Nahum 3
The Woe of Nineveh
1Woe to the abloody city!
It is all full of lies and robbery.
Its 1victim never departs.
2The noise of a whip
And the noise of rattling wheels,
Of galloping horses,
Of 2clattering chariots!
3Horsemen charge with bright sword and glittering spear.
There is a multitude of slain,
A great number of bodies,
Countless corpses—
They stumble over the corpses—
4Because of the multitude of 3harlotries of the 4seductive harlot,
b The mistress of sorceries,
Who sells nations through her harlotries,
And families through her sorceries.
5“Behold, I am cagainst you,” says the LORD of hosts;
d“I will lift your skirts over your face,
I will show the nations your nakedness,
And the kingdoms your shame.
6I will cast abominable filth upon you,
Make you evile,5
And make you fa spectacle.
7It shall come to pass that all who look upon you
g Will flee from you, and say,
h‘Nineveh is laid waste!
i Who will bemoan her?’
Where shall I seek comforters for you?”
8j Are you better than kNo6 Amon
That was situated by the 7River,
That had the waters around her,
Whose rampart was the sea,
Whose wall was the sea?
9Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength,
And it was boundless;
l Put and Lubim were 8your helpers.
10Yet she was carried away,
She went into captivity;
m Her young children also were dashed to pieces
n At the head of every street;
They ocast lots for her honorable men,
And all her great men were bound in chains.
11You also will be pdrunk;
You will be hidden;
You also will seek refuge from the enemy.
12All your strongholds are qfig trees with ripened figs:
If they are shaken,
They fall into the mouth of the eater.
13Surely, ryour people in your midst are women!
The gates of your land are wide open for your enemies;
Fire shall devour the sbars of your gates.
14Draw your water for the siege!
t Fortify your strongholds!
Go into the clay and tread the mortar!
Make strong the brick kiln!
15There the fire will devour you,
The sword will cut you off;
It will eat you up like a ulocust.
Make yourself many—like the locust!
Make yourself many—like the swarming locusts!
16You have multiplied your vmerchants more than the stars of heaven.
The locust plunders and flies away.
17w Your commanders are like swarming locusts,
And your generals like great grasshoppers,
Which camp in the hedges on a cold day;
When the sun rises they flee away,
And the place where they are is not known.
18x Your shepherds slumber, O yking of Assyria;
Your nobles rest in the dust.
Your people are zscattered on the mountains,
And no one gathers them.
19Your injury has no healing,
a Your wound is severe.
b All who hear news of you
Will clap their hands over you,
For upon whom has not your wickedness passed continually?
Nahum Commentaries
Nahum 1
1:1 burden. The prophecy is heavy because it is a message of doom. He was only the messenger of this divine oracle of judgment on Nineveh.
1:2–15 The destruction of Nineveh was announced.
1:2–8 Nahum, defining God’s power in general, establishes the fact that He is omnipotent, a holy and jealous God who will punish the wicked and avenge His own.
1:2 jealous. This attribute, often used of God’s burning zeal for His wife, Israel, emphasizes His passionate reaction against anyone guilty of spiritual adultery. Possibly the captivity of the 10 northern tribes (722 B.C.) or the invasion of Sennacherib (701 B.C.) is in view here.
1:3 slow to anger. The jealousy of v. 2 should not suggest that God is quick to anger; rather He is longsuffering (cf. Ex. 34:6; Num. 14:18). God had extended His forbearance to Nineveh at least a century earlier in response to their repentance at Jonah’s preaching (cf. Jon. 3:10; 4:2). But although patient, His justice will eventually punish the wicked. whirlwind…storm…clouds. These figures frequently describe the LORD’s appearances (theophanies), often in judgment (cf. Ex. 19:9, 16; Ps. 83:15; Is. 29:6; Joel 2:2; 1 Thess. 4:17). Nature is the theater in which His power and majesty is showcased.
1:4 His mighty power is revealed when He rebukes the sea, as in the crossing of the Red Sea (Ex. 14:15–25) and when He withholds His rain from the fertile valleys and coastal highlands. Bashan… Carmel…Lebanon. Bashan, located below Mt. Hermon, E of the Jordan was known for her lush pastures (Mic. 7:14). Carmel, along the coast of Canaan, became synonymous with fruitfulness (Song 7:5). Lebanon was renowned for her beautiful cedars (1 Kin. 5:14–18). Yet, they too would wither before the infinite strength of the omnipotent Judge.
