How Asshur Left the Land and Later Joined the Wreckers

Another interpretation: Shinar, for it raised up an enemy and foe against the Holy One, blessed be He. And who is this? This is Nebuchadnezzar. "Out of that land went forth Asshur" (Genesis 10:11), [read as] out of that counsel went forth Asshur. When he saw that they were coming to dispute against the Holy One, blessed be He, he turned away from his land. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: You went out from your land; by your life, I will repay you and give you four cities. "And he built Nineveh, and Rehoboth-Ir, and Calah, and Resen" (Genesis 10:11-12). But he did not persist, for once he came and joined with them in the destruction of the Temple, the Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: Yesterday a fledgling, now an egg! Yesterday he was hatching commandments and good deeds, and now he sets himself up like an egg, how astonishing! Therefore "they were an arm for the children of Lot, selah" (Psalms 83:9), that is, to be cursed. "And Resen between Nineveh and Calah" (Genesis 10:12). We do not know whether Resen is the great city or whether Nineveh is the great city; but from what is written, "And Nineveh was a great city," it follows that Nineveh is the great city.