End of Niniveh

Prophecy

(Prophet Zephaniah lived appx 640-620 BC)

'And He will stretch out His hand against the north, Destroy Assyria, And make Nineveh a desolation, As dry as the wilderness. The herds shall lie down in her midst, Every beast of the nation. Both the pelican and the bittern Shall lodge on the capitals of her pillars; Their voice shall sing in the windows; Desolation shall be at the threshold; For He will lay bare the cedar work. This is the rejoicing city That dwelt securely, That said in her heart, “I am it, and there is none besides me.” How has she become a desolation, A place for beasts to lie down! Everyone who passes by her Shall hiss and shake his fist.'

Zephaniah 2:13-15, Bible NKJV.

(Prophet Nahum lived appx 660-630 BC)

'Though Nineveh of old was like a pool of water, Now they flee away. “Halt! Halt!” they cry; But no one turns back. Take spoil of silver! Take spoil of gold! There is no end of treasure, Or wealth of every desirable prize. She is empty, desolate, and waste! The heart melts, and the knees shake; Much pain is in every side, And all their faces are drained of color. Where is the dwelling of the lions, And the feeding place of the young lions, Where the lion walked, the lioness and lion’s cub, And no one made them afraid? The lion tore in pieces enough for his cubs, Killed for his lionesses, Filled his caves with prey, And his dens with flesh. “Behold, I am against you,” says the Lord of hosts, “I will burn your chariots in smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions; I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall be heard no more.”'

Nahum 2:8-13 Bible NKJV

Fulfillment:

• Nineveh fell in 612 BC, conquered by a coalition of Medes, Babylonians, and Scythians. This was a shock to the ancient world, because Nineveh was a powerful capital of the empire. The Bible presents this event as God's judgment on the sinful city.

• The prophecy fulfilled exactly as was said: the city never was rebuilt nor inhabited

• Wild animals were playing there only

• Today ruins of Niniveh are UNESCO memorial