Ancient Assyrian Prophecy

[Nahum 1:8] “But with an overwhelming flood he will make an utter end of Nineveh, and darkness will pursue his enemies.”

[Nahum 2:6] “The river gates are opened; the palace is engulfed.”

According to the ancient Greek historian Diodorus Siculus (90–30 BC) in his Bibliotheca Historica (Book II), the Assyrians had an ancient prophecy: “no enemy would ever take Nineveh unless the river first became an enemy to the city.” When the Babylonian-Median coalition besieged the city, the Assyrian king prepared vast provisions, ready to endure a long siege and await reinforcements. However, after three years of siege, continuous heavy rains caused the river to flood a portion of the city and destroy 3.6 kilometers (20 stadia) of the city wall along the river. The river had clearly become an enemy to Nineveh. Believing the prophecy had been fulfilled, the Assyrian King Sinsharishkun (reigned 627–612 BC) set fire to his palace and perished in the flames. This fulfilled the prophecies: “he will make an utter end of Nineveh with an overwhelming flood,” and “the river gates are opened; the palace is engulfed.”