1:5 The violent shaking of the earth provides another evidence of the LORD’s awesome power, as even that which seems to be most stable trembles.
1:6 This series of rhetorical questions summarizes vv. 2–5; His power and resolve to spew His wrath on Nineveh is irresistible, melting all opposition before it.
1:7 In contrast to v. 6, Nahum eased the fury by adding that God was compassionate, a mighty fortress (cf. Ps. 46:1) to those who put their hope in Him (cf. Is. 33:2–4; 37:3–7, 29–38). The verse foreshadowed the vindication of Judah in vv. 12b, 13, 15; 2:2.
1:8 flood…darkness. Nahum described Nineveh’s judgment metaphorically as an engulfing flood and darkness from which none can escape.
1:9–15 Having established God’s power and sovereign right to judge generally, Nahum announced specifically God’s judgment upon Nineveh, interweaving expressions of blessing and hope for Israel within the oracles of doom upon the wicked nation. The sovereign Judge not only punishes (vv. 9–12a, 14) but also saves (vv. 12b, 13, 15).
1:9 conspire. All Assyrian attempts to foil God’s judgment would end in futility (cf. Ps. 2). Their affliction of His people would not be allowed to occur again (cf. v. 12). Their end was determined.
1:11 wicked counselor. The phrase, lit. “counselor of Belial,” suggests Satanic influence on the leadership, identified as the king of Assyria (cf. 3:18). Specific reference could be to Ashurbanipal (669–633 B.C.) or more likely to Sennacherib (705–681 B.C.), who invaded Judah in 701 B.C. and of whom Isaiah speaks in similar language (Is. 10:7).
1:12 Thus says the LORD. Used as a common prophetic formula introducing God’s unequivocal message, it occurs only here in the book. Verse 12a is related in the third person, denoting the enemy, while in v. 12b the chosen people of God are spoken of in the second person. The safety of a walled city and massive numbers (“many”) would not be a sufficient defense. “In this manner” harkens back to vv. 7–10.
Nah. 1:12
God’s Judgment Against Assyria/Nineveh
In Retrospect—Fulfilled
1. Jer. 50:17, 18
2. Ezek. 32:22, 23
In Prospect—Prophesied
1. Is. 10:5
2. Is. 10:24–27
3. Is. 14:24, 25
4. Is. 30:31–33
5. Is. 31:8, 9
6. Mic. 5:5, 6
7. Nah. 1:1
8. Nah. 2:8
9. Nah. 3:7, 18
10. Zeph. 2:13–15
1:12
b, 13 I will afflict you no more. Judah was to be no longer afflicted by Assyria.
1:14 Three judgments were pronounced. First, the king of Assyria, representing the nation, would become destitute of descendants. Second, the gods by which they received their authority would be destroyed. Third, the king would be put to death (cf. the fall of Nineveh in 612 B.C.).
1:15 mountains…feet. The verse echoes Is. 52:7, where it refers to those who announced the deliverance from Babylon. The theme of good tidings and peace reverberates throughout the message of the NT (cf. Luke 2:10; Is. 61:1 with Luke 4:16–21; Rom. 10:15; Eph. 2:14–18). appointed feasts. During a siege, people were prevented from going up to Jerusalem to celebrate her annual feasts (cf. Num. 28, 29). With the destruction of Assyria, Judah was called upon to celebrate her feasts and to pay the vows made while under siege (cf. Ps. 116:14, 17, 18).
Nahum 2
2:1–13 Nineveh’s fall in 612 B.C. at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, though still future in Nahum’s day, is described vividly in present tense terms.
2:1 scatters. Assyria had made a practice of dispersing captives to many nations; now she would receive similar judgment. Man…Watch…Strengthen! The prophet, with irony and satire, ordered the Assyrians to prepare for the coming invasion from Babylon.
2:2 excellence of Jacob…Israel. This is not a reference to the southern and northern tribes, since the northern tribes had been overrun by Assyria almost a century earlier; but these are titles of honor for Judah, remembering the day when Jacob received God’s blessing at Peniel (Gen. 32:27, 28) and had his name changed to Israel. Together, they signify the nation’s restoration to the promised position. emptiers have emptied them… Assyria had repeatedly “emptied” the land, destroying its fruitful vineyards and economic lifeblood.
2:3 shields…made red. Shields were either overlaid with copper, whose reflections of sunshine would make the army appear larger and strike terror in the enemy, or they were covered with hide that was dyed red, so as to extinguish fiery arrows and to minimize the sight of blood. “Scarlet” clothing would have similar benefits. spears are brandished. Warriors, denoting their eagerness and readiness for battle, would wave their weapons.
2:4 Confusion reigned in Nineveh, where battle preparations were hurriedly made.
2:5 They make haste to her walls. This may continue the thought of v. 4, depicting Nineveh’s royalty and military leaders dashing to one of her many defense towers which, according to the Greek historian Diodorus Siculus, numbered 1,500 and reached a height of 200 ft. It is also possible that the latter part of the verse is a description of the attackers preparing to erect a “mantelet,” a small fortress type box in which soldiers rode for protection as they advanced to the wall.
2:6 gates of the rivers. Nineveh, lying at the confluence of 3 rivers (the Tigris and two smaller rivers), constructed dams to minimize the damage of seasonal flooding to her walls. The latter part of v. 6 suggests that these dam gates were opened, causing the walls to be dissolved and the palace to be taken (cf. Introduction: Historical and Theological Themes; 1:8).
2:7 She shall be led away captive. The goddess of Nineveh, probably Ishtar, was taken by her attackers to demonstrate the superiority of their gods (cf. 1 Sam. 4:1–11). The temple prostitutes (“maidservants”) mourned the fate of their goddess.
2:8 pool of water. Though Nineveh was like an oasis in the desert that attracted many people, they fled from the devastation.
2:9 Take spoil. Spoils abounded in Nineveh, but it was her turn to be plundered.
2:10 heart melts. The great city of Nineveh, lying in ruin, evoked fear and terror in those who observed it (cf. Dan. 5:6).
2:11–13 Where is. Archeologists have found a carving from a palace showing an Assyrian king on a lion hunt. Nahum rhetorically asks where Nineveh has gone. No longer describing Nineveh’s fall, he taunted her, ridiculing her fall from power and glory. Like a pride of lions, with plenty to eat and in fear of no enemy, Nineveh ruthlessly “tore in pieces” her prey. She herself will become prey for another nation, under the sovereign direction of God. “I am against you” should be the most feared words a nation could receive from God.
2:13 burn your chariots. Nineveh, known for burning the captured cities, would receive the same fate. your messengers. The voice of the messengers who carried the edicts of the mighty king of Assyria to the captured nations would become mute.
Nahum 3
3:1–19 The prophet Nahum, asserting that the destruction of Nineveh was justly deserved, makes 3 charges against her (vv. 1, 4, 8–10), followed by the consequences (vv. 2, 3, 5–7, 11–19).
3:1 bloody city. The first accusation was a charge well documented in history. Assyria proved to be an unusually cruel, bloodthirsty nation. lies. Assyria employed falsehood and treachery to subdue her enemies (cf. 2 Kin. 18:28–32). robbery. See 2:11, 12. Preying upon her victims, she filled her cities with the goods of other nations.
3:2, 3 These verses reach back to the scene portrayed in 2:3–5. Assyria was so overrun that she is filled with corpses, causing the defenders to stumble over them.
3:4 The second charge against Nineveh was spiritual and moral harlotry. The nation was likened to a beautiful prostitute who seduced the nations with her illicit enticements.
3:5, 6 Nineveh would be publicly exposed, resulting in shame and humiliation.
3:7 Nineveh is laid waste! Instead of mourning, there would be rejoicing at her fall. None would be found to comfort her; she would bear her misery alone.
3:8–10 Nahum sets forth the third and final charge against Nineveh: they hadn’t learned from No Amon. Also known as Thebes, No Amon was the great capital of southern Egypt, 400 mi. S of Cairo. One of the most magnificent ancient civilizations of the world, it was renowned for its 100 gates, a temple measuring 330 ft. long and 170 ft. wide, and its network of canals. It fell to Ashurbanipal of Assyria in 663 B.C. Like No Amon by the Nile, Nineveh was situated by the Tigris River, enjoying the security of conquered nations around her. However, her end would be like that of No Amon.
3:9 Ethiopia…Egypt…Put…Lubim. No Amon was well protected on all sides, nestled between lower Egypt on the N and Ethiopia on the S. The location of Put is best identified in the general vicinity of North Africa. Josephus says that Put, the third son of Ham (Gen. 10:6), was the founder of Libya. Lubim has been identified with the area of modern Libya as well.
3:11 drunk. As predicted (cf. 1:10), Nineveh would be made to drink of God’s wrath, making her drunk and defenseless to His judgment.
3:12, 13 Nahum employed a series of metaphors to emphasize that Nineveh’s strong defenses would be easily overrun. Their walls would be like ripe fruit that falls at the slightest shaking and their battle forces like weak women.
3:14, 15 The prophet taunted the people with sarcasm, urging them to prepare for battle, to fortify the city’s defenses, only to be destroyed. As the locust leaves nothing, stripping all the foliage, so there would be nothing left of Nineveh (cf. Amos 7:1).
3:16 multiplied your merchants. Nineveh had multiplied her merchants, bringing immense wealth, which is just more to destroy.
3:17 locusts. Not only was Nineveh’s commercial strength gone (v. 16), but her governing resources disappeared as well. After camping for the night within the massive walls of this great citadel, the locusts, depicting Assyria’s leadership, flew away with the first rays of warm sunshine in search of food.
3:18, 19 The destiny of Nineveh was certain. She had received the death blow; she would not recover. And all who hear of it would rejoice. Assyria had devastated the nations with her atrocities and cruelties; the news of her downfall brought happiness and mirth among the nations.
3:18 slumber…rest The Assyrian leaders and army, described in terms of exhaustion and sleep, were dead; the people were scattered. There were none left to help against the invasion of the Babylonians, to whom they fell in 612 B.C.
Nahum 1
1:1 a 2 Kin. 19:36; Jon. 1:2; Nah. 2:8; Zep
h. 2:13
1:1 1 oracle, prophecy
1:2 b Ex. 20:5; Josh. 24:19
1:3 c Ex. 34:6, 7; Neh. 9:17; Ps. 103:8
1:3 d (Job 9:4)
1:3 e Ps. 18:17
1:4 f Josh. 3:15, 16; Ps. 106:9; Is. 50:2; Matt. 8:26
1:4 g Is. 33:9
1:5 2 Tg. burns
1:6 h Jer. 10:10; (Mal. 3:2)
1:7 i Ps. 25:8; 37:39, 40; 100:5; (Jer. 33:11); Lam. 3:25
1:7 j Ps. 1:6; John 10:14; 2 Tim. 2:19
1:9 k Ps. 2:1; Nah. 1:11
1:9 l 1 Sam. 3:12
1:9 3 Or devise
1:10 m 2 Sam. 23:6; Mic. 7:4
1:10 n Is. 56:12; Nah. 3:11
1:10 o Is. 5:24; 10:17; Mal. 4:1
1:11 4 Lit. counselor of Belial
1:12 p (Is. 10:16–19, 33, 34)
1:12 5 Or at peace or complete
1:14 q Ezek. 32:22, 23
1:14 r Nah. 3:6
1:14 6 Lit. No more of your name shall be fruitful
1:14 7 Or contemptible
1:15 s Is. 40:9; 52:7; Rom. 10:15
1:15 t Is. 29:7, 8
1:15 8 Lit. one of Belial
Nahum 2
2:1 1 Vg. He who destroys
2:3 2 Lit. the cypresses are shaken; LXX, Syr. the horses rush about; Vg. the drivers are stupefied
2:7 3 Heb. Huzzab
2:8 4 Lit. Stand
2:9 a Ezek. 7:19; Zeph. 1:18
2:9 5 Plunder
2:10 6 LXX, Tg., Vg. gather blackness; Joel 2:6
2:11 b Job 4:10, 11; Ezek. 19:2–7
2:12 c Is. 10:6; Jer. 51:34
2:12 7 Lit. Strangled
2:12 8 Torn flesh
2:13 d Jer. 21:13; Ezek. 5:8; Nah. 3:5
2:13 e 2 Kin. 18:17–25; 19:9–13, 23
2:13 9 Lit. her
Nahum 3
3:1 a Ezek. 22:2, 3; 24:6–9; Hab. 2:12
3:1 1 Lit. prey
3:2 2 bounding or jolting
3:4 b Is. 47:9–12; Rev. 18:2, 3
3:4 3 Spiritual unfaithfulness
3:4 4 Lit. goodly charm, in a bad sense
3:5 c Jer. 50:31; Ezek. 26:3; Nah. 2:13
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