The Decline of the Middle Period of the Neo-Assyrian Empire and Its Impact on the Northern and Southern Kingdoms

The Assyrian people were active in Mesopotamian history for over a thousand years, a period generally divided into Early, Middle, and Neo-Assyrian eras. The Neo-Assyrian Empire was the most powerful period in its history—dominating Asia for over a century from the mid-8th century BC to 621 BC, with its capital, Nineveh, serving as a global metropolis. However, in the middle of this period, the powerful Neo-Assyrian Empire also experienced a decline that lasted for nearly 40 years, during which several Assyrian kings reigned in succession. These kings are not explicitly mentioned in the Bible.

•Adad-nirari III (reigned 811–783 BC): After his death, Assyria began to decline, gradually losing control over many of its vassal states.

•Shalmaneser IV (reigned 783–773 BC): The influence of the nobility and military commanders grew, and the king’s authority was severely weakened.

•Ashur-dan III (reigned 773–755 BC): Royal authority was significantly limited. Plagues struck Assyria in 765 and 759 BC, and a total solar eclipse in 763 BC was followed by a sudden rebellion.

•Ashur-nirari V (reigned 755–745 BC): Royal authority had collapsed. A major revolt broke out in 746 BC, and he was defeated and killed in the ensuing war the following year.

From 783 BC to 745 BC, the reigns of Adad-nirari III’s three sons—Shalmaneser IV, Ashur-dan III, and Ashur-nirari V—were plagued by internal strife. The kings’ authority was restricted by the nobles and continuously weakened. The Neo-Assyrian Empire, once aggressively expansionist, temporarily lost its ability to conquer and was instead consumed by internal conflicts. (This period of history is referenced in the Book of Jonah. Jonah was a prophet during the time of Jeroboam II, according to 2 Kings 14:25. When he went to Nineveh, Jonah 3:6 refers to the “king of Assyria” as the “king of Nineveh” because at that time, the Assyrian king’s authority had largely become ineffective outside the capital city of Nineveh).

Due to this Neo-Assyrian decline, neighboring nations like the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah received a rare period of peace. This favorable international environment allowed them to develop significantly in their economies, politics, and military strength. King Jeroboam II of Israel (reigned 790–750 BC, or 786–746 BC) and King Uzziah of Judah (reigned 792–740 BC) were the monarchs of this era. They governed with great determination, and their nations prospered, reclaiming lost territories and once again displaying the strength of the Davidic-Solomonic dynasty.

•The Northern Kingdom of Israel

The reign of Jeroboam II was the most powerful period for the Northern Kingdom of Israel. God granted them 40 years of prosperity and stability, but this prosperity did not signify His favor. Jeroboam II did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, son of Nebat. The spiritual state of the people was also extremely dark. While this period was the most prosperous since the time of David and Solomon, with a flourishing economy and vast territory, this outward success was “a beautiful exterior hiding a rotten interior” before a complete collapse. Shortly after Jeroboam II’s death, the newly crowned Assyrian king, Tiglath-Pileser III (745-727 BC), resumed foreign expansion. In less than thirty years (722 BC), the Northern Kingdom was swiftly destroyed by the Neo-Assyrian Empire.

•The Southern Kingdom of Judah

The king of the Southern Kingdom of Judah during the same period as Jeroboam II was Uzziah. During his 52-year reign, Assyria had temporarily ceased its external expansion. King Uzziah sought the Lord, and God made him prosperous and very powerful. However, in his later years, he became arrogant, desiring a higher position and greater authority, which led him to offend the Lord his God and bring about his own ruin. He eventually died of leprosy as punishment (2 Chronicles 26:21-23). Before King Uzziah’s death, dark clouds had already gathered over Judah, and social problems were severe. When Assyrian King Tiglath-Pileser III restarted his wars of conquest (2 Kings 15:19, 29), Judah began its decline. The Northern Kingdom was destroyed just over two decades after Uzziah’s death, and the Temple in Jerusalem would also be destroyed about 150 years later.

God allowed the Neo-Assyrian Empire to enter a period of decline that lasted for nearly 40 years. This enabled both the Southern Kingdom of Judah under Uzziah and the Northern Kingdom of Israel under Jeroboam II to enjoy decades of prosperity and stability (2 Chronicles 26:6-15). Yet, with their increase in success, power, and wealth, both kingdoms grew arrogant. Like a drunkard, their pride caused a kind of spiritual intoxication that filled them with self-worship and made them feel invincible, no longer relying on God.

After the death of Ashur-nirari V, Tiglath-Pileser III (745–727 BC) ascended to the throne. He was one of the most important monarchs of the Neo-Assyrian Empire and the first Assyrian king mentioned by name in the Bible. After his accession, he restructured the empire’s political framework, leading the Neo-Assyrians from weakness back to strength and resuming a frenzied policy of foreign expansion. His “iron and blood” policies created immense pressure on neighboring nations. Soon, the Northern Kingdom was destroyed by Assyria, and the very existence of the Southern Kingdom became precarious.

Assyria became God’s “rod of discipline.” God used this foreign nation, with its destruction of their homeland and their exile, to teach His people to listen and to hope that they would turn back to Him.