THE CITY OF NINEVEH

Nineveh was an ancient city located in Mesopotamia, in what is now northern Iraq. It was the capital of the Assyrian Empire, one of the most powerful powers in the ancient world, around the eighth century B.C. It was first mentioned in Genesis 10:11, when it speaks of the sons of Noah who populated the earth after the flood. Ham, one of the sons, had Cuzi and this had Nimrod, who was the builder of the tower of Babel. Nineveh was in this territory, on the banks of the Tigris River.

The city of Nineveh was known for its greatness and power. Its Assyrian rulers built impressive palaces, temples, and walls around the city. Nineveh's population is believed to have reached hundreds of thousands, a significant number at that time.

However, Nineveh is best known for its biblical history. According to the book of Jonah in the Bible, the prophet Jonah was sent by God to preach to the people of Nineveh and warn them about their sinful behavior. The name Jonah means dove. In God's word, he is identified as the son of the prophet Amittai, whose meaning is the truth of God. He was from the city of Gath-Epher, which was in Galilee. In II Kings 14:23-27 we see Jonah's account and work briefly. He prophesied at the time of King Jeroboam II of Israel to the northern kingdom and to Nineveh, and was preceded by the prophets Elijah and Elisha. God saw the sins in which the city of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, was immersed and showed his love not only for Israel, but also for the Gentiles. God saw the sins practiced there, but he showed compassion by the sinners and sent Jonah a message that, if accepted, would save them from the destruction that would befall them. Jonah was the prophet chosen by God to warn the Ninevites of their destruction if they didn't repent of their sins. Jonah thought the mission given to him by God was unnecessary. He was totally rational, showing himself as contrary to God's thoughts, and found this justifiable before God. The rational man justifies himself but is not accepted by God in his attitude. Jonah didn't remember David's words, revealing God's omniscience: " Whither shall I go from thy spirit?..." Psalm 139:7-8.

After initially resisting God's call, Jonah finally preached in the city, and the inhabitants of Nineveh repented of their evil ways. This led to a period of repentance and divine forgiveness. Nothing has prevented all of God's acts from taking place, nor will it ever. Jonah's experience was prophetic and went beyond the message he was to deliver to the Ninevites. It was an experience that typified the death and resurrection of Jesus, which is the great message to the Gentiles, until the return of the Lord Jesus to seek out his Gentile church, of which Nineveh has become a part. A message of a merciful God who seeks man to save him, not man seeking God. "We love him, because he first loved us." I John 4:19. Despite its greatness, the city of Nineveh faced decline and destruction. In 612 BC, it was besieged by King Nabopolassar (Nebuchadnezzar's father) of Akkad and the Scythians, who marched down the Tigris and camped in front of Nineveh. Nahum prophesied about the destruction of the city of Nineveh. "… all that hear the bruit of thee shall clap the hands over thee: for upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually? " Nahum 3:19.

After centuries of Assyrian rule, Nineveh was conquered by the Babylonians in the 7th century BC. The city was sacked and partially destroyed, marking the end of the Assyrian Empire. It remained in ruins for many centuries and its exact location was lost for a long time. In the 19th century, archaeological excavations revealed the remains of the ancient city, including the royal palaces, the city gates and many valuable artifacts. These discoveries provided important information about Assyrian civilization and enriched our understanding of the ancient history of the Near East.

Today, Nineveh is an archaeologically important region, and the remains of the ancient city are preserved as cultural heritage. The area is visited by tourists and scholars interested in exploring its fascinating history.