The Defeat of Assyria

The Babylonians (or Chaldeans; see Hab 1:6) were a Semitic people who lived in southeastern Babylonia. In 633 bc, the Chaldean Nabopolassar rose to prominence in southeastern Mesopotamia, establishing the roots of the great Babylonian Empire. He revolted against the Assyrians shortly after the reign of Ashurbanipal, decisively defeating the Assyrian general Sin-sar-iskun in the battle of Uruk. Nabopolassar declared his independence and formally ascended to the throne of Babylon on November 23, 626 bc. In 623 bc, he again defeated Sin-sar-iskun, who had become king of Assyria, and expelled the Assyrians from Babylonia.

Not content with ruling Babylon, Nabopolassar invaded Assyria and took the sacred city of Asshur in 614 bc. He then made an alliance with the Medes and Scythians and surrounded Nineveh in 612 bc. Shortly thereafter, thanks to a fortuitous flood of the Tigris River which opened a breach in the city walls, Nabopolassar and his allies captured the Assyrian capital. The Assyrians moved their capital to Haran and sought the help of the Egyptians under Pharaoh Neco.

In 609 bc, Josiah attempted to intercept the Egyptians at Megiddo, losing his life in the resultant battle. Later that year, the Babylonians under the command of general Nebuchadnezzar defeated the combined Assyrian and Egyptian armies at Haran, pushing the Assyrians across the Euphrates River. The final battle between these same groups took place at Carchemish in 605 bc. The Assyrian Empire was effectively destroyed and the Egyptians were forced to return to Egypt.

Israel Loken