The term "Asiatics" in the context of the Bible refers to the peoples and cultures originating from the region known today as Asia, particularly the western part of Asia, which includes parts of the Middle East. This term is not explicitly used in the Bible; however, the Scriptures do reference various groups and nations that inhabited these regions, which were collectively part of the ancient Near East.

Geographical Context

The ancient Near East, often referred to as the cradle of civilization, encompasses modern-day countries such as Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and parts of the Arabian Peninsula. This region is significant in biblical history as it was the setting for many of the events recorded in the Old Testament. The Fertile Crescent, a part of this region, was home to early civilizations such as the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians.

Biblical References

1. Hittites: The Hittites were an ancient Anatolian people mentioned frequently in the Old Testament. They are first introduced in Genesis 15:20 as one of the nations inhabiting the land promised to Abraham. The Hittites were known for their powerful empire and advanced culture. In 2 Kings 7:6, the Hittites are mentioned in the context of a miraculous deliverance of Samaria from the Arameans: "For the Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots, horses, and a great army, so that they said to one another, 'Look, the king of Israel has hired the Hittite and Egyptian kings to attack us!'"

2. Assyrians: The Assyrian Empire was a dominant force in the ancient Near East, known for its military prowess and extensive conquests. The Bible frequently references the Assyrians, particularly in the context of their interactions with the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. In 2 Kings 19:35, the power of God is demonstrated when an angel of the Lord strikes down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers, delivering Jerusalem from their siege: "That night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies!"

3. Babylonians: The Babylonian Empire, under rulers such as Nebuchadnezzar II, played a significant role in biblical history, particularly in the events leading to the Babylonian Exile. The fall of Jerusalem and the subsequent exile of the Jewish people are pivotal moments recorded in the Bible. In 2 Kings 25:8-9, the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians is described: "On the seventh day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign over Babylon, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, entered Jerusalem. He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem—every significant building."

4. Persians: The Persian Empire, under the leadership of Cyrus the Great, is noted for its role in the return of the Jewish exiles to Jerusalem. The decree of Cyrus, allowing the Jews to return and rebuild the temple, is a significant event in biblical history. Ezra 1:1-2 records this decree: "In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to issue a proclamation throughout his kingdom and to put it in writing: 'This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah.'"

Cultural and Religious Influence

The Asiatics, through their various empires and cultures, significantly influenced the historical and religious landscape of the biblical world. Their interactions with the Israelites, whether through conquest, trade, or diplomacy, are woven throughout the biblical narrative. The cultural exchanges and conflicts between these groups and the Israelites often served as a backdrop for the unfolding of God's redemptive plan as revealed in Scripture.

Conclusion

The peoples and nations of the ancient Near East, often collectively referred to as Asiatics, played a crucial role in the historical and theological context of the Bible. Their interactions with the Israelites, as recorded in Scripture, highlight the sovereignty of God over the nations and His unfolding plan for His people.735. Artemis -- Artemis, the name of the Gr. goddess of the hunt
... Diana. Probably from the same as artemon; prompt; Artemis, the name of a Grecian
goddess borrowed by the Asiatics for one of their deities -- Diana. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/735.htm - 6k

'The Chief Corner-Stone'
... The Roman Empire had in Paul's time gathered into a great unity the Asiatics of
Ephesus, the Greeks of Corinth, the Jews of Palestine, and men of many another ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/the chief corner-stone.htm

History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 4
... land, the country about Damascus, the Mediterranean coast, the Jordan and the Dead
Sea-Civilization and primitive inhabitants, Semites and Asiatics: the almost ...
/.../history of egypt chaldaea syria babylonia and assyria v 4/title page.htm

Practical Righteousness
... with Christ's commands. The errors of these ancient Asiatics live to-day
in new forms, but still substantially the same. And they ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/practical righteousness.htm

The Coming Great Leaders.
... Europe. The Asiatics would have come in great numbers, but that door was
promptly shut and carefully locked by official hands. As ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks with world winners/the coming great leaders.htm

Preface to the Anti-Manich??an Writings.
... from which it is derived, and the difficulty of constructing a consistent and probable
account out of the contradictory statements of the Asiatics and the ...
/.../preface to the anti-manichaean writings.htm

Tryphena and Tryphosa
... recognised in the household of Aristobulus and the household of Narcissus 'brethren
in the Lord,' and were as glad to welcome Jews, Asiatics, Persians, and ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/tryphena and tryphosa.htm

The Question Then Agitated Concerning the Passover.
... by the bishops of Asia, as well as by the rest of the world, and only scattered
churches continued to cling to the practice of the earlier Asiatics, and they ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xxiii the question then agitated.htm

The Church in Babylon
... word. God had, as the fact of their possession of salvation showed, chosen
Romans and Asiatics together to be heirs of eternal life. ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/the church in babylon.htm

the Legendary History of Egypt
... By his tears (romitu) Horus, or his eye as identified with the sun, had given birth
to all men, Egyptians (romitu, rotu), Libyans, and Asiatics, excepting only ...
/.../chapter iii -the legendary history of.htm

The First Theban Empire
... the ordinary fellahin; and several obscure Pharaohs"such as Monthotpu I. and Antuf
III.--- owed their boasted victories over Libyans and Asiatics* to the ...
/.../chapter iiithe first theban empire.htm

Asiatics (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Asiatics (1 Occurrence). Acts 20:4 And there
were accompanying him unto Asia, Sopater of Berea, and of ...
/a/asiatics.htm - 6k

Libertines (1 Occurrence)
... There is no grammatical reason for this division, but it is based on an interpretation
of "Libertines." There were "Libertines," Africans and Asiatics. ...
/l/libertines.htm - 11k

Tych'icus (5 Occurrences)
... accompanying him unto Asia, Sopater of Berea, and of Thessalonians Aristarchus and
Secundus, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus, and of Asiatics Tychicus and ...
/t/tych'icus.htm - 7k

Troph'imus (3 Occurrences)
... accompanying him unto Asia, Sopater of Berea, and of Thessalonians Aristarchus and
Secundus, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus, and of Asiatics Tychicus and ...
/t/troph'imus.htm - 7k

Thessalo'nians (3 Occurrences)
... accompanying him unto Asia, Sopater of Berea, and of Thessalonians Aristarchus and
Secundus, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus, and of Asiatics Tychicus and ...
/t/thessalo'nians.htm - 7k

Beroe'a (3 Occurrences)
... accompanying him unto Asia, Sopater of Berea, and of Thessalonians Aristarchus and
Secundus, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus, and of Asiatics Tychicus and ...
/b/beroe'a.htm - 7k

Bathing (9 Occurrences)
... Certainly there was a marked contrast between the Greek idea of bathing and that
of the Hebrews and Asiatics in general, when they came in contact. ...
/b/bathing.htm - 15k

Caesar's (10 Occurrences)
... This was a period when the city of Rome and the court of the Caesars swarmed with
Asiatics, many of whom were Jews, and many of them would be in slavery, or in ...
/c/caesar's.htm - 18k

Accompanying (5 Occurrences)
... accompanying him unto Asia, Sopater of Berea, and of Thessalonians Aristarchus and
Secundus, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus, and of Asiatics Tychicus and ...
/a/accompanying.htm - 8k

Asibias

/a/asibias.htm - 6k

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