Nah. 1:1 The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
The message of this book is identified as a burden, a message of doom, against Nineveh, the capital of the mighty Assyrians.
Courson: “Located on the eastern side of the Tigris River, Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria, was one of the greatest cities of antiquity. With 1200 two-hundred-feet high towers and surrounded by a hundred-feet-high wall whose foundation was made of polished stone and of such breadth that three chariots could drive abreast atop it, Nineveh was magnificent to behold….To this day, Assyrians are known as the cruelest, most sadistic people in world history. Furniture made of human skin and pyramids constructed of human skulls attest to their atrocities.”
The prophet that God chose to deliver this message is identified as Nahum the Elkoshite, and He delivered the message to Nahum in a vision. In other words, he saw his message played out in something like a vivid dream. Commentators differ and can only speculate regarding more specific identification.
Guzik: “It may be that Elkosh was in the region of Galilee because the city of Capernaum was named after Nahum (Kephar-Nahum, “City of Nahum”).
Nah. 1:2 God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.
This message begins with a bold statement that YHWH, the self-existent, eternal God, is furious. The Hebrew for jealous is a reference to anger; for revengeth the reference is to avenge or punish. Furious is a reference to “hot anger and rage.” Point is made that YHWH’s vengeance and wrath is directed toward His adversaries and enemies.
From the very beginning of God’s dealings with the nation of Israel, He established Himself as a jealous God.
Exodus 20:3-5 “Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God….”
We need to remember that God sent the reluctant prophet Jonah to preach repentance to Nineveh, and the people of the city repented in sackcloth and ashes before the LORD.
Jonah 3:5-6 “So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.”
Research indicates that Nahum’s prophecies followed that of Jonah by some 100-150 years. Evidently, at this time the Ninevites had returned to their idolatrous ways and once again incited God’s anger.
Nah. 1:3 The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
Nah. 1:4 He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.
Nah. 1:5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
The Ninevites must not have followed God very long since point is made that YHWH is slow to anger. Most of the time God’s longsuffering and patience is equated with weakness, but He very clearly declares that to be a wrong conclusion; He is exceedingly great (from the Hebrew) in power. He will not allow the wicked to go unpunished.
“the LORD hath his way…” – The rest of this section is a word picture of God’s power. He is the power behind the whirlwind (hurricanes, tornadoes), and the clouds are like specks of dust scattered by the movement of His feet. The sea and rivers are subject to His command. When He chooses not to replenish their waters, the productivity of the nations is diminished. He can cause the mountains to quake and shake, the hills to melt (landslides, volcanoes), and the earth to burn (hot sun with no rain, flow of lava). The whole world and all its inhabitants are at His mercy.
I love this thought from Ironside: “As the dust in the distance betrays the approach of the traveler before the form is seen upon the dry roadway, so the clouds tell of His near presence who knows all of your griefs and comes in love to dry your tears.”
Nah. 1:6 Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.
The two questions at the beginning of this verse are rhetorical; the obvious answer—no one. YHWH is THE authority and power of the universe and nothing or no one can prevent Him from doing anything He so chooses. At the time of Nahum’s prophecy, His anger is flowing hot against Nineveh, and there is no place of refuge (from the Hebrew) to withstand it.
We all deserve to suffer the wrath of God. But in His amazing love, our Savior suffered the wrath I/we deserve when He hung on the cross. I don’t think we can ever fully understand just how great that sacrifice was.
Nah. 1:7 The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
In light of the above characterization, the prophet emphasizes that YHWH is good. I think this is a statement of contrast to those at whom His anger is directed—those who are evil and wicked. He is a stronghold, a source of defense and protection; “He takes care of those who take refuge in him” (CJB), those who look to Him in faith.
This is a reminder that God never promised that trusting Him as LORD would prevent us from experiencing trouble. He did promise, however, that He would take care of His own in time of trouble.
Scripture is clear that God is good—loving, kind, merciful, righteous, just and holy. There is never a question about His actions being right and just. We may not always understand why He allows certain things in the lives of those who are trusting Him—e.g., Joseph sold into slavery by his brothers, Job’s afflictions, Jesus dying on the cross, believers persecuted and killed, etc.—but it does not change the truth about who He is. We can know without a shadow of a doubt, however, that He is working in accordance with His will, His plan for good.
Guzik: “Not only does He know them in the sense of identification, but also in the sense of relationship. Trust implies relationship, and God knows those who trust in Him.”
Nah. 1:8 But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.
In His righteousness, God is going to completely destroy Nineveh, His enemies. They will experience “misery, destruction, death…sorrow, and wickedness.” It is always a righteous act when God judges and destroys evil and wickedness.
Guzik quoting Boice: “According to secular accounts, during the final siege of Nineveh by a rebel army of Persians, Medes, Arabians, and Babylonians, unusually heavy rains caused the rivers to flood and to undermine the city’s walls, which then collapsed… the invading armies entered the city through this breach in its defenses.”
Nah. 1:9 What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.
No matter what plans those in Nineveh may make to stand against YHWH, His victory will be complete. Nineveh will not be allowed to rise to power again.
Nah. 1:10 For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.
The Ninevites are pictured as a tangled mess of thorns, as drunks that will be easily devoured by the coming fire of judgment.
Nah. 1:11 There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counsellor.
I’ve never really noticed this verse before. All of a sudden the prophet makes reference to “a wicked counselor” from Nineveh, one who imagines evil against YHWH. The Hebrew for imagineth is a reference to weaving, fabricating and plotting with malicious intent. I couldn’t help but think of references to another “Assyrian” that I have encountered in my studies of the scripture, especially throughout the book of Isaiah. It became clear to me (as taught by Chuck Missler) that he is a type of the Antichrist to come. Could this verse also have double reference? I think that Nahum was making specific reference to the king of Assyria.
Nah. 1:12 Thus saith the LORD; Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.
Nah. 1:13 For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.
YHWH is declaring that though He has allowed the Assyrian and his armies, which are great in number, to afflict the Israelites in the past, they will not be allowed to do so again. He is going to deliver His people from the oppressive rule of the Assyrians.
“quiet” = complete (literally or figuratively); especially friendly
The NIV interprets this to mean many allies, while some other translations interpret it to mean many at full strength. Both would seem to apply.
Point is made that YHWH is sovereign and in control concerning everything that affects His people.
Nah. 1:14 And the LORD hath given a commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.
I think the NIV gives a clear expression of the meaning of this verse: “You will have no descendants to bear your name. I will destroy the carved images and cast idols that are in the temple of your gods. I will prepare your grave, for you are vile.”
I am reminded that prophecy is unique to YHWH. He is telling the Assyrians their fate in advance. Nineveh will no longer be a name that provokes fear and awe. Though they have rejected Him as their LORD, He will be proven LORD of all.
Nah. 1:15 Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.
Nahum echoes the words of the prophet Isaiah: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!” (52:7)
This verse is a word of encouragement to the people of Judah. The message this time is a good one, a message of peace and safety. They are encouraged to respond with thanksgiving and obedience to the LORD by keeping their solemn feasts and honoring their vows to YHWH. He is not going to allow the wicked Assyrian to bother their nation again; he is going to be completely destroyed.
I think it is interesting that the wording seems to be more in reference to a single person—“he is utterly cut off.” Again, I think there is reason for double reference. The area of the Assyrian empire later became part of the Roman Empire—the land from which the Antichrist will emerge. Although he will be a source of great affliction to the people of Israel, the time will come when he will be completely destroyed by God also. When that happens, the LORD Jesus will assume His throne in Jerusalem as KING of kings; and Israel will once again keep their solemn feasts.
Nah. 2:1 He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face: keep the munition, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily.
Nah. 2:2 For the LORD hath turned away the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel: for the emptiers have emptied them out, and marred their vine branches.
I’ve had to read through this several times to try to understand the flow. “He that dasheth in pieces” seems to be referencing God (though He will utilize a human conqueror to accomplish His purpose). “Thy face” seems to be referring back to the wicked one that is cut off in the last verse of chapter one. (It was interesting to note that the CJB positioned the last verse of chapter one as the first verse of chapter two.) The confusing part is the admonition to prepare to defend themselves since any attempt at defense they make will be futile before Almighty God. Could this be a bit of sarcasm?
“turned away” = to turn back…bring again…deliver…restore
Though there are many choices in the Hebrew for this phrase, I agree with the other translations that the context implies restoration. So God is basically saying through the prophet that He is going to allow His people to repopulate their land; the Hebrew for emptiers is a reference to depopulating. After making the connection to repopulation, I thought it was interesting that the next reference was to marred “vine branches.” We know that Israel is identified in scripture as God’s vineyard.
Isaiah 5:7 “For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant….”
It seems to me that the prophet is emphasizing the truth that God is going to multiply His people once again in the land of Israel.
Nah. 2:3 The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken.
Nah. 2:4 The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings.
The more I continue to read in this chapter, I can’t help but think that there is much application to be made to end times, the Antichrist and Israel. These verses are painting a vivid picture of the preparation of the armies of this wicked Assyrian. There are similarities to be found in connection with the 2,000,000-man army mentioned in Revelation.
Revelation 9:17 “And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.”
Mighty men in red and scarlet correspond to horsemen with breastplates of fire. The Hebrew for chariots in verse 3 is a reference to riders in the cavalry or a vehicle. So, a cavalry that seems like torches would correspond to horses spewing fire, smoke and brimstone. I have heard speculation that compare chariots raging in the streets with flaming torches to armored vehicles equipped with automatic gunfire, explosives and missiles. Only time will tell.
Nah. 2:5 He shall recount his worthies: they shall stumble in their walk; they shall make haste to the wall thereof, and the defence shall be prepared.
Nah. 2:6 The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved.
The Assyrian appoints his officers who do not present a picture of confidence as they hurry to shore up their defense, stumbling in the process. I think verse 6 is a picture of the armies of God’s hand of judgment rushing in to destroy his throne.
Nah. 2:7 And Huzzab shall be led away captive, she shall be brought up, and her maids shall lead her as with the voice of doves, tabering upon their breasts.
I looked for some help in identifying Huzzab, but it was inconclusive. Some conclude it is a reference to the queen of Nineveh; others conclude that it is a reference to the city. The context is clear, however, that reference is being made to being led away captive after suffering defeat.
Nah. 2:8 But Nineveh is of old like a pool of water: yet they shall flee away. Stand, stand, shall they cry; but none shall look back.
I like the NIV translation for this verse: “Nineveh is like a pool, and its water is draining away. “Stop! Stop!” they cry, but no one turns back.”
Nah. 2:9 Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold: for there is none end of the store and glory out of all the pleasant furniture.
Nah. 2:10 She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain is in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness.
These verses picture the wealth that is taken from Nineveh by the conquering armies. Her people will experience great fear and pain. She will reap what she has sown.
Nah. 2:11 Where is the dwelling of the lions, and the feedingplace of the young lions, where the lion, even the old lion, walked, and the lion’s whelp, and none made them afraid?
Nah. 2:12 The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled his holes with prey, and his dens with ravin.
The once mighty king of Assyria and his princes and armies are pictured as lions. They once boldly took what they wanted from whomever they wanted without regard for those from whom they plundered. They were afraid of nothing. The message of these verses—This mighty king and his forces will be completely destroyed.
Spurgeon: “Mr. Layard took out of the ruins at Nineveh those immense lions that now stand in the British Museum. They were the very type of this great empire, that boasted itself in its lion-like strength and ferocity. So the prophet cries, ‘Where is the lair of the lion?’”
Nah. 2:13 Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions: and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.
YHWH boldly declares that He is against Nineveh. Their fate is sealed; no one can prevail against the will of Almighty God. He states that He will personally see to it that her king and his armies are destroyed. They will never again be allowed to make prey of the people of other nations. Their messengers will be silenced and no longer allowed to cause fear in the hearts of other nations.
Courson: “‘Behold, I am against thee.’ What terrifying words! Do you realize these are the very words of the Lord toward your relatives and neighbors, colleagues and friends who reject the Word of Jesus Christ? They might think they’re partying; they might think they’re cruising—but little do they know that it is only God’s patience that is preventing His judgment. And when it comes, His judgment will be devastating and damning. Never give up sharing the gospel….”