The first empire to dominate Near East Asia. Its capital frequently changed throughout the empire's history, but the largest and most famous was Nineveh (Nineveh). Its origin appears to be a combination of the descendants of Noah's son Shem and the descendants of Abraham's later sons.
Genesis 10:22The sons of Aram were: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash.
1 Chronicles 1:17Arpachshad became the father of Shelah, and Shelah became the father of Eber.
Genesis 25:1She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.Genesis 25:2Jokshan became the father of Sheba, and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim.Genesis 25:3The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.
2 Kings 17:3The king of Assyria) found conspiracy in Hoshea; for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and offered no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. Therefore the king of Assyria seized him, and bound him in prison.2 Kings 17:4Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years.2 Kings 17:5In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria) took Samaria, and carried Israel away to Assyria, and placed them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.2 Kings 17:6It was so because the children of Israel had sinned against Yahweh their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt) from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods,
이들은 정복한 지역의 주민들을 가혹하게 탄압하고 학살을 자행하였기에, 많은 반란에 시달리면서 급격하게 세력이 약화되었다가, 바빌론제국에 의해 멸망당했다.
요나(선지자)가 활동한 니느웨가 이 제국의 수도이며, 이러한 역사적 배경이 있기 때문에 요나 선지자가 그토록 하나님의 명령에 저항했던 것이다.