It is helpful to remember that God issues judgments in the Books of the Prophets for three primary reasons:
- False gods | Our God is the only God. We must worship him alone, not idols made of stone and wood, shaped by human hands. We must hold nothing above our one, true God.
- False Worship | We must worship God the way he has instructed us to worship him. We do not worship God however we feel like it.
- False Justice | God calls us to love and care for our neighbors, the poor, the sojourner, the widows, and the orphans. We must not show preference for the wealthy or powerful.
This framework can help our children understand why God judged nations in Scripture, and it can help them understand the judgments they read.
The Fall of Nineveh in the Bible
The city of Nineveh has a long history in the Bible. Most kids are familiar with the repentance of Nineveh in the book of Jonah, but the nation can serve as a great example of God’s sovereign rule over all nations.
The fall of Nineveh is a good example of what happens to civilizations that refuse to obey and follow God. If you are studying the Books of the Prophets with your kids, the history of Nineveh and God’s judgment on them in Zephaniah 2:14 is a good lesson.
The history of Nineveh in the Bible:
- After the Flood, Noah’s son Ham was the father of Cush. By Cush, he was the grandfather of the “mighty hunter before the Lord,” Nimrod. Nimrod founded a number of cities in the land of Shinar, including Babel, before going to the land of Assyria to found more cities, including Nineveh. (Genesis 10:9-12) The designation “before the Lord” may actually be sarcastic, since Nimrod founded the capitol cities of both Babylon and Assyria–nations that plagued Israel and Judah before being used by God to exile his people over their disobedience.
- Nineveh was a wicked place, with temples to many false gods. It was a place of false worship and false justice–they were known for their cruelty (Nahum 3:19). King Hezekiah of Judah struggled with King Sennacherib of Assyria (who lived in Nineveh and was killed in the temple of his idol in the city) in 2 Kings 18-19. God rescued Hezekiah and the people of Judah in what is a fabulous story you will want to read with your kids.
- In the book of Jonah, between 782 and 753 BC, God sends Jonah to call the people of Nineveh to repentance. They do repent, with the king of Nineveh calling all citizens–and every beast, even the cows–to fast in sackcloth to show their great sorrow over their sin. God shows mercy on the city over their sorrow.
- In 722, Assyria invaded Israel and destroyed Samaria. (2 Kings 17:22-24)
- The prophet Nahum prophesied about God’s coming judgment on Nineveh because of their cruelty between 660 and 630 BC, when Judah was under Assyrian control.
- Zephaniah prophesied during the reign of Judah’s king Josiah, between 640 and 609BC, so God’s judgment on Assyria and its capitol city, Nineveh, in Zephaniah 2:13-15 would have been shortly before the destruction of Nineveh.
- In 612 BC, the Medes and Babylonians attacked, causing the fall of Nineveh. Before its destruction, Nineveh was the largest city in the world.
Before beginning your craft, read Zephaniah 2:13-15 with your children.
Zephaniah 2:14, ESV, says:
Herds shall lie down in her midst,
all kinds of beasts;
even the owl and the hedgehog
shall lodge in her capitals;
a voice shall hoot in the window;
devastation will be on the threshold;
for her cedar work will be laid bare.
Talk about:
- What do we know about the relationship the people of Nineveh had with God?
- Were the Ninevites involved in worshiping false gods, in false worship, or in false justice? What do those three things mean?
- Did God give warnings to the people of Nineveh?
- Who did God allow to live in Nineveh when the people there refused to love and follow God?
The story of Nineveh is a good reminder that God expects us to worship him alone, to worship him as he commands us to worship him, and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Ok! Let’s make our craft. Your kids will copy Zephaniah 2:14, when God gives Nineveh to the beasts.
*Sources:
- The ESV Study Bible™. Crossway Books, 2008.
- “What is the significance of the city of Nineveh in the Bible?”. Got Questions. Accessed 8/26/2025.
Zephaniah 2:14 Craft
Check out this fun video of the Zephaniah 2:14 craft!
Zephaniah 2:14 Craft Supplies
You’ll need a few supplies to make your Zephaniah 2:14 craft:
- Cardstock
- Pencil
- Permanent Markers
- Scissors
- Glue Stick
- School Glue
- Googly Eyes
- Brown Tissue Paper
- Printable Template with Instructions
Creating Your Zephaniah 2:14 Craft
1) Print and cut out the template pieces.
Print the template pages from step-by-step instructions and cut out the pieces.
Trace the pieces onto colored cardstock, as shown, and cut them out. Choose the appropriate line width for your child (early or developed writer), and cut out the card around the outer black line.
2) Assemble Your Hedgehog.
Glue the darker brown “fur” of the hedgehog on top of the body, as shown.
Glue the little ear behind the head of the hedgehog, on top near the front, as shown. Glue the nose to the front of the face.
Glue the little feet behind the body of the hedgehog.
Cut the brown tissue paper into square pieces (about 1.5″ x 1.5″).
Crumple each piece of tissue paper into a tight ball.
Spread the craft glue on the darker brown body of the hedgehog.
Press the little balls of tissue paper on the craft glue until the fur of the hedgehog is covered with tissue paper.
Glue a googly eye on the face of hedgehog.
Use a permanent marker to make a little blush spot on the hedgehog’s cheek.
3) Assemble Your Copywork Card.
Glue the hedgehog over the rectangle on the copywork card in the line width of your choice.
4) Copy Your Verse and Display Your Cards.
Have your child copy Zephaniah 2:14 onto the copywork card.
Display your Zephaniah 2:14 copywork card craft as a reminder that God judges nations for: false gods, false worship, and false justice.
Bible Resources for Your Kids
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Puzzle-Based Independent Bible Study for Kids!
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” – Romans 12:2, ESV
-
- Observe: They pay attention to what they’re reading.
- Interpret: They figure out what the Bible means in that section.
- Apply: They decide how the truth of God’s Word impacts their life today.
There are a great many truths in life to be found—some interesting, some boring, and some that really matter. You can be the kind of investigator who spends time puzzling out important truth so that you can know all the knowable knowledge that God has given us. That’s right. God, the Creator of the Universe, gave you a great big letter from him to explore and study so that you can discover the truths that really matter to your life!”
Bible Investigators: Creation, (The Good Book Company, 2024), page 7
The Bible Investigators: Creation Bible study for kids, written by Danika Cooley and published by The Good Book Company, is 272-pages of learning, puzzles, and fun activities designed to help your kids become amazing independent Bible investigators–observing, interpreting, and applying God’s Word as they learn what the Bible teaches on a particular subject.
Bible Puzzles for Kids
Middle grade kids, aged 8-12, love puzzles. After all, their brains are just built for figuring things out and memorizing facts. Puzzles are a wonderful way to help kids develop logic skills and retain important information. And, the book is written in a fun, conversational tone your children are sure to love!
What types of puzzles and activities will you find in Bible Investigators?
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- Word Searches
- Crosswords
- Rebus Puzzles
- Dot-to-Dots
- Logic Puzzles
- Missing Letter Puzzles
- Cryptograms
- Word Sudoku
- Mazes
- How-to-Draw Pages
- Matching Pairs
- Word Scrambles
- Journal Pages
Every child is sure to find activities they’ll love!
Elementary-aged kids need hands-on middle grade resources that engage them and equip them to process important truths.
Bible Investigators is the perfect resource to teach your kids about an important biblical doctrine, while helping them apply God’s Word to their lives today.
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