In the following passage there are two points that can be proved: 1- The Assyrian army usually was used by God to punish other nations for their unbelief and because of their great sins. 2- The argument that the old testament is anti-Assyrian and pro-Jewish is voided. Here clearly the Lord is using the Assyrian army to punish the Jewish for their sins. This is common that the Lord would use a power to punish those who have sinned. A lot is said about the old testament, and that it's not God's words, and most of that feeling is based on the assumption that old-testament is all anti-Assyrian. Well, here that assumption is voided. It's very important for us to accept the whole Book as the Word of God. 2 Kings 17 5 The king of Assyria invaded the entire land, marched against Samaria and laid siege to it for three years. 6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and deported the Israelites to Assyria. He settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River and in the towns of the Medes. 7 All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt from under the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They worshiped other gods Isaiah 8 6 Because this people has rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah and rejoices over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, 7 therefore the Lord is about to bring against them the mighty floodwaters of the River -- the king of Assyria with all his pomp. It will overflow all its channels, run over all its banks. 8 and sweep on into Judah, swirling over it, passing through it and reaching up to the neck. Its outspread wings will cover the breadth of your land, O Immanuel !" Isaiah 10 5 Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my anger, in whose hand is the club of my wrath! 6 I send him against a godless nation, I dispatch him against a people who anger me, to seize loot and snatch plunder, and to trample them down like mud in the streets. In the following passages, we learn the following: 1 - Although the Lord used the Assyrians to punish other nations, the Assyrian Kings failed to be humble and accept the fact that their power and strength was sent from God, instead the Assyrian King was full of pride ( still a familiar issue, isn't it?) 2 - We always look at our past, and not learn anything from it. We still make that mistake of being proud of the Assyrian empire power, still failing to glorify God for that power. Isaiah 10 12 When the Lord has finished all his work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, he will say, "I will punish the king of Assyria for the willful pride of his heart and the haughty look in his eyes. 13 For he says: "`By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, because I have understanding. I removed the boundaries of nations, I plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their kings. The following is what every Assyrian talks about. "Assyria will rise again"!!! While that might be true, we have to pay attention to the details. We have to worship the Lord, and He will bless us. Isaiah 19 22 The LORD will strike Egypt with a plague; he will strike them and heal them. They will turn to the LORD, and he will respond to their pleas and heal them. 23 In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together. 24 In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. 25 The LORD Almighty will bless them, saying, "Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance."