September 12, 2025
Who Is God Against?
Nahum 1-3
Wes Talley
Big Book Idea
Though God used the Assyrian Empire, it would fall.
Key Verse | Nahum 1:7-8
The LORD is good,
a stronghold in the day of trouble;
he knows those who take refuge in him.
But with an overflowing flood
he will make a complete end of the adversaries,
and will pursue his enemies into darkness.
Nahum 1-3
Chapter 1
1 An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.
God's Wrath Against Nineveh
2
The LORD is a jealous and avenging God;
the LORD is avenging and wrathful;
the LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries
and keeps wrath for his enemies.
3
The LORD is slow to anger and great in power,
and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty.
His way is in whirlwind and storm,
and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
4
He rebukes the sea and makes it dry;
he dries up all the rivers;
Bashan and Carmel wither;
the bloom of Lebanon withers.
5
The mountains quake before him;
the hills melt;
the earth heaves before him,
the world and all who dwell in it.
6
Who can stand before his indignation?
Who can endure the heat of his anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire,
and the rocks are broken into pieces by him.
7
The LORD is good,
a stronghold in the day of trouble;
he knows those who take refuge in him.
8
But with an overflowing flood
he will make a complete end of the adversaries,
1
1:8
Hebrew of her place
and will pursue his enemies into darkness.
9
What do you plot against the LORD?
He will make a complete end;
trouble will not rise up a second time.
10
For they are like entangled thorns,
like drunkards as they drink;
they are consumed like stubble fully dried.
11
From you came one
who plotted evil against the LORD,
a worthless counselor.
12
Thus says the LORD,
“Though they are at full strength and many,
they will be cut down and pass away.
Though I have afflicted you,
I will afflict you no more.
13
And now I will break his yoke from off you
and will burst your bonds apart.”
14
The LORD has given commandment about you:
“No more shall your name be perpetuated;
from the house of your gods I will cut off
the carved image and the metal image.
I will make your grave, for you are vile.”
15
2
1:15
Ch 2:1 in Hebrew
Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him
who brings good news,
who publishes peace!
Keep your feasts, O Judah;
fulfill your vows,
for never again shall the worthless pass through you;
he is utterly cut off.
Chapter 2
The Destruction of Nineveh
1
The scatterer has come up against you.
Man the ramparts;
watch the road;
dress for battle;
3
2:1
Hebrew gird your loins
collect all your strength.
2
For the LORD is restoring the majesty of Jacob
as the majesty of Israel,
for plunderers have plundered them
and ruined their branches.
3
The shield of his mighty men is red;
his soldiers are clothed in scarlet.
The chariots come with flashing metal
on the day he musters them;
the cypress spears are brandished.
4
The chariots race madly through the streets;
they rush to and fro through the squares;
they gleam like torches;
they dart like lightning.
5
He remembers his officers;
they stumble as they go,
they hasten to the wall;
the siege tower
4
2:5
Or the mantelet
is set up.
6
The river gates are opened;
the palace melts away;
7
its mistress
5
2:7
The meaning of the Hebrew word rendered its mistress is uncertain
is stripped;
6
2:7
Or exiled
she is carried off,
her slave girls lamenting,
moaning like doves
and beating their breasts.
8
Nineveh is like a pool
whose waters run away.
7
2:8
Compare Septuagint; the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
“Halt! Halt!” they cry,
but none turns back.
9
Plunder the silver,
plunder the gold!
There is no end of the treasure
or of the wealth of all precious things.
10
Desolate! Desolation and ruin!
Hearts melt and knees tremble;
anguish is in all loins;
all faces grow pale!
11
Where is the lions' den,
the feeding place of the young lions,
where the lion and lioness went,
where his cubs were, with none to disturb?
12
The lion tore enough for his cubs
and strangled prey for his lionesses;
he filled his caves with prey
and his dens with torn flesh.
13 Behold, I am against you, declares the LORD of hosts, and I will burn your 8 2:13 Hebrew her chariots in smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall no longer be heard.
Chapter 3
Woe to Nineveh
1
Woe to the bloody city,
all full of lies and plunder—
no end to the prey!
2
The crack of the whip, and rumble of the wheel,
galloping horse and bounding chariot!
3
Horsemen charging,
flashing sword and glittering spear,
hosts of slain,
heaps of corpses,
dead bodies without end—
they stumble over the bodies!
4
And all for the countless whorings of the prostitute,
graceful and of deadly charms,
who betrays nations with her whorings,
and peoples with her charms.
5
Behold, I am against you,
declares the LORD of hosts,
and will lift up your skirts over your face;
and I will make nations look at your nakedness
and kingdoms at your shame.
6
I will throw filth at you
and treat you with contempt
and make you a spectacle.
7
And all who look at you will shrink from you and say,
“Wasted is Nineveh; who will grieve for her?”
Where shall I seek comforters for you?
8
Are you better than Thebes
9
3:8
Hebrew No-amon
that sat by the Nile,
with water around her,
her rampart a sea,
and water her wall?
9
Cush was her strength;
Egypt too, and that without limit;
Put and the Libyans were her
10
3:9
Hebrew your
helpers.
10
Yet she became an exile;
she went into captivity;
her infants were dashed in pieces
at the head of every street;
for her honored men lots were cast,
and all her great men were bound in chains.
11
You also will be drunken;
you will go into hiding;
you will seek a refuge from the enemy.
12
All your fortresses are like fig trees
with first-ripe figs—
if shaken they fall
into the mouth of the eater.
13
Behold, your troops
are women in your midst.
The gates of your land
are wide open to your enemies;
fire has devoured your bars.
14
Draw water for the siege;
strengthen your forts;
go into the clay;
tread the mortar;
take hold of the brick mold!
15
There will the fire devour you;
the sword will cut you off.
It will devour you like the locust.
Multiply yourselves like the locust;
multiply like the grasshopper!
16
You increased your merchants
more than the stars of the heavens.
The locust spreads its wings and flies away.
17
Your princes are like grasshoppers,
your scribes
11
3:17
Or marshals
like clouds of locusts
settling on the fences
in a day of cold—
when the sun rises, they fly away;
no one knows where they are.
18
Your shepherds are asleep,
O king of Assyria;
your nobles slumber.
Your people are scattered on the mountains
with none to gather them.
19
There is no easing your hurt;
your wound is grievous.
All who hear the news about you
clap their hands over you.
For upon whom has not come
your unceasing evil?
Footnotes
[1] 1:8 Hebrew of her place[2] 1:15 Ch 2:1 in Hebrew
[3] 2:1 Hebrew gird your loins
[4] 2:5 Or the mantelet
[5] 2:7 The meaning of the Hebrew word rendered its mistress is uncertain
[6] 2:7 Or exiled
[7] 2:8 Compare Septuagint; the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
[8] 2:13 Hebrew her
[9] 3:8 Hebrew No-amon
[10] 3:9 Hebrew your
[11] 3:17 Or marshals
Table of Contents
Introduction to Nahum
Timeline
Author and Date
The prophet Nahum was God’s messenger to announce the fall of Nineveh and the complete overthrow of Assyria. Nahum refers to the fall of Thebes as a well-known occurrence (3:8–10). The Assyrian king Ashurbanipal conquered Thebes around 664 B.C. Nahum also predicts the fall of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, as a future event. Nineveh fell in 612 B.C. The book was composed, therefore, between 664 and 612 B.C.
Theme
Nineveh, the arrogant capital of the Assyrian Empire, will be destroyed.
Purpose, Occasion, and Background
Nahum’s book is a sequel to, and a dramatic contrast with, the book of Jonah. Jonah’s mission to Nineveh was probably sometime in the first half of the eighth century B.C. (700s). To Jonah’s dismay, the Ninevites listened to his message, repented, and were spared God’s judgment.
This repentance, however, did not last beyond 745 B.C., when Nineveh became the leading military power in the Near East. In 722 B.C. the Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom of Israel. Nineveh was destroyed in 612 B.C., marking the end of the Assyrian empire.
Key Themes
- The Lord is slow to anger and long-suffering, jealous for his own honor and for his people, but he is wrathful and avenging against his enemies. He controls nature, nations, and history. He is just, righteous, good, merciful, gracious, loving, and faithful. He delivers and protects those who trust in him.
- God had used Assyria to punish unfaithful Israel and Judah. He also brought well-deserved judgment on Assyria, according to his timetable and method.
- Nineveh fell because it was a godless and idolatrous city, a city of violence, lust, and greed.
- The Lord of history is a “stronghold” for “those who take refuge in him” (1:7). He can handle all problems in individual lives. He has defeated powers far greater than Assyria. He grants to his own the ultimate defense and deliverance.
Outline
- Introduction (1:1)
- A Psalm Descriptively Praising the Lord (1:2–8)
- The Lord’s Coming Judgment on Nineveh and Deliverance of Judah (1:9–15)
- Focus on Nineveh: The Lord’s Coming Judgment (2:1–13)
- Again, Focus on Nineveh: More concerning the Lord’s Coming Judgment (3:1–19)
The Near East at the Time of Nahum
c. 660–614 B.C.
Nahum likely prophesied sometime between the high point of Assyria’s power around 664 B.C. and the fall of Nineveh in 612. During this time the Assyrian Empire was in decline. Meanwhile Egypt, Judah, and Babylonia regained autonomy and eroded the power of Assyria. Nahum foretold of the fall of Nineveh, the capital of the mighty Assyrian Empire.
Fact: Jonah and Nahum
Jonah and Nahum. During the 700s B.C., the prophet Jonah warned the people of Nineveh that God was going to destroy their city. The people repented and were spared from judgment. Over the next century, however, they returned to their sinful ways. Shortly after the warning from Nahum, Nineveh was destroyed.
Fact: Palace
The palace mentioned in 2:6 was Sennacherib’s famous “palace without rival.” Built shortly after his reign began, it had more than 80 rooms, many open courts, and even fully irrigated hanging gardens. It is estimated that more than 25 athletic fields could have fit inside the palace. Yet even this great palace would “melt away” when Nineveh was destroyed.
Fact: As safe as Thebes?
As safe as Thebes? The people of Nineveh thought no one could destroy their city. Yet they themselves had destroyed the Egyptian city of Thebes, which was also considered indestructible. Nahum reminded the Ninevites of this (3:8–11) and warned them that it was now their turn to see their great city destroyed.
Afflictions of Assyria against Israel
The Neo-Assyrian period (935–609 B.C.) brought renewed threats from the Assyrians. God used the Assyrians to chasten wayward Israel. In Nah. 1:12 the Lord tells Judah that “Though I have afflicted you [through the Assyrians], I will afflict you no longer.”
| Assyrian Ruler | Reign | Affliction | Significance and Biblical References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shalmaneser III | 858–824 B.C. | Exacted tribute from “Jehu, son of Omri” according to the Black Obelisk | Defeated at Qarqar in 853 B.C. by a Syrian coalition that included “Ahab the Israelite” |
| Adad-nirari III | 811–783 | Exacted tribute from Jehoash of Israel | His attacks on Damascus enabled Jehoash to recover Israelite cities lost previously to Hazael (2 Kings 13:25) |
| Tiglath-pileser III (Pul) | 745–727 | Invaded the land and exacted tribute | To avoid deportation, Menahem paid tribute to Tiglath-pileser III (Pul) (2 Kings 15:19–20); Pul deported the Transjordanian tribes (2 Kings 15:29; 1 Chron. 5:26); Pul aided Ahaz of Judah against Rezin of Damascus and Pekah of Israel (2 Kings 16:5–10; 2 Chron. 28:16–21) |
| Shalmaneser V | 727–722 | Exacted tribute from Hoshea of Israel; took the northern kingdom (Israel) into exile | Hoshea refused to pay tribute and sought Egypt for help, the Assyrians besieged Samaria (2 Kings 17:3–6; 18:9–12) |
| Sargon II | 722–705 | Took credit for the invasion and exile of the northern kingdom (Israel) that began under Shalmaneser V | Sargon II may be the unnamed king of Assyria in 2 Kings 17:6 |
| Sennacherib | 705–681 | Invaded Judah | Sennacherib besieged Lachish and forced tribute from Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:13–16); he besieged Jerusalem and demanded Hezekiah’s surrender (2 Kings 18:17–19:9); the Lord delivered Jerusalem from Sennacherib (2 Kings 19:10–37). See also 2 Chronicles 32; Isaiah 36–37 |
| Esarhaddon | 681–669 | Exacted tribute from Manasseh of Judah | Mentioned at 2 Kings 19:37 as successor to Sennacherib (see also Ezra 4:2) |
| Ashurbanipal | 669–627 | Exacted tribute | Increasing tensions from Babylonia required Assyria’s direct attention. The increased political freedom of the western city-states is reflected in the reforms instituted by Josiah |
Nahum
All that is known about the prophet Nahum is that he came from Elkosh, probably a town in Judah. Nahum’s name means “comfort.” The message he received from God—that Nineveh would be destroyed—indeed brought comfort to his hearers. Following Jonah’s warning, the cruel Assyrian capital had expressed repentance. That repentance was short-lived, however, and this time God’s judgment was unavoidable. Although God had used the Assyrians to punish the wayward southern kingdom, he would not allow Judah to be annihilated. God’s plan for the Messiah to come from the line of David could not be defeated. When Nineveh was destroyed in 612 B.C., the once powerful kingdom of Assyria came to an end. (Nahum 2:2)
Nah. 1:2–3a The Lord is jealous to protect his relationship with his people. avenging. God’s holy anger defends his word and his people. keeps wrath. . . . slow to anger (compare Ex. 34:6). God waits to display his anger until an appropriate time. great in power. If God delays his judgment, it is not due to any lack of power on his part. will by no means clear the guilty. Compare Ex. 34:7.
Nah. 1:4–5 Rebukes the sea . . . dries up . . . rivers recalls the exodus from Egypt (Exodus 14) and the conquest of Canaan (Joshua 3–4). Bashan was famous for its rich pasturelands. Carmel was well known for its beauty and its fruitful countryside. Lebanon was noted for its forests. Hills and mountains are symbols of permanence, but even they cannot stand before God.
Nah. 1:6 Fire is a frequent OT image describing God’s wrath (e.g., Gen. 19:24; Ps. 11:6). Rocks, the hardest objects in nature, are easily shattered by the Lord.
Nah. 1:7 In contrast to his anger, God is good to his people. The Lord is the never-failing stronghold for his people (e.g., Ps. 27:1; 37:39), whom he knows with love and affection.
Nah. 1:2–8 A Psalm Descriptively Praising the Lord. These verses praise God as he has been and will be throughout world history. It presents God’s attitude toward, and action relating to, his enemies and his people.
Nah. 1:10 Entangled thorns can be thrown all at once into the fire, just as the Assyrians as a whole will be wiped out. Like drunkards, the Assyrians will be unable to defend themselves against their attackers.
Nah. 1:11 Worthless counselor refers either to a particular wicked Assyrian king or to the series of kings who reigned in Nineveh after Sennacherib made that city the capital.
Nah. 1:12a they. The Assyrians. full strength . . . many. Assyria was likely at the height of its power and size when Nahum wrote. will be cut down and pass away. God would end the military dominance of the Assyrians. See Introduction: Purpose, Occasion, and Background.
Nah. 1:12b Though I have afflicted you. Suddenly God turns his attention to Judah (as he will again in v. 15). This dramatic change in the flow of v. 12 emphasizes the announcement of good news that follows. I will afflict you no more. Since God would overthrow Nineveh, the Assyrians would never again be Judah’s oppressor.
Afflictions of Assyria against Israel
The Neo-Assyrian period (935–609 B.C.) brought renewed threats from the Assyrians. God used the Assyrians to chasten wayward Israel. In Nah. 1:12 the Lord tells Judah that “Though I have afflicted you [through the Assyrians], I will afflict you no longer.”
| Assyrian Ruler | Reign | Affliction | Significance and Biblical References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shalmaneser III | 858–824 B.C. | Exacted tribute from “Jehu, son of Omri” according to the Black Obelisk | Defeated at Qarqar in 853 B.C. by a Syrian coalition that included “Ahab the Israelite” |
| Adad-nirari III | 811–783 | Exacted tribute from Jehoash of Israel | His attacks on Damascus enabled Jehoash to recover Israelite cities lost previously to Hazael (2 Kings 13:25) |
| Tiglath-pileser III (Pul) | 745–727 | Invaded the land and exacted tribute | To avoid deportation, Menahem paid tribute to Tiglath-pileser III (Pul) (2 Kings 15:19–20); Pul deported the Transjordanian tribes (2 Kings 15:29; 1 Chron. 5:26); Pul aided Ahaz of Judah against Rezin of Damascus and Pekah of Israel (2 Kings 16:5–10; 2 Chron. 28:16–21) |
| Shalmaneser V | 727–722 | Exacted tribute from Hoshea of Israel; took the northern kingdom (Israel) into exile | Hoshea refused to pay tribute and sought Egypt for help, the Assyrians besieged Samaria (2 Kings 17:3–6; 18:9–12) |
| Sargon II | 722–705 | Took credit for the invasion and exile of the northern kingdom (Israel) that began under Shalmaneser V | Sargon II may be the unnamed king of Assyria in 2 Kings 17:6 |
| Sennacherib | 705–681 | Invaded Judah | Sennacherib besieged Lachish and forced tribute from Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:13–16); he besieged Jerusalem and demanded Hezekiah’s surrender (2 Kings 18:17–19:9); the Lord delivered Jerusalem from Sennacherib (2 Kings 19:10–37). See also 2 Chronicles 32; Isaiah 36–37 |
| Esarhaddon | 681–669 | Exacted tribute from Manasseh of Judah | Mentioned at 2 Kings 19:37 as successor to Sennacherib (see also Ezra 4:2) |
| Ashurbanipal | 669–627 | Exacted tribute | Increasing tensions from Babylonia required Assyria’s direct attention. The increased political freedom of the western city-states is reflected in the reforms instituted by Josiah |
Nah. 1:13 his yoke. The Assyrian monarchs’ burdensome rule over Judah (see 2 Kings 18:13). break . . . burst. Judah was controlled by Assyria from about 734/733 B.C. (during the reign of Ahaz; 2 Kings 16:7–8) until the reign of Josiah (640–609), when Assyria began to decline rapidly and finally ceased to be a nation.
Nah. 1:14 You is masculine singular in Hebrew. Nahum suddenly switches to directly addressing the Assyrian king(s) (see v. 11). The Assyrian monarchy would come to a decisive end. the house of your gods I will cut off. Complete defeat of the Assyrian ruler would also be marked by the defilement of his temple and the destruction or removal of his idols. These represented the gods who he believed gave him power. Archaeologists have confirmed the complete destruction of Nineveh’s temples.
Afflictions of Assyria against Israel
The Neo-Assyrian period (935–609 B.C.) brought renewed threats from the Assyrians. God used the Assyrians to chasten wayward Israel. In Nah. 1:12 the Lord tells Judah that “Though I have afflicted you [through the Assyrians], I will afflict you no longer.”
| Assyrian Ruler | Reign | Affliction | Significance and Biblical References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shalmaneser III | 858–824 B.C. | Exacted tribute from “Jehu, son of Omri” according to the Black Obelisk | Defeated at Qarqar in 853 B.C. by a Syrian coalition that included “Ahab the Israelite” |
| Adad-nirari III | 811–783 | Exacted tribute from Jehoash of Israel | His attacks on Damascus enabled Jehoash to recover Israelite cities lost previously to Hazael (2 Kings 13:25) |
| Tiglath-pileser III (Pul) | 745–727 | Invaded the land and exacted tribute | To avoid deportation, Menahem paid tribute to Tiglath-pileser III (Pul) (2 Kings 15:19–20); Pul deported the Transjordanian tribes (2 Kings 15:29; 1 Chron. 5:26); Pul aided Ahaz of Judah against Rezin of Damascus and Pekah of Israel (2 Kings 16:5–10; 2 Chron. 28:16–21) |
| Shalmaneser V | 727–722 | Exacted tribute from Hoshea of Israel; took the northern kingdom (Israel) into exile | Hoshea refused to pay tribute and sought Egypt for help, the Assyrians besieged Samaria (2 Kings 17:3–6; 18:9–12) |
| Sargon II | 722–705 | Took credit for the invasion and exile of the northern kingdom (Israel) that began under Shalmaneser V | Sargon II may be the unnamed king of Assyria in 2 Kings 17:6 |
| Sennacherib | 705–681 | Invaded Judah | Sennacherib besieged Lachish and forced tribute from Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:13–16); he besieged Jerusalem and demanded Hezekiah’s surrender (2 Kings 18:17–19:9); the Lord delivered Jerusalem from Sennacherib (2 Kings 19:10–37). See also 2 Chronicles 32; Isaiah 36–37 |
| Esarhaddon | 681–669 | Exacted tribute from Manasseh of Judah | Mentioned at 2 Kings 19:37 as successor to Sennacherib (see also Ezra 4:2) |
| Ashurbanipal | 669–627 | Exacted tribute | Increasing tensions from Babylonia required Assyria’s direct attention. The increased political freedom of the western city-states is reflected in the reforms instituted by Josiah |
Fact: Jonah and Nahum
Jonah and Nahum. During the 700s B.C., the prophet Jonah warned the people of Nineveh that God was going to destroy their city. The people repented and were spared from judgment. Over the next century, however, they returned to their sinful ways. Shortly after the warning from Nahum, Nineveh was destroyed.
Nah. 1:9–15 The Lord’s Coming Judgment on Nineveh and Deliverance of Judah. In these verses Nahum alternates between the Lord’s coming judgment on Nineveh and his gracious deliverance of Judah.
Nah. 1:15 Nahum addresses Judah again, as in vv. 12b–13. Upon the mountains, a messenger brings the good news of Nineveh’s fall (compare Isa. 52:7). peace. Judah does not have to be afraid of any more military action and oppression from Assyria. Keep your feasts. These festivals would remind the people of the Lord’s past acts of deliverance and the future hope of the coming Messiah. the worthless. That is, the Assyrians (compare Nah. 1:11).
Nah. 2:1 scatterer. This description of the enemy foretells the outcome of the attack. Any Ninevites not slaughtered will flee (see 3:17–18) or will be taken into exile. Ultimately, it is God who “scatters.” has come up. A technical phrase signifying hostile military action (compare Judg. 1:1; 1 Sam. 7:7). Man the ramparts. Nineveh is told to get ready for battle.
Nah. 2:2 God no longer needs the Assyrians to discipline unfaithful Judah because the LORD is restoring the majesty of Jacob. Judah’s true majesty was that God had separated them from the nations to be devoted to him. With them he made his covenants; from them would come the Messiah (Rom. 9:4–5). plunderers. The Assyrians plundered Judah (see Nah. 2:13). Their branches are the individual clans, families, or members of the southern kingdom, compared to a vineyard (compare Isa. 5:1–7).
Nah. 2:3–4 shield . . . red. Perhaps their shields were permanently stained with the blood of defeated foes from previous battles. His. . . . he is a reference to the scatterer mentioned in v. 1. The attacking army was a coalition of Medes and Babylonians, and possibly Scythians. The streets and squares are those of the suburbs surrounding Nineveh, the first areas to be overrun by the attacking army.
Nah. 2:5 The attacking army now reaches the wall of Nineveh proper. He remembers. “He” (see v. 3) may be so eager to be involved in the attack that he almost forgets to delegate parts of the operation to his officers. These officers, eager both to join in the attack themselves and to please their superior(s), practically stumble over one another trying to rush into the action.
Nah. 2:6 river gates. The Khoser River flowed through Nineveh. North of the city were dams, most likely with gates to control the flow of the river. The attacking army could easily have closed the gates, waited until a large quantity of water collected, and then opened the gates. The resulting rush of water would have damaged portions of the city’s wall and internal structures, thus greatly aiding the enemy. The palace melts away because of the floodwaters.
Fact: Palace
The palace mentioned in 2:6 was Sennacherib’s famous “palace without rival.” Built shortly after his reign began, it had more than 80 rooms, many open courts, and even fully irrigated hanging gardens. It is estimated that more than 25 athletic fields could have fit inside the palace. Yet even this great palace would “melt away” when Nineveh was destroyed.
Nah. 2:9 silver . . . gold. Nineveh had taken great wealth during Assyria’s military victories.
Nah. 2:10 Desolate . . . ruin is a description of Nineveh emptied of inhabitants and destroyed by the victorious invaders. Hearts melt . . . pale. The Assyrians previously had been proud of how they terrorized other peoples. Now they experience such terror themselves.
Nah. 2:11–12 lions. Members of the Assyrian royal house. The lion was a symbol for kingship (compare Gen. 49:9). The Assyrian kings exhibited great power in their “devouring” other lands, and even called themselves lions. none to disturb. During the time of Assyrian strength, no other nation dared to attack Nineveh. enough . . . prey . . . torn flesh. That is, the vast amounts of goods taken by the Assyrians in their conquest of numerous lands.
Nah. 2:1–13 Focus on Nineveh: The Lord’s Coming Judgment. Nahum’s prediction reads like an eyewitness account of Nineveh being attacked, overrun by the enemy, and plundered.
Nah. 2:13 Nineveh will fall because this is the will of the Lord. In vv. 1 and 13 Nineveh is addressed (“you,” “your”), and both verses express the thought “against you.” LORD of hosts. See note on Mic. 4:4. burn your chariots. A striking contrast to the conquering army’s swift chariots (Nah. 2:3–4). sword shall devour. The destructive lions (vv. 11–12) shall now be conquered by the enemy.
Nah. 3:1 bloody. The Assyrians were well known for their viciousness.
Nah. 3:4 This verse uses figurative language to explain the reasons for Nineveh’s destruction. graceful . . . deadly charms. Nineveh, with its power and wealth, exerted a corrupting influence throughout the Near East (compare 2 Kings 16:18). betrays. The Assyrian leaders did not hesitate to use treachery and deceit to achieve their aims (see Nah. 3:1).
Nah. 3:7 who will grieve for her? The answer to the rhetorical question is that no one will grieve for or comfort Nineveh. People will shrink back or flee in horror at the sight of what will happen to Nineveh.
Nah. 3:8 Are you better than Thebes? Nineveh was no more secure than Thebes. Nile . . . water around her. This mighty river and its tributaries surrounded most of Thebes, forming a natural wall for the city. This was part of the city’s strong defense system. Rampart a sea is a poetic reference to the Nile (compare Isa. 19:5–6), which was about half a mile (0.8 km) wide at Thebes. Nineveh had no such protection.
Nah. 3:9 Cush was the region just south of Egypt. Egypt refers to military aid coming from northern Egypt. Put may have been on the north African coastline. While Thebes could count on military assistance from these different areas, Assyria could not rely on help from any region.
Nah. 3:10 Despite its strategic advantages, Thebes was conquered by the Assyrians.
Nah. 3:8–11 To those who think it is impossible that Nineveh would fall, Nahum reminds them of what had recently happened to the mighty city of Thebes, in Egypt (see Introduction: Author and Date).
Nah. 3:11 This verse directly applies the lesson of vv. 8–10: “Nineveh, you can expect the same!” Just as a drunken man cannot defend himself against an attacker, so Nineveh will not be able to turn back its enemies.
Fact: As safe as Thebes?
As safe as Thebes? The people of Nineveh thought no one could destroy their city. Yet they themselves had destroyed the Egyptian city of Thebes, which was also considered indestructible. Nahum reminded the Ninevites of this (3:8–11) and warned them that it was now their turn to see their great city destroyed.
Nah. 3:12–13 Nineveh’s surrounding fortresses will be the first to be taken by the advancing enemy army. The gates of Assyria will be wide open to the enemies since the fortresses that guarded those entrances have been destroyed. The troops, that is, the soldiers within Nineveh, will be filled with fear, so that they cannot act as men. fire. See 2:13; 3:15.
Nah. 3:14 As the enemy draws close, Nahum tells the city to get ready for the attack (see 2:1). However, any preparations they make will be useless. Draw water. The Ninevites can assume that the enemy will shut off the city’s water supply by closing the river gates (see note on 2:6). forts. The fortresses at the walls and within the city would be strengthened or repaired with clay bricks and mortar.
Nah. 3:15 No matter how well supplied and fortified Nineveh is, there the inhabitants will die. fire. Archaeologists have found evidence of a devastating fire at Nineveh. sword. Compare 2:13. Multiply . . . locust . . . grasshopper. Nahum sarcastically tells the Ninevites, in preparation for the attack, to multiply themselves greatly and thus increase their strength.
Nah. 3:16 You increased your merchants. When Nineveh was the proud capital of a vast empire, her merchants brought enormous wealth to the city. Now, however, these merchants, and the huge treasure in Nineveh, will do the city no good. The locust . . . flies away. Compare v. 15. The enemy, having destroyed all that there was in Nineveh, will quickly leave.
Nah. 3:17 Like swarms of grasshoppers or locusts that quickly fly away and disappear, some of the leading men of Nineveh will flee when the enemy takes the city.
Nah. 3:1–19 Again, Focus on Nineveh: More concerning the Lord’s Coming Judgment. This last major section of the book repeats most of the themes of the previous section (2:1–13). However, it does not mention the plundering of Nineveh (compare 2:9), and it adds the comparison of Nineveh’s downfall to the destruction of Thebes (3:8–11).
Nah. 3:18–19 king of Assyria. See 1:11. Nahum, looking at Nineveh’s wreckage, addresses its monarchy with sarcastic language. Many of Nineveh’s shepherds (leaders and officials) and nobles are dead. Many of the people are scattered. The wound Assyria has received is grievous and marks the end of the empire. unceasing evil. Assyrian emperors had continually caused terror and suffering. Nahum prophesies that the Assyrian monarchy, and Nineveh, will experience the same disasters that it inflicted on other peoples of the Near East.
Introduction to Nahum
Timeline
Author and Date
The prophet Nahum was God’s messenger to announce the fall of Nineveh and the complete overthrow of Assyria. Nahum refers to the fall of Thebes as a well-known occurrence (3:8–10). The Assyrian king Ashurbanipal conquered Thebes around 664 B.C. Nahum also predicts the fall of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, as a future event. Nineveh fell in 612 B.C. The book was composed, therefore, between 664 and 612 B.C.
Theme
Nineveh, the arrogant capital of the Assyrian Empire, will be destroyed.
Purpose, Occasion, and Background
Nahum’s book is a sequel to, and a dramatic contrast with, the book of Jonah. Jonah’s mission to Nineveh was probably sometime in the first half of the eighth century B.C. (700s). To Jonah’s dismay, the Ninevites listened to his message, repented, and were spared God’s judgment.
This repentance, however, did not last beyond 745 B.C., when Nineveh became the leading military power in the Near East. In 722 B.C. the Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom of Israel. Nineveh was destroyed in 612 B.C., marking the end of the Assyrian empire.
Key Themes
- The Lord is slow to anger and long-suffering, jealous for his own honor and for his people, but he is wrathful and avenging against his enemies. He controls nature, nations, and history. He is just, righteous, good, merciful, gracious, loving, and faithful. He delivers and protects those who trust in him.
- God had used Assyria to punish unfaithful Israel and Judah. He also brought well-deserved judgment on Assyria, according to his timetable and method.
- Nineveh fell because it was a godless and idolatrous city, a city of violence, lust, and greed.
- The Lord of history is a “stronghold” for “those who take refuge in him” (1:7). He can handle all problems in individual lives. He has defeated powers far greater than Assyria. He grants to his own the ultimate defense and deliverance.
Outline
- Introduction (1:1)
- A Psalm Descriptively Praising the Lord (1:2–8)
- The Lord’s Coming Judgment on Nineveh and Deliverance of Judah (1:9–15)
- Focus on Nineveh: The Lord’s Coming Judgment (2:1–13)
- Again, Focus on Nineveh: More concerning the Lord’s Coming Judgment (3:1–19)
The Near East at the Time of Nahum
c. 660–614 B.C.
Nahum likely prophesied sometime between the high point of Assyria’s power around 664 B.C. and the fall of Nineveh in 612. During this time the Assyrian Empire was in decline. Meanwhile Egypt, Judah, and Babylonia regained autonomy and eroded the power of Assyria. Nahum foretold of the fall of Nineveh, the capital of the mighty Assyrian Empire.
Nahum
All that is known about the prophet Nahum is that he came from Elkosh, probably a town in Judah. Nahum’s name means “comfort.” The message he received from God—that Nineveh would be destroyed—indeed brought comfort to his hearers. Following Jonah’s warning, the cruel Assyrian capital had expressed repentance. That repentance was short-lived, however, and this time God’s judgment was unavoidable. Although God had used the Assyrians to punish the wayward southern kingdom, he would not allow Judah to be annihilated. God’s plan for the Messiah to come from the line of David could not be defeated. When Nineveh was destroyed in 612 B.C., the once powerful kingdom of Assyria came to an end. (Nahum 2:2)
Listen to the Podcast
Listen NowDive Deeper | Nahum 1-3
Judah experienced the consequences of their disobedience when they were made slaves in their own land by the Assyrians, but God sent his people hope through Nahum's prophesy of the imminent destruction of Nineveh and the Assyrian Empire. In doing so, he freed Judah from the bondage of slavery in order that they could return to worshiping him. God shows us that he does not need our cooperation to carry out his will.
Nahum holds a special place in my heart, as God perfectly timed the Join The Journey Scripture reading at a critical moment in 2021. I was sitting at my desk reading Nahum when an "officer down" call came over the police radio. A fellow officer and friend, a married father of three, lost his life that day. As we began the investigation, God was loving and faithful in making his presence known. He provided one of the most beautiful sunsets ever seen and a double rainbow over the house of the fallen officer. The following evening, when I returned to finish the reading, he overwhelmed me with his presence. Tears flowed as I read Nahum 1:7. God showed his perfect love as I was reminded that he is good, he knows me [us], and he is my [our] refuge in times of trouble.
The next few weeks, it became clear how God would use this tragedy for his glory. Leaders put their faith on display, the Word of God was spoken boldly, and countless prayers asked for the Lord's presence and provision. The family of the fallen officer, while coping with grief and loss, chose to publicly proclaim the goodness of God. The officer's oldest daughter spoke during his funeral of how she, rather than feeling hatred toward her father's killer, was praying that he would truly know Jesus (watch here). What a powerful display of the truth in Nahum 1:7!
Nahum reminds us that God is sovereign over all nations and peoples and he is a stronghold to those who trust in him. Let us live each day with this in mind.
This month's memory verse
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (NIV)
– Matthew 11:28-30
Discussion Questions
1. Refuge is defined as "a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble." It is where God covers us with his protection, preservation, and provision. Is God your refuge only in times of distress, or is he your first line of defense at all times? How can you become more dependent on God, inviting him into all aspects of your life?
2. What does it look like to trust in God as your refuge in times of trouble? Are you someone who tries to muscle through tough times on your own, or do you bring others in to speak truth to you? We are not meant to live in isolation.
3. Unfortunately, I still have a tendency to turn toward other things for peace and comfort when unpredictable and troubling times occur. I tend to isolate and medicate with unhealthy food. What other "gods" do you turn to in times of trouble? How can we make God the first place we turn in these times?
4. Participating in the Join The Journey reading plan with other believers has blessed my life in many ways, including reminding me of the Lord's provision during the tragedy in 2021 and today through weekly devotionals with my community group. As a fellow Journeyer, how has following Join The Journey influenced your walk with the Lord?