Jehovah God long exercised forbearance toward this city, in fact, toward the entire Assyrian Empire. But, by means of his prophets, he pointed forward to the time when Nineveh would be a desolate waste. For example, with reference to what Jehovah would do, the prophet Zephaniah wrote under inspiration: “He will make Nineveh a desolate waste, a waterless region like the wilderness.

Zeph. 2:13, 14.

This was fulfilled when the combined forces of Nabopolassar the king of Babylon and of Cyaxares the Mede besieged and captured Nineveh. The city was evidently subjected to burning, for many Assyrian reliefs show damage or stain from fire and accompanying smoke. Regarding Nineveh, the Babylonian Chronicles report: “The great spoil of the city and temple they carried off and [turned] the city into a ruin-mound.” Thus, with the desolation of its capital city Nineveh, the mighty Assyrian Empire came to an inglorious end. To this day Nineveh is a desolate waste.