Bible Meaning: A step
Strong's Concordance #H804
Asshur, one of Shem's sons, settled in the general area of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. His name (Strong's Concordance #H804) became the basis for the term Assyria that references both the nation and the people living in the land. Both words are sometimes used interchangeably in the Bible.
Those in Assyria reached their height of power from 884 to 612 B.C.. They are considered the first world power in human history.
In 723 B.C., God allowed Assyria, as punishment for the Kingdom of Israel's many sins, to conquer Samaria and take the people out of the land as captives. Just a few years later, in 701, they threatened to destroy Jerusalem. After they taunted Israel's God to stop them from taking the city, they suffered the worst military defeat in human history by losing 185,000 men in one night (2Kings 18 - 19)!
Important Verses
Genesis 2:10 - 11, 13 - 14
And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;
And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia. And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.
Genesis 10:11
Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah,
Genesis 25:17 - 18
And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.
And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.
2Kings 15:19, 29 - 30
And Pul the king of Assyria came against the land: and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand . . .
In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive . . .
And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him . . .
2Kings 16:7 - 8, 10 - 11
So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me.
And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria.
And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof.
And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus . . .
2Kings 17:1, 3 - 4
In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years . . .
Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria: and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him presents.
And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king . . .