CONTENT S. LECTURE I. THE FOUNDATION OF NINEVEH, AND THE EARLIER NOTICES OF THE OLD ASSYRIAN MONARCHY. TEXT-Isaiah xxiii. 7. The plains of Western Asia-Produce and fertility-Syria between the rivers, or Mesopotamia - Assyria Proper, east of the Tigris-Huge mounds As described by Rich, Ainsworth, Dr. Layard, Xenophon-Traditions of the Arabs "Tales of Nimrod "-Herodotus-No history of Assyria-Fragments of history-Berossus-CtesiasSite of Nineveh-Materials of the city-The ruined halls, temples, etc., form mounds-Enterprise of the English -Dr. Layard-M. Botta-Discoveries--The Bible not a universal history-Texts relating to Assyria-ShinarBabel-Nimrod, "a mighty hunter," Gen. x. 8-12-Josephus's account of him-Built Nineveh-Warlike and impious-The constellation Orion-Hunting scenes on the palace walls of Babylon-The like found at NimroudCharacter of the sculptures-Exploded theories about physical and intellectual development-Art from HeavenThe basalt obelisk-Cuneiform characters-Major Rawlinson-Sabæism-Job xxxi. 26, 27-Progress of the Assyrian kingdom-Tidal, "King of Nations"-Defeated by Abraham, etc., Gen. xiv. 1-14-Chaldæan horsemen seize Job's camels, Job i. 17-Balaam's prophecy of Assyria, Num, xxiv. 21-24-The earlier apostasy of Israel punished by Chushan-rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia, Judges ii. 10-14-The first overthrow of Nineveh-Its moral causes-Chronology of Assyria-Learned authorities -Evidence from the ruins of double overthrow-Reflections on the vanity of human greatness-Truth and righteousness give stability to empires. . page 1 LECTURE II. The first overthrow of the city as described by Ctesias-The funeral pile-Death of Zimri, 1 Kings xvi. 8-18-Relics at Nineveh partially consumed-Trade with India restores the city-Tadmor in the desert, 2 Chron. viii. 4-The site of Nineveh determined-Its state in the days of Jonah- "Nineveh the Great"-Great extent-Like London, a group of cities-Its population - Wealth · Idolatry - Jonah's prediction against Damascus fulfilled, 2 Kings x. 32; xiv. 26-The fame of it-Spread of news in the East- Jonah's foreign mission-Twofold objects-He disobeys- Flees from "the presence of the Lord"-Ships depicted on the marbles-The great fish-Jonah's second mission- Common language-Enters the city-Strange emotions- Secures attention-How- His miraculous deliverance — "A sign," Matt. xii. 39-41; Luke xi. 29-Called to the royal palace The scene described-Prophetic courage- The king and court repent-Royal proclamation-Fast- General humiliation - Sackcloth on man and beast- The national constitution of Israel a theocracy-Depositories weakness-Rehoboam's defeats-Abijah's prophecy-Je- Alliance with Rezin, king of Syria-Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, invades Galilee-Five of the ten tribes subdued and taken captives-Hoshea usurps the throne- Submits to Assyria - Intrigues with Egypt - Samaria besieged-Their engines of war-Cruelty-Nahum's alle- gory of the lions-The deportation of the tribes-The threat, Lev. xxvi. 28-33-Fulfilled-Treatment of captives depicted on the Assyrian marbles-Fish-hooks, Amos iv. 2 -Calves of Beth-aven taken-Nineveh witnesses the tri- umph-Charities of Tobit-The cities of the captivity- Halah, etc., 2 Kings xvii. 6; xviii. 11; 1 Chron. v. 26— Countries depopulated and colonized-The ten tribes in Chaldæa-Dr. Buchanan-Nestorians-Dr. A. Grant-Dr. E. Robinson's review of "The Nestorians"-Improvement Judah did not wholly escape the idolatry of Israel—Ahaz— cracy-Breaks with Assyria, which occasions the invasion page 117 LECTURE V. Evil habits inveterate-The people of Judah relapse-Josiah's profitless reform--Jehoahaz-Jehoiakim-Imprisons and murders the prophets of God-Jeremiah's predictions, Jer. xxii. 18, 19-Assyrians invade Judæa-Take many captives -Ezekiel amongst them-Tel-abib on the Chebar, Ezek. iii. 15-Two rivers of that name near to Nineveh-The plains of Assyria—Drawing on a tile—Allegory of Aholah and Aholibah-Its significance and truthfulness - Fas- tidiousness-Representations of the Assyrians, Ezek. xxiii. 12, 14-16-Their costume-Artificial coiffure " Mantles Another explanation proposed―The sacred hall at Nineveh described-The position of these figures-Guardian powers -The vision of the cherubim-Known by Ezekiel-As seen in the Jewish temples-Made by the order of Moses, Exod. xxv. 18-20-Yet no instruction as to form-Because already known-The golden calf-Taken for the Egyptian idol, Mnevis-Reasons against this idea-The copy of a pre- existing form-Such as found on the antiquities of Egypt -Moses no plagiarist-Figures of compound animals- Amongst the ancient nations-The Sphinx-Such forms of patriarchal origin—Cherubim at Eden-Genesis iii. 24— Rosenmüller's Scholia-"The presence of the Lord"-Cain leaves the sacred spot-Teraphim identified with cherubim -Resemblance between their figure and the winged guar dians at the gate of Nineveh-Improvement-Conformity The Assyrian monarchy symbolised by a lofty cedar-Ezek. |