Introduction:
Assyria, an ancient Mesopotamian kingdom and empire, is a significant entity in biblical history. It is often associated with power, conquest, and divine judgment. The region known as Shinar in the Bible is frequently identified with parts of Assyria and Babylonia, highlighting its importance in the early biblical narrative.

Biblical References:

1. Genesis 10:10 : "The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar." This verse introduces Shinar as a region of early civilization, associated with Nimrod, a mighty hunter and ruler. Shinar is depicted as a foundational area for the development of kingdoms, including those that would later form part of the Assyrian and Babylonian empires.

2. Genesis 11:2 : "And as people journeyed eastward, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there." The land of Shinar is the setting for the Tower of Babel narrative, symbolizing human ambition and the subsequent divine intervention that scattered humanity by confounding their language.

3. Isaiah 11:11 : "On that day the Lord will extend His hand a second time to recover the remnant of His people from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and from the islands of the sea." Here, Shinar is listed among the places from which God will gather His people, indicating its continued significance in the prophetic vision of restoration.

Historical Context:

Assyria emerged as a dominant power in the ancient Near East, known for its military prowess and extensive empire-building. The Assyrian Empire reached its zenith under rulers such as Tiglath-Pileser III, Sargon II, Sennacherib, and Ashurbanipal. The Assyrians are noted for their advanced administrative systems, monumental architecture, and cultural achievements, as well as their reputation for brutality in warfare.

Assyria in Prophecy and Judgment:

The Bible frequently portrays Assyria as an instrument of divine judgment against Israel and other nations. The prophets often speak of Assyria's role in God's plan to discipline His people for their disobedience.

1. Isaiah 10:5-6 : "Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger; the staff in their hands is My wrath. I will send him against a godless nation; I will dispatch him against a people destined for My rage, to seize the spoil and to plunder, and to trample them down like clay in the streets." Assyria is depicted as a tool used by God to execute judgment, yet it is also subject to God's wrath for its arrogance and pride.

2. Nahum 3:1 : "Woe to the city of blood, full of lies, full of plunder, never without prey." The prophet Nahum pronounces judgment against Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, highlighting the empire's violence and deceit.

Assyria's Fall:

The fall of Assyria is a significant event in biblical history, marking the end of its dominance and the rise of Babylon. The destruction of Nineveh in 612 BC by a coalition of Babylonians, Medes, and others fulfilled prophetic declarations of Assyria's downfall.

1. Zephaniah 2:13 : "And He will stretch out His hand against the north and destroy Assyria, leaving Nineveh utterly desolate and dry as the desert." This prophecy underscores the complete desolation that would befall Assyria, serving as a testament to God's sovereignty over nations.

Conclusion:

Assyria, as referenced in the Bible, serves as a powerful example of God's use of nations to accomplish His purposes, both in judgment and in the unfolding of redemptive history. The land of Shinar, associated with early human civilization and later Assyrian power, remains a key geographical and historical reference point in the biblical narrative.Genesis 11:2
And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelled there.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 14:1
And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The History after the Flood.
... [612] And in the land of Shinar, among those ... him the above-named city Hierosolyma
was called Jerusalem. ... There were these kings of Assyria: Tiglath-Pileser, and ...
/.../theophilus/theophilus to autolycus/chapter xxxi the history after the.htm

Chapter x
... "Shinar" is Babylon, perhaps allied to Shumir (Sumerians ... the personal ancestor,
sometimes for the people, sometimes for the land, is Assyria, called Asshur by ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter x.htm

Moses and his Writings
... and kings mentioned in Genesis, before God called him to ... and Calneh, in the land
of Shinar.' (Genesis 10 ... all save the learned scribes of Babylonia and Assyria. ...
/.../duff/the bible in its making/chapter iii moses and his.htm

From the Flood to Abraham
... he went out in the district of Assyria and built ... The old Babylonian kings were called
Priest Kings, and built ... The great mounds on the plain of Shinar, and the ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter iii from the flood.htm

We Arrive Now at a Branch of Our Subject Upon which the Lord's ...
... day was situated in "the land of Shinar!" This serves ... Ur" of Chaldea (Gen.11:28)
that Abram was called; and it ... it is said, "And the king of Assyria brought men ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/we arrive now at a.htm

Chapter xiv
... earlier in 2088 BC Now the Shinar over which ... of the lower Euphrates, a place now
called Senkereh. ... the middle Tigris and south of Assyria, corresponding roughly ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xiv.htm

Introduction
... while the clay books of Babylonia and Assyria are giving us ... from the beginning in
"the land of Shinar." The great ... narrative in which we had been called upon to ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/introduction.htm

"In the Volume of the Book it is Written of Me" (Heb. . .
... and exalt himself above all that is called God (2 ... for his name on the tablets of
ancient Assyria, and there ... in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/in the volume of the.htm

The Old Testament and Archeology
... named in the Old Testament; Amraphel, king of Shinar, at one ... of the Historical Records
and Legends of Assyria and Babylonia ... [14] Formerly called Shalmaneser II ...
/.../the christian view of the old testament/chapter iv the old testament.htm

In the Last Chapter we Confined Ourself to the Old Testament, in ...
... shall yet be built in the Land of Shinar, on the ... then He adds, "Afterwards thou shalt
be called, The city of ... dwelling in Babylon and the land of Assyria at the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/in the last chapter we.htm

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