A Perilous Defiance

Apprehensive and alarmed, the people of the Northern Kingdom of Israel lived under an uneasy peace with their vicious and belligerent neighbor Assyria. Certainly, troubling tensions were continually flaring up between these two neighboring countries. Indeed, during the 8th Century BC, it appeared that a full-scaled conflict between these two neighbors could start at any moment. For there was no diplomatic communications being exchanged between these two nations at this time. Obviously, the people of Assyria who lived about five hundred miles to the northeast resented the people of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. For Northern Israel had been very successful in the recovery of all of her lost boundaries. And this Assyrians’ resentment was causing huge amount of friction between these two nations. Hence, the people of Northern Israel were always vigilant and on high alert for a concealed and unexpected attack. Definitely, Assyria, this bellicose nation located on the eastern bank of the Tigris River of Upper Mesopotamia with its capital Nineveh, wanted complete control of the whole region. Therefore, this warlike nation kept a concerned watch on the expansion progress of this small nation of Northern Israel. Actually, there was constant tension between Assyria and the Northern Kingdom of Israel because of Northern Israel’s assertive border recovery. Clearly, Assyria, their aggressive and hostile neighbor, was not satisfied with her seemingly aggressive land expansion. Undeniably, the nation of Assyria was very hostile, and it was forcefully invading and defeating other nations to expand its boundaries. For by the end of the ninth century BC, this harsh and intimidating nation had gained control of the entire Mesopotamian region. And this menacing nation had cast its eyes on defeating the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Therefore, the people of Northern Israel were very aware that if they did not establish a solid defense to protect their recovered boundaries, they would eventually arouse the expansion yearning of the Assyrians. And this combative nation would try to gain control of their own nation for its land. Unquestionably, this confrontational nation of Assyria was behaving very militaristic toward Northern Israel, causing the people of the Northern Kingdom to be very apprehensive. Without doubt, the Assyrians were looking for any provocation to make an attack. Indisputably, Assyria was always in warring factions. You could hear her sable-rattling day after day. And Israel and Judah were always at the brunt of her verbal assault. In fact, this wicked nation was the constant enemy that regularly hounded and pestered the people of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Undoubtedly, the Assyrians, led by King Shalmaneser III, were very vicious and barbaric. In fact, historical documents vividly reveal that these bellicose people of Assyria were also very savage and brutal. Actually, this nation fiercely destroyed every nation who got in its path. Clearly, these ferocious and confrontational Assyrians took immense pride in displaying on the stone carvings of their walls graphics and violent battle scenes showing their cruelty of war. And they were absolutely opposed to keeping captured soldiers as prisoners of war. Therefore, the Assyrians’ military was widely known for its extreme ruthlessness and cruelty to the captured soldiers of these conquered nations. Actually, they treated these captured soldiers unmercifully, spreading massive fear among the soldiers of these defeated nations. Indeed, with immense cruelty, the Assyrians’ military heartlessly butchered captured soldiers. In fact, they dismembered some of these frightened soldiers mercilessly by cutting off their nose and ears and gouging out their eyes while they were still alive. Also, they beheaded some of these captured soldiers and placed their severed heads nailed to the walls of the cities they had just captured. They wanted to get the maximum effects of fear from the people of these defeated nations. And the rest of those captured soldiers who managed to escape the atrocity were taken to the capital city of Nineveh. Then, those remaining captured soldiers endured unimaginable horror right in front of the curious crowd who looked on. Savagely, some of those remaining captured soldiers had their lower lips pierced with fishhooks, and ripped off for sport. Afterward, those mangled and tortured captured soldiers was brutally slaughtered. Then, under tremendous fright, those captured soldiers who escaped the torture and mutilation were made slaves for the market. Hence, the people of Northern Israel were aghast, and completely taken aback with the savagery of the Assyrian people. So, they were always on the alert. However, unexplainably, this nation of Assyria seemed to have a dual personality. For it was also a rich and prosperous nation. In fact, it was an important junction for commercial routes crossing the Tigris on the great roadway between the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean. And this Assyrians’ capital city of Nineveh profited from the great wealth received from the traveling tourists who regularly visited its metropolitan area. So, this attractive and flourishing metropolis had become one of the greatest capitals of all the region's ancient cities. Nevertheless, the people of the Northern Kingdom of Israel had also become a backslidden nation. Sadly, because of her idolatry, iniquity, and disobedience, God was not pleased. Therefore, He sent to them prophets to call them to repentance. And these prophets were very vigilant in bringing to this kingdom His prophetic messages of repentance. Meanwhile, in the 8th Century BC, the united nation of Israel had now been divided, and the Northern Kingdom was now a separate and independent kingdom of Israel. This division in Israel had come about as a result of an averted civil war that caused the twelve tribes of Israel to ceased being a united nation. Indeed, during the 9th Century BC, a revolt arose against King Rehoboam of united Israel led by Jeroboam and ten tribes of Israel. This revolt succeeded in dramatically dividing the twelve tribes of united Israel into two separate kingdoms.