The history of the Hebrews is widely identified with religion and their traditions which were included in the Hebrew Bible, but from a Christian perspective, their history could be more recognised in the Old Testament. They were originally nomads who organised into clans, the same can be said of many cultures even today in Africa, the Hebrews’ tradition states that they were descendants of the patriarch Abraham, who had migrated from Mesopotamia to the land of Canaan, where they became identified as the Children of Israel. In comparison to the Hebrews, the Assyrians were also very religious.
One common belief among these group of people was that history was dictated by divine forces. The Hebrews saw their history as a reflection of their covenant with God. When they followed His commandments, they prospered, but when they disobeyed, they faced consequences such as exile and destruction (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). The Babylonians and Assyrians also believed that their gods determined their destiny. Assyrian kings credited Ashur for their victories, while the Babylonians honoured Marduk.
The Hebrews recorded their history in the Hebrew Bible, emphasising how God guided their leaders. The Persians, particularly Cyrus the Great, presented themselves as liberators. The Assyrians carved images on palace walls to display their victories. King Ashurnasirpal II, for example, had detailed carvings made to show his conquests and power
The Hebrews recorded history with a strong focus on morality and faith in God. Their writings emphasised obedience to God and the consequences of straying from His laws. Unlike the Babylonians and Assyrians, who glorified their kings’ victories, the Hebrew Bible includes both successes and failures of leaders like David and Solomon, reinforcing the idea that all people were accountable to God (1 Kings 11:1-13).
The Assyrians and Babylonians viewed history primarily through military conquest. Ashurnasirpal II, for example, described his campaigns in graphic detail, emphasising how he crushed enemies and expanded his empire. The Babylonians followed a similar pattern, using inscriptions to highlight their rulers’ strength, such as Nebuchadnezzar’s conquest of Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:8-10).
The Persians had a different approach. Instead of ruling through fear, they promoted cooperation and religious tolerance. Unlike the Assyrians, who scattered conquered peoples, and the Babylonians, who exiled the Hebrews, the Persians allowed them to return and rebuild their temple.
The Assyrians and Babylonians were closely connected, sharing the same language (Akkadian and later Aramaic) and religious beliefs. Both originated from the Akkadian Empire and maintained similar customs. Unlike these cultures, the Hebrews followed strict monotheism and prohibited the creation of images (Exodus 20:4), making depictions of Jewish people rare in ancient Near Eastern art. In contrast, the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Persians used art and inscriptions to showcase their rulers’ achievements.
I enjoyed reading your post which juxtaposes your view from a biblical and historical perspective. Your critical view has not been expanded as you focused a bit more on the Hebrews than their conquerors. Passionately written!
I like the way you brought up how God would help them win or lose their battles based on their obedience or disobedience towards their covenanted God who is their source of power.
Hi Maurice!
This is a great comparison of the different civilizations! I find it really interesting how the Hebrews focused on morality, holding even their leaders accountable, while the Assyrians and Babylonians used history to glorify their rulers.
I like the way you described the similarities of different civilization. It’s interesting to learn how religion influenced their opinions, particularly the Hebrews’ strong emphasis on their bond with God , Did these communities have different opinions about the ways in which God or the gods intervened? Since you brought up the Hebrew Bible, it could be interesting to discuss how scientific evidence from each of these societies either supports or disputes some of these historical accounts.
There are some really good insights here. I am particularly intrigued by your comment on the willingness of the Hebrews to talk about their successes and their failures, and how this stood in contrast to the other nations that focused more on their military conquests. I wonder if this is among the reasons that the Hebrew scriptures are still read and loved by billions of people today. They give a much more authentic and relatable account of the human experience, don’t they?