Jews: The Case for God | Ep 2: Assyria

Summary

In this reflective narrative, the speaker shares a personal journey of discovery with their family, exploring the British Museum and its Assyrian wing. They recount the historical confrontation between the ancient kingdom of Judah, led by King Hezekiah, and the powerful Assyrian empire under King Sennacherib. The story highlights the Assyrian conquest of the Middle East, the exile of the northern Israelite tribes, and the miraculous biblical account of an angel of God striking down 185,000 Assyrian troops, leading to the empire's decline and the survival of the Jewish people. The speaker reflects on the enduring presence of Jewish culture and history amidst the ruins of once-great empires, suggesting that the resilience and continuity of the Jewish people serve as a profound testament to a divine presence. The narrative culminates in the celebration of the speaker's daughter's bat mitzvah in Jerusalem, symbolizing the ongoing chain of Jewish heritage and the enduring questions posed by Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai about the survival of the Jewish people amidst the fall of other civilizations.

Takeaways

• 📚 The family visited the British Museum to learn about ancient civilizations mentioned in the Bible, aiming to bring biblical books to life for their daughter's upcoming bat mitzvah.
• 🏛 They were particularly interested in the Assyrian wing, which contained reliefs from the palace of King Sanchezer of Asira, a powerful monarch who had conquered the Middle East, including the northern kingdom of Israel.
• 🏺 The reliefs depicted the Assyrian conquest, including the exile and assimilation of the 10 of the 12 biblical tribes, marking a significant loss to Jewish people.
• ✊ Only the kingdom of Judea, ruled by Hezekiah, a descendant of King David, rebelled against Assyria, with the city of Lachish being a notable battleground.
• 🏰 Hezekiah fortified Jerusalem in response to the Assyrian threat, and the 'Broad Wall' he built still stands today in Jerusalem's Jewish quarter.
• 📜 King Sanchezer's boast of capturing Jerusalem is recorded on the 'Prism of Sanchezer', but contrary to his prediction, Jerusalem was not destroyed.
• 🤲 According to the Bible, an angel of God struck down 185,000 Assyrian troops, leading to the decline of the Assyrian empire and the survival of the Jewish people.
• 👨‍👩‍👧 The family's presence in the museum and their later celebration of their daughter's bat mitzvah in Jerusalem symbolizes the continuity and resilience of the Jewish people.
• 🌟 The story of the Jewish people, as experienced by the family, serves as a powerful argument for the existence of God, particularly in light of historical challenges and the survival of their culture and faith.
• 🧐 The absence of the Jewish people's 'obituaries' in the form of conquering empires, which no longer exist, raises questions about the unique survival and persistence of the Jewish nation.
• 📖 The script reflects on the importance of studying history and one's cultural heritage, not just as a record of the past, but as a living connection to one's identity and faith.

Q & A

What was the purpose of the family's visit to the British Museum?

The family visited the British Museum to learn about ancient civilizations mentioned in the Bible, in order to bring the biblical prophetic books to life for their daughter who was preparing for her bat mitzvah.

Which part of the British Museum did the family head to first?

The family went straight to Room 10B, the Assyrian wing, to see the reliefs of the palace of King Sanchezer of Asira.

What significant historical event is depicted in the reliefs in the museum?

The reliefs depict the Assyrian conquest of the Middle East, including the northern kingdom of Israel, and the victory of King Sanchezer over the city of Lachish in Judea.

Why was Judea significant in the context of the Assyrian conquests?

Judea was significant because it was the only country that rebelled against the Assyrian empire, led by King Hezekiah, a descendant of King David.

What is the historical significance of the 'Broad Wall' in Jerusalem?

The 'Broad Wall' in Jerusalem is a fortification built by King Hezekiah in response to the Assyrian attack and is a testament to the city's resilience and survival.

What artifact in the Israel Museum is related to King Sanchezer's conquests?

The 'Prism of Sanchezer' in the Israel Museum contains a written account of King Sanchezer's confident prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem.

