"The great palace which he raised at Nineveh surpassed in size
and splendor all earlier edifices."--_"Second Monarchy," chap.
9._

A description is preserved on the clay cylinder in the king's own words:

"For the wonderment of multitudes of men
I raised its head--'the palace which has no rival'
I called its name."--_Taylor Cylinder, "Records of the Past."
Vol. XII, part 1_.

At the preaching of Jonah the city had repented; but in later years
pride of conquest and luxury and wealth were filling it with blood. The
prophet Nahum warned it of certain doom, appealing to those who had any
fear of God to turn to Him. The message was:

[Illustration: THE SITE OF NINEVEH

"How is she become a desolation!" Zeph. 2:15.]

"The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth
them that trust in Him." Nahum 1:7.

Some, no doubt, heeded the warning and turned to God for refuge. But the
city's life of sin ran on. Then the prophet Zephaniah spoke the word,
just as the stroke was to fall:

"Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city! She
obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in