The history of the ancient Near East is a very important tool to help Bible students to better understand what they read. This article wants to give some illustrations of what can be learned from history to better understand the Bible. It takes a look at the Assyrians and their neighbours, Ahab, Jehu, Jeroboam II, Jehoash, Joram, etc.

If true repentance will always show itself in a change of attitude and behaviour, then phoney repentance is the opposite. This article uses Ahab as an example of superficial repentance, to shows what true repentance is.