During this time, Assur, a descendant of Shem, chose to leave Babylon out of necessity and settled in the upper reaches of the Tigris River. There, he found fertile land, established a city he named Assuria, which later became known as Nineveh, after Nineveh, who expanded and adorned the city. The Scriptures state, "From that land Assur went out and created Nineveh" (Genesis 10:11). Thus, Assur is recognized as the city’s original founder, while Nineveh represents its most esteemed title. Following the confusion of languages, the remaining descendants of Noah’s sons spread across the earth, founding notable cities and kingdoms, a subject well-documented in various historical accounts.
The initial king of the earth, Nebrod, who ruled from Babylon, reigned for a considerable time before meeting a tumultuous end (Psalm 9:7). The account of his demise reveals that part of the tower he constructed collapsed amidst a storm and struck him down, as God decreed that the architect of the tower should meet his end in a similar fashion. Some narratives even suggest that he was taken from the world by demons. Both these accounts are plausible, given his opposition to the divine and his numerous evil acts, which placed him in the realm of demons. He was struck down by God and taken to the underworld by malevolent spirits. Historians present mixed views regarding the succession of the Babylonian throne after Nebrod’s death. George Kedrin, in his 'Synopsis of History,' argues that Nebrod was synonymous with the first pagan god Saturn. He also refers to him as Orion and claims he had a wife from his tribe named Semiramis, who is associated with the goddess Rhea, by whom he had three sons. The eldest was Pikos, also called Jupiter or Zeus; the second, Bilus; and the third, Ninus, with a daughter known as Juno. Ninus built Nineveh and purportedly married his mother Semiramis. Furthermore, tales persist that Nebrod, also referred to as Saturn or Orion, was overthrown by his son Jupiter and subsequently fled to Italy. However, Greek poetry indicates that the Saturn banished by his son was not Nebrod, but another man who ruled not in Babylon but in Crete, as noted in the life of St. Pontius. In relation to Jupiter's origins, it is said he was born in Crete to Saturn’s wife, Rhea. This suggests that any reference to Nebrod as Saturn, as mentioned by the historian Xenophontus, stems from a tradition in which powerful kings who established great cities and kingdoms were broadly referred to as Saturns, with their firstborn sons called Jovis and daughters Juno. This custom likely led Kedrin and others to refer to Nebrod in this manner. Moreover, some believe Semiramis was not Nebrod's wife, but rather his granddaughter. Peter Opmeer, a chronicler from Amsterdam, recounted that upon Nebrod’s ascension to power, his son took Semiramis as his wife, and she married Nin, a son of the Assyrian by the Greeks, who was the founder of Nineveh. After Bilus’s demise, he incorporated Babylon into his dominion and established the first monarchy. According to John Nauclerus in his Chronicle, following Nebrod, his son Assur reigned, succeeded by Assur’s son Vil, and then Vil’s lineage continued on the throne. However, interpreters of Scripture do not consider Assur to be the same as Nebrod's son, as he is identified as a descendant of Shem. Chronicler Carion asserts that the lineage of Ham governed Babylon for about two centuries until leadership shifted to Shem’s descendants in Assyria with the founding of Nineveh by Nin. John Kluwer provides a more detailed account, suggesting Assur, son of Shem, who established Nineveh, rejected Ham’s rule and expanded eastward, founding many significant cities that marked the start of Assyrian sovereignty. Similarly, Polish chronicler Mattius Strykowski, referencing the Chaldean historian Berozus, noted that Nebrod, initially called Saturn, ruled for 56 years in Babylon and constructed a tower that reached great heights, symbolizing an eternal kingdom; yet, his aspirations were unfulfilled. The offspring of Nebrod, bound by Noah’s curse upon Ham, could not maintain dominion over Babylon for long, as Assur, son of Shem, ultimately overtook them, establishing a new kingdom and monarchy. Kluwer and Mattius's accounts seem the most credible, aligning with the prophetic pronouncement of St. Noah that Ham would serve his brothers Shem and Japheth. Thus, it came to pass when Assur, a grandson of Shem, removed Ham’s tribe and Nebrod from power in the east. However, in uncertain matters, we refrain from absolute assertions. Kluwer also posits that Assur was referred to as Vil or Veel by the eastern peoples, later evolving into 'Baal', meaning lord or master. Additionally, he was referred to as Jupiter, who was later deified by pagans following his death. After him, his son Ninus, who married Semiramis, took the throne. Yet some maintain that Assur and Bil are distinct individuals, suggesting Bil was the progeny of Assur.
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