According to the Bible, what miraculous event occurred before the Assyrian attack on Jerusalem?

The Bible describes an angel of God striking down 185,000 assembled Assyrian troops, leading to the sudden end of the Assyrian threat to Jerusalem.

What is the significance of the Jewish people's continued existence in the context of the story?

The continued existence of the Jewish people, despite numerous historical attempts at their destruction, is presented as a testament to a divine miracle and an argument for the existence of God.

Where was the daughter's bat mitzvah celebrated?

The daughter's bat mitzvah was celebrated in the Old City of Jerusalem, near the site where the Judean troops once faced the Assyrian forces.

What question posed by Rav Shakay is central to the family's reflection on their history and faith?

The central question is 'Where are the gods of all the other countries that have gone before?', which underscores the enduring nature of the Jewish people and their faith amidst the fall of other empires.

What realization did the father have while standing with his family in the British Museum?

The father realized that their very presence as a continuing Jewish family, studying the history of their people, is itself a miracle and a powerful argument for the existence of God.

What is the broader implication of the story told in the video script?

The broader implication is that the survival and resilience of the Jewish people throughout history, despite adversities and the fall of powerful empires that sought their destruction, serves as a profound argument for the divine and the existence of God.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Historical Reflections at the British Museum

The first paragraph narrates a personal journey to the British Museum in London where the narrator, his wife, and their daughter explore the Assyrian wing to connect with their Jewish heritage in anticipation of the daughter's bat mitzvah. They focus on the artifacts from the time of King Sanchezer of Assyria, who had conquered much of the Middle East, including the northern kingdom of Israel. The paragraph describes the emotional impact of seeing the Assyrian reliefs depicting the conquest and exile of the Jewish people, and the narrator's realization that they are looking at depictions of their own ancestors. It also discusses the historical context of the Assyrian threat to Jerusalem under King Hezekiah and the biblical account of a miraculous intervention that led to the sudden death of 185,000 Assyrian soldiers, an event not recorded in Assyrian records but which coincided with the decline of the Assyrian empire.

05:03

🕍 The Miraculous Continuity of Jewish History

The second paragraph delves into the significance of Jewish survival and continuity as a 'miracle' in the face of historical adversities. The narrator reflects on the idea that while many empires have risen and fallen, the Jewish people have endured. This is highlighted during a visit to the British Museum where they contemplate the obituary of their people by vanished empires. The family's celebration of their daughter's bat mitzvah in Jerusalem, close to where ancient Jewish troops had once stood against the Assyrians, serves as a poignant moment of connection to their heritage. The paragraph concludes with a rhetorical question that ponders the absence of other nations' gods while the Jewish people continue to exist, suggesting that the Jewish story itself is a compelling argument for the existence of God.

Keywords

💡Divine

The term 'divine' refers to something relating to a deity or a religious concept that is sacred and transcendent. In the video's context, it is used to suggest that Jewish history may serve as the greatest argument or evidence for the existence of a divine power, given the survival and resilience of the Jewish people through history.

💡Jewish History

Jewish history encompasses the long and varied past of the Jewish people, including their religious, cultural, and social development. The video uses Jewish history as a central theme to argue for the divine, highlighting the survival of the Jewish people despite numerous challenges and the fall of empires that once sought their destruction.

💡British Museum

The British Museum is a renowned institution in London that houses a vast collection of art and artifacts from various cultures and eras. In the script, the museum serves as a backdrop for the narrator's exploration of ancient civilizations and the Assyrian conquests, which are directly linked to biblical history and the Jewish people.

💡Assyrian Empire

The Assyrian Empire was a powerful ancient civilization that conquered much of the Middle East, including the northern kingdom of Israel. The video discusses the Assyrian conquests to illustrate the historical context of the Jewish people's struggles and to highlight the miracle of their continued existence despite these conquests.

