The Fall of Nineveh and the Desolation of Assyria
Zephaniah 2:13-15
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Zep.2.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויט: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- ידו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- על: PREP
- צפון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויאבד: VERB,hiph,impf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- אשור: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- וישם: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- נינוה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לשממה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ציה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כמדבר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Nahum 2:13 (verbal): Nahum pronounces Yahweh’s judgment against Assyria/Nineveh with vivid language of ruin and the end of its power, paralleling Zephaniah’s declaration that God will destroy Assyria and make Nineveh desolate.
- Nahum 3:7 (verbal): Explicitly depicts Nineveh as laid waste and without comforters—a close verbal and thematic echo of Zephaniah’s ‘Nineveh a desolation’.
- Jonah 3:4 (quotation): Jonah’s proclamation (‘Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown’) is an earlier prophetic declaration of Nineveh’s impending destruction that Zephaniah echoes in asserting God’s judgment on the city.
- Isaiah 10:12 (thematic): Isaiah predicts divine punishment on the king of Assyria for his arrogance; both passages reflect the theme that God will punish and bring low Assyria as an instrument turned to judgment.
- 2 Kings 19:35 (thematic): The account of the LORD striking the Assyrian host (Sennacherib’s army) illustrates divine action against Assyria’s power—historical/thematic background to prophetic announcements of Assyria’s downfall, as in Zephaniah 2:13.
Alternative generated candidates
- He will stretch out his hand against the north and cut off Assyria; he will make Nineveh a desolation, a dry waste like the desert.
- He shall stretch out his hand against the north; he shall destroy Assyria and make Nineveh a desolation, a dry waste like the desert.
Zep.2.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ורבצו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- בתוכה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,fs
- עדרים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- כל: DET
- חיתו: NOUN,f,pl,abs+3ms
- גוי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- גם: ADV
- קאת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- גם: ADV
- קפד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בכפתריה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,f,sg
- ילינו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- קול: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ישורר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- בחלון: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- חרב: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בסף: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- ארזה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ערה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Isaiah 34:11-15 (verbal): Describes a defeated nation whose palaces become the lairs of wild birds and desert beasts (pelican, bittern, owl, raven), closely mirroring Zephaniah's image of animals lodging in a city's houses and thresholds.
- Isaiah 13:20-22 (verbal): Prophesies Babylon's desolation where wild animals and night-creatures inhabit abandoned homes—language and motifs (beasts dwelling in city—desolation) parallel Zephaniah's scene.
- Jeremiah 50:39 (thematic): Speaks of Babylon's ruin: 'the desert shall rejoice... they shall inherit the desolate cities'—the theme of urban destruction followed by animals/desolation echoes Zephaniah 2:14.
- Ezekiel 39:17-20 (thematic): Calls birds and beasts to feast on the slain and describes corpses left for animals—connects the prophetic motif of cities/armies becoming haunts or food for animals after divine judgment.
- Revelation 18:2 (allusion): Announces Babylon's fall and describes it as a haunt of unclean birds and spirits; New Testament appropriation of OT prophetic imagery about ruined cities becoming the lairs of wild creatures recalls Zephaniah's portrait.
Alternative generated candidates
- Flocks shall lie down in her midst—every beast of the nations; the owl and the porcupine shall lodge in her palaces. A voice shall sing from the windows; sword at the thresholds, for she has been stripped bare.
- Flocks shall lie down in her midst—every beast of the nations; even the pelican and the porcupine shall lodge in her palaces. A sound shall sing from the windows; desolation—sword at the threshold— for I will strip her bare.
Zep.2.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- זאת: DEM,f,sg
- העיר: NOUN,f,sg,def
- העליזה: ADJ,f,sg,def
- היושבת: VERB,qal,ptc,3,f,sg
- לבטח: ADV
- האמרה: VERB,qal,ptc,3,f,sg
- בלבבה: NOUN,m,sg,cs+3f
- אני: PRON,1,sg
- ואפסי: CONJ+ADV
- עוד: ADV
- איך: ADV
- היתה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- לשמה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מרבץ: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לחיה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כל: DET
- עובר: VERB,qal,ptc,act,m,sg
- עליה: PREP,3,f,sg
- ישרק: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- יניע: VERB,qal,ipf,3,m,sg
- ידו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Isaiah 14:13-15 (verbal): The motif of proud, self-exalting speech—“you said in your heart/I will…”—and consequent overthrow parallels Zephaniah’s “said in her heart, I am, and there is none besides me” and her fall.
- Obadiah 1:3-4 (thematic): Condemnation of prideful dwelling and assurance of humiliation: the boastful heart of the nation is exposed and will be brought low, echoing Zephaniah’s depiction of a once‑secure city turned desolate.
- Ezekiel 28:2, 17 (verbal): Accusation of proud heart and corrupting splendor—‘your heart is proud’—applies to a ruler/city whose arrogance leads to ruin, mirroring Zephaniah’s theme of pride preceding desolation.
- Jeremiah 50:39 (thematic): The image of a conquered city becoming a haunt for wild animals echoes Zephaniah’s ‘a place for beasts’ and the portrayal of public scorn by passersby.
- Isaiah 47:10-11 (allusion): Babylon’s self-trust and punishment—reliance on sorcery/wisdom followed by sudden devastation—resonates with the irony of a secure, boasting city becoming an astonishment and object of derision.
Alternative generated candidates
- This exultant city that lived secure, that said in her heart, 'I am, and there is none besides me'—how she has become a desolation, a lair for wild beasts! Every passerby will hiss and shake his hand.
- This exultant city that dwelt securely, who said in her heart, 'I am, and there is no one besides me'—how she has become a lair for beasts! Everyone who passes by her shall whistle and shall wave his hand.
He will stretch out his hand against the north; he will destroy Assyria and make Nineveh a desolation, a dry waste like the desert.
Flocks shall lie down in her midst—every wild animal of the nations; even the pelican and the porcupine shall lodge in her palaces. A voice will sing from the window; a sword at the threshold—for she has been stripped bare.
This is the exultant city that sat secure, that said in her heart, 'I—and there is no other.' How she has become a ruin, a lair for wild beasts! Every passerby will hiss at her and wag his hand.