of the city, but [[Alexander Polyhistor]], Abydenus and Syncellus all speak of it. The best account, however, is that of [[Diodorus Siculus]], who refers to a legend that the city could not be taken until the river became its enemy. Arbaces the Scythian besieged it, but could not make any impression on it for 2 years. In the 3rd year, however, the river (according to Commander Jones, not the Tigris, but the Khosr), being swollen by rains and rapid, carried away a portion of the wall; it was by this opening the besiegers gained an entrance. Acording to what records remained the king, his concubines and eunuchs, killed themselves by burning on a funeral pyre. This catastrophe is supposed to be referred to in [[Book of Nahum|Nahum]] 1:8 : “With an over-running flood he (the Lord) will make a full end of her place (i.e. of Nineveh),” and Nahum 2:6 : “The gates of the rivers are opened, and the palace is dissolved.” The destruction of the city by fire is probably referred to in Nahum 3:13 and 3:15. The picture of the scenes in her streets - the noise of the whip, the rattling wheels, the prancing horses, the bounding chariots (Nahum 3:2), followed by a vivid description of the carnage of the battlefield - is exceedingly striking, and true to their records and their sculptures.

Nineveh, during the centuries of her existence, must have seen many stirring historical events; but the most noteworthy were probably Sennacherib's triumphal entries, including that following the capture of Lachish, the murder of that great conqueror by his sons (the recent theory that he was killed at Babylon needs confirmation); and the ceremonial triumphs of Aššur-banî-âpli  - the great and noble Osnappar of Ezra 4:10. After the reign of Aššur-banî-âpli came his son Aššur-êtil-îlāni, who was succeeded by Sin-šarra-iškun (Saracos), but the history of the country, and also of the city, is scant during these last two reigns. The Assyrian and Babylonian records are silent with regard to the fall of the city, but [[Alexander Polyhistor]], Abydenus and Syncellus all speak of it. The best account, however, is that of [[Diodorus Siculus]], who refers to a legend that the city could not be taken until the river became its enemy. Arbaces the Scythian besieged it, but could not make any impression on it for 2 years. In the 3rd year, however, the river (according to Commander Jones, not the Tigris, but the Khosr), being swollen by rains and rapid, carried away a portion of the wall; it was by this opening the besiegers gained an entrance. According to what records remained the king, his concubines and eunuchs, killed themselves by burning on a funeral pyre. This catastrophe is supposed to be referred to in [[Book of Nahum|Nahum]] 1:8 : “With an over-running flood he (the Lord) will make a full end of her place (i.e. of Nineveh),” and Nahum 2:6 : “The gates of the rivers are opened, and the palace is dissolved.” The destruction of the city by fire is probably referred to in Nahum 3:13 and 3:15. The picture of the scenes in her streets - the noise of the whip, the rattling wheels, the prancing horses, the bounding chariots (Nahum 3:2), followed by a vivid description of the carnage of the battlefield - is exceedingly striking, and true to their records and their sculptures.

''Text used in part from the 1913 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, a work in the public domain''

''Text used in part from the 1913 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, a work in the public domain''