Hebrew-English Text

I. Summary

Yahweh lists the sins of Nineveh and promises to destroy the city.

II. Photo

Yahweh warns Nineveh: “All your forts are fig trees with ripe fruit; If shaken they will fall unto the mouths of devourers!” (v. 12)

III. Select Verses

1:  Ah, city of crime, Utterly treacherous, Full of violence, Where killing never stops!

3: Charging horsemen, Flashing swords, And glittering spears! Hosts of slain And heaps of corpses, Dead bodies without number — They stumble over bodies.

4-5: Because of the countless harlotries of the harlot, The winsome mistress of sorcery, Who ensnared nations with her harlotries And peoples with her sorcery, I am going to deal with you — declares the LORD of Hosts. I will lift up your skirts over your face And display your nakedness to the nations And your shame to kingdoms.

7: All who see you will recoil from you And will say, “Nineveh has been ravaged!” Who will console her? Where shall I look for Anyone to comfort you?

12: All your forts are fig trees With ripe fruit; If shaken they will fall Into the mouths of devourers.

13: Truly, the troops within you are women; The gates of your land have opened themselves To your enemies; Fire has consumed your gate bars.

19: There is no healing for your injury; Your wound is grievous. All who hear the news about you Clap their hands over you. For who has not suffered From your constant malice?

IV. Outline

1-4. Nineveh’s sins

    1-3. Warriors and death

    4a. Fornication

    4b. Sorcery

5-7. God will shame Nineveh

8-10. Even Thebes was exiled

11-15. Impending doom

16-18. Scattering of the masses

19a. A wound that has no healing

19b. All peoples rejoice

V. Comment

No comment today. Stay tuned.

VI. Works Used

(see “Commentaries” page)

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Hebrew-English Text

I. Summary

Nahum encourages Judah to stay strong and describes the downfall of Nineveh.

II. Photo

Nineveh is sacked: “Plunder silver! Plunder gold! There is no limit to the treasure; It is a hoard of all precious objects.” (v. 10)

III. Select Verses

1: Behold on the hills The footsteps of a herald Announcing good fortune! “Celebrate your festivals, O Judah, Fulfill your vows. Never again shall scoundrels invade you, They have totally vanished.”

3: For the LORD has restored the Pride of Jacob As well as the Pride of Israel, Though marauders have laid them waste And ravaged their branches.

9-11: Nineveh has been like a [placid] pool of water From earliest times; Now they flee. “Stop! Stop!” — But none can turn them back.  “Plunder silver! Plunder gold!” There is no limit to the treasure; It is a hoard of all precious objects.  Desolation, devastation, and destruction! Spirits sink, Knees buckle, All loins tremble, All faces turn ashen.

12-13: What has become of that lions’ den, That pasture of great beasts, Where lion and lion’s breed walked, And lion’s cub — with none to disturb them?  [Where is] the lion that tore victims for his cubs And strangled for his lionesses, And filled his lairs with prey And his dens with mangled flesh?

14: I am going to deal with you — declares the LORD of Hosts: I will burn down her chariots in smoke, And the sword shall devour your great beasts; I will stamp out your killings from the earth, And the sound of your messengers Shall be heard no more.

IV. Outline

1-3. Encouragement for Judah

    1. Message of good fortune

    2-3.  Message of strength

4-14. The fall of Nineveh

    4-11. The sack of Nineveh described

    12-13. Insult for Nineveh

    14. Oracle regarding Nineveh’s downfall

V. Comment

No comment today. Stay tuned.

VI. Works Used

(see “Commentaries” page)

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Hebrew-English Text

I. Summary

Nahum praises Yahweh’s might and describes how he destroys his enemies.

II. Photo

Yahweh is a forceful deity: “He travels in whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust on His feet!” (v. 3)

III. Select Verses

1: A pronouncement on Nineveh: The Book of the Prophecy of Nahum the Elkoshite.

2:  The LORD is a passionate, avenging God; The LORD is vengeful and fierce in wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on His enemies, He rages against His foes.

5: The mountains quake because of Him, And the hills melt. The earth heaves before Him, The world and all that dwell therein.

7-8: The LORD is good to [those who hope in Him], A haven on a day of distress; He is mindful of those who seek refuge in Him.  And with a sweeping flood He makes an end of her place, And chases His enemies into darkness.

IV. Outline

1. Superscription

2-3a. Yahweh is vengeful

3b-5. Yahweh is fearsome in nature

6. Yahweh is unstoppable

7. Yahweh protects his followers

8. Yahweh punishes his enemies

9-11. Opposing Yahweh is futile

12-13. Oracle: the oppressors will be overthrown

14. Yahweh will destroy the enemy

V. Comment

As Kevin J. Cathcart notes, little is known about the prophet Nahum: “The superscription of the book reads: ‘An Oracle concerning Nineveh. The Book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.’ Outside the Bible, Nahum (comfort) is a well-attested NW Semitic name. However, nothing is known about the prophet Nahum, and even the place of his origin, Elkosh, has not been identified. Jerome proposed “Elcesaei,” a village in Galilee; Pseudo-Epiphanius placed it in Judea; and there have been several attempts by modern scholars to locate the site of the ancient town.” (Anchor Bible Dictionary IV:988)

VI. Works Used

(see “Commentaries” page)

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