💡King Sanchezer

King Sanchezer, also known as Sennacherib, was the king of Assyria who is depicted in the British Museum's reliefs. He is significant to the video's narrative as the monarch who conquered many lands, including parts of Israel, and whose defeat at the hands of an angelic intervention, as described in the Bible, is presented as a miracle that saved the Jewish people.

💡Biblical Prophetic Books

The biblical prophetic books refer to a section of the Hebrew Bible that contains prophetic writings from Joshua to Malachi. These books are studied by the narrator and his family in preparation for the daughter's bat mitzvah and are used in the video to underscore the depth and continuity of Jewish religious tradition.

💡Exile

Exile refers to the forced displacement of a group of people from their homeland. In the context of the video, it is used to describe the fate of the ten tribes of Israel who were exiled and assimilated by the Assyrians, leading to their loss to the Jewish people. This historical event is a pivotal moment that underscores the resilience of the Jewish people who remained.

💡Judea

Judea was the ancient name for the southern part of the Land of Israel, which was ruled by King Hezekiah during the time of the Assyrian invasions. The video highlights Judea's rebellion against Assyria and the subsequent miraculous events that led to the survival of the Jewish people, making it a key location in the narrative.

💡Broad Wall

The Broad Wall is a historical structure in Jerusalem that was built by King Hezekiah in response to the Assyrian attack. It is mentioned in the video as a tangible reminder of the past and the Jewish people's resilience. The wall stands as a symbol of the fortifications that protected the city and the people during a time of crisis.

💡Prism of Sanchezer

The Prism of Sanchezer is an ancient artifact that contains an inscription by the Assyrian king, detailing his military campaigns. In the video, it is used to contrast the Assyrian's confident prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem with the biblical account of a miraculous intervention that saved the city and the Jewish people.

💡Bat Mitzvah

A Bat Mitzvah is a Jewish coming-of-age ceremony for a girl, marking her entry into religious maturity. In the video, the celebration of the narrator's daughter's Bat Mitzvah in Jerusalem serves as a personal and contemporary connection to the historical and religious narrative being discussed, symbolizing continuity and the ongoing life of the Jewish people.

Highlights

The speaker and his family visited the British Museum to learn about ancient civilizations mentioned in the Bible.

They viewed reliefs in the Assyrian wing depicting the palace of King Sanchezer of Asira.

Sanchezer was the most powerful monarch in the world by 701 BCE, having conquered the entire Middle East.

The Assyrians exiled 10 of the 12 biblical tribes, who were lost to the Jewish people forever.

Only the kingdom of Judea, ruled by Hezekiah, rebelled against Assyria.

Sanchezer attacked and achieved a major victory over the city of Lachish in Judea.

The museum displayed images of the Assyrian assault on Lachish, including Jewish soldiers being killed and taken into exile.

The speaker's family, belonging to the Levite tribe, felt a deep connection seeing the images of their ancestors.

In response to the Assyrian threat, Hezekiah fortified Jerusalem and built the Broad Wall, still standing today.

Sanchezer predicted the certain destruction of Jerusalem, but the Bible describes a miraculous intervention.

The Book of Kings says an angel of God struck down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers, saving Jerusalem.

Historians agree that soon after this event, the Assyrian empire declined and ceased to be a world power.

The speaker argues that the survival of the Jewish people is the greatest argument for the existence of God.

The family celebrated their daughter's bat mitzvah in Jerusalem, near where the Judean troops had once faced the Assyrians.

The question asked by Rabbi Shakai to Hezekiah's troops - where are the gods of the nations Assyria conquered? - is still relevant today.

The speaker had a revelation at the British Museum that the ongoing survival of the Jewish people is itself a miracle.

The family's journey from London to Jerusalem underscores the enduring story of the Jewish people and their faith.

Transcripts

[Music]

what if

in a world searching for signs of the

divine the greatest miracle

was right in front of our face what if

jewish history is the greatest argument

for god

this past summer my wife and i took our

daughter

to london we had been studying in

advance of her bat mitzvah

all of the biblical prophetic books from

joshua to malachi

and now we wanted to show her the

british museum

to learn a little about the ancient

civilizations mentioned in the bible

in order to bring those books to life as

the many tourists streamed toward the

elgin marbles

and the rosetta stone we headed straight

to room

10b the assyrian wing in the british

museum

there on the walls were reliefs of the

palace of king

sanchez of asira we were seeing

the decorations of the palace of the man

who had once been the most powerful

monarch in the world

by 701 bce assyria had conquered

the entire middle east their conquests

included

the northern kingdom of israel 10 out of

the 12 biblical tribes

who were exiled and assimilated by

assyria so that they were lost to the

jewish people forever

only one country rebelled against

assyria

and that was judea in the southern

portion of the holy land

ruled by hezekiah a descendant of king

david

in response assyria entered judea and

assaulted

the city of lakesh southwest of

jerusalem and there

king sanchez achieved a victory so

terrifying and overwhelming

that he chose to memorialize it forever

in his palace

it was images of this assault that we

were seeing

in the museum we could see the

victorious assyrian troops

killing jewish soldiers flaying them

decapitating them and we could also see

in one remarkable image

jews being led into exile by their

assyrian captors

mournfully playing dirges on their harps

the art of biblical music

was associated with the tribe of the

levites the tribe to which my family

belongs

and as we stood there we realized that

we could say

what no one else in the museum could say

we are staring at our ancestors

with lachis destroyed sanhera then set

his sights

on the capital of judea jerusalem

in response hezekiah fortified his city

and what he built in response to the

assyrian attack

can still be seen today known as the

broad wall

it sits in the middle of jerusalem's

jewish

quarter every sabbath small children

play

where hezekiah's terrified troops had

once

stood sanchez himself

proudly predicts the certain destruction

of jerusalem

we can see what he wrote it is found on

what is known as

the prism of sanchez which sits in the

israel museum

there sanchez confidently declared as to

hezekiah the jew who rebelled against me

i have trapped him in jerusalem

as a bird is captured in its cage

according to the bible sanchez

came to the very walls that can still be

seen and addressed

the terrified jewish troops telling them

to surrender not to listen to their king

not to defend their sacred city where

rav shaki said

where are all the other gods of all the

countries that have gone before

the gods of the nations that assyria has

already

conquered it all came down to this

moment assyria had conquered all exiled

all assimilated all this was the last

stand

of the jews and

sanchez prediction was about to take

place was about to come true

and then nothing

assyrian records record no conquest of

jerusalem no destruction of the jewish

people

but the bible describes an extraordinary

miracle

and that evening before the assyrian

attack

the book of kings tells us an angel of

god went out and struck

all of the assembled assyrian troops 185

000 in all this is something that is

difficult to wrap one's mind around

185 000 soldiers suddenly dropping dead

but on one fact all historians can agree

soon after this moment the assyrian

empire declines and ceases to be

a world power and

jews continue to exist today

if the biblical account is true then

this would be one of the greatest

miracles in our history greater than the

exodus and the splitting of the sea

but as we stood there with our daughter

in the british museum

a revelation struck me we were the

miracle

it is indeed wondrous for an angel to

attack

assembled hordes from an empire but it

is even more extraordinary

for a father and a mother and their

daughter to study an obituary of their

people

proclaimed thousands of years ago by an

empire that has ceased to exist

while we are about to mark another link

in the chain of our own people

this we did several months later when we

celebrated our daughters bat mitzvah

in the old city of jerusalem just

several steps away

from where the terrified troops of judea

had once faced the assyrian hordes

and as we celebrated the question put by

rav shakay

to hezekiah's troops reverberated

through our souls

where are the gods of all the other

countries that have gone before

why is it that in museums and tourist

sites throughout the world

you can find obituaries for the jewish

people

issued by an assortment of empires that

have long since

ceased to exist why are we still here

we had come to jerusalem to mark this

moment as a family

but it is because we had gone to london

that we realized

that the story of the jewish people is

today the greatest argument

for the existence of god

[Music]

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