Nahum

Nahum 1

Nahum 1:1 After Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah, things went downhill. Dating is uncertain but this would have been a few generations later, likely 100 to 150 years.

Nahum 1:2-6 God’s wrath on the Assyrian empire is described. What will His judgment look like at an individual level on judgment day? History is recounted (1:4)

• The Red Sea was dried up for the Exodus; Israel passed through, the Egyptian army was drowned. (Exodus 14:21)
• The Jordan River was stopped so Israel could pass through, and Jericho was destroyed. (Joshua 3:15-16) 
• Og was defeated and Israel acquired the territory of Bashan. (Numbers 21:33-35; Joshua 13:30)

Mountains quake at God’s presence. (Micah 1:4) His wrath is like fire. (Psalm 89:46) 

Nahum 1:7-11 By contrast, God is a loving Father to those who trust and obey Him. His goodness means He will act on behalf of His own. This means that He will put an end to Nineveh. (Jonah 3:4) This happened in 612 BC at the hands of Babylon and others. One has come forth from Nineveh who plots evil against the Lord and His people.

Nahum 1:12-13 Judah has suffered discipline but now will be freed. Discipline differs from punishment in the outcome. Discipline trains us to behave properly. Punishment inflicts pain to remove a threat, either through imprisonment or death. 

Nahum 1:14 Nineveh will have no descendants. (Job 18:19) Their obituary reads that they have no one to grieve for them. 

Nahum 1:15 The feet of one who brings the good news of the gospel are celebrated. (Isaiah 52:7; Romans 10:15) It was good news that Judah’s oppressor would be destroyed. How much better is the good news that we can now have fellowship with God with our sins forgiven! 

Judah is commanded to celebrate their festivals. Passover celebrates deliverance from sin. Rosh Hashanah announces the coming of the Lord into our lives. Yom Kippur celebrates His victory over sin in our lives. Succoth celebrates the continuous fellowship with God that this victory makes possible. Wickedness will be completely destroyed. 

Nahum 2

Nahum 2:1 It seems ambiguous whether this narrative describing Nineveh being conquered is prophetic or a real-time warning. 

Nahum 2:2 The promise to restore Jacob’s splendor does not seem to have been fulfilled yet, except to the point that Assyria was overrun by Babylon and Media and the Persians. They did not exactly allow Israel to flourish. Perhaps this refers to the coming of Jesus.

Nahum 2:3-4 A description of the attackers, the soldiers and their weapons and chariots.

Nahum 2:5-10 What happens to Nineveh is described. Her soldiers try to respond but the gates are open (presumably by the attackers). The waters of Nineveh (from the rivers it is next to) drain away. All of the wealth that was accumulated from centuries of conquest is now plundered. Everyone fears and trembles.

Nahum 2:11-13 A rhetorical question - what became of the lions and their den? When Assyria was preying on other nations they had ample resources, but now the Lord is against them. The sword will devour the lion cubs and there will no longer be any prey anywhere for them.

This is the way of the world - might makes right. The way of the world is really Satan’s ploy to destroy mankind. Nineveh and the Assyrians conquered, ruled, and were hated. Her destroyers simply repaid in kind. Is this what humanity is about? Satan’s strategy is very simple. Get human nations to fight and destroy each other and get rid of mankind. Those who serve him are simply his dupes.

Nahum 3

Nahum 3:1-7 A description of the blood and gore that will occur, and explained by comparing Nineveh to a prostitute.  Luring foreign nations by seduction, then enslaving them through sorcery and witchcraft. When the enslaved nations are able, they will rise to destroy this evil mistress, and no one will be there to support or comfort her. How did Nineveh enslave other hnations through false religion? There are probably two main channels. One is that the idolatry of Nineveh was so powerful in the rituals that it almost hypnotized them, programmed them to fear and serve the designated gods of Assyria. A second channel is the spiritual reality behind false religions. They are not just the invention of man, but the result of fallen spiritual beings who have some spiritual power, and use it to control their victims. See The Unseen Realm, by Michael Heiser. 

Another way to view Nineveh is a picture of the world and its ways. Modern society (and probably even ancient society) seduces us with sexuality and promises of power beyond our own. And then we become enslaved to it. Instead of living our life in fellowship with God, we spend our time and energy seeking the things the world offers, and that seeking becomes our master. Once we realize this, we should celebrate when God frees us from its slavery.

Nahum 3:8-10 The destruction of Thebes is mentioned by comparison. Despite allies and enormous strength, Thebes was sacked by the Assyrians in 663 BC. (Not to be confused with Alexander the Great’s destruction of it in 335 BC, well after the time of Nahum.) When we see the mighty fall, we should beware lest we desire to be mighty like them, or gloat at their destruction.  By way of illustration, David notably lamented the death of Saul and Jonathan, even though Saul was his enemy. (2 Samuel 1:19-27)  The New Testament warns about pride and self-confidence. (1 Corinthians 10:12) Although Nineveh repented at the warning of Jonah, later generations did not heed this.

Nahum 3:11-18 A description in considerable detail of all the ways in which Nineveh and the Assyrians will be punished. Locusts are used as a metaphor several times. Soldiers, merchants, guards, