ENEMY NATIONS THAT ATTACKED ISRAEL
AROUND Israel were enemy nations that were intent on seizing its inheritance. Would Israel be swallowed up? As long as Israel remained faithful, it had the decisive edge. “Jehovah himself was fighting for Israel.”—Jos 10:14.
This was graphically demonstrated during the rule of King Jehoshaphat (936-c. 911 B.C.E.). The combined forces of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir came against Judah. Jehoshaphat appealed to Jehovah: “Here they are . . . coming in to drive us out from your possession that you caused us to possess. O our God, will you not execute judgment upon them?” Indeed He would! Judah was assured: “The battle is not yours, but God’s.” Jehovah confused the enemy, causing them to slaughter one another.—2Ch 20:1-23.
Finally, after centuries of fighting for Israel, Jehovah allowed enemy nations to conquer it. In 740 B.C.E. the Assyrians brought the ten-tribe kingdom to an end “because the sons of Israel had sinned against Jehovah.” (2Ki 17:7-18) Then in 607 B.C.E., for its disobedience the two-tribe kingdom was destroyed by the Babylonians. (2Ki 21:10-15; 22:16, 17) This period of Israel’s history emphasizes the importance of obeying Jehovah.
[Chart on page 951]
ENEMY NATIONS With Related Scriptures
Amalek
Ammon
Assyria
2Ki 15:19, 20, 29; 17:1-6; 18:13-35
Babylon
Edom
2Ch 20:1, 2, 22; 28:17; Ob 1, 12-14
Egypt
Ethiopia
Moab
Philistia
1Sa 17:1-10; 31:1-7; 2Sa 5:17-25
Syria
1Ki 20:1-6, 26; 2Ki 12:17, 18; 16:5-9
[Map on page 951]
(For fully formatted text, see publication)
Great Sea
Samaria
Jerusalem
Jordan River
Salt Sea
SYRIA
ASSYRIA
BABYLON
AMMON
MOAB
EDOM
SEIR
AMALEK
ETHIOPIA
EGYPT
PHILISTIA
[Picture on page 952]
Assyrian soldiers taking Jews from Lachish into exile
[Picture on page 952]
Egyptian inscription boasting over the conquest of Judean cities by Pharaoh Shishak
[Picture on page 952]
Babylonian record of Nebuchadnezzar’s invasion of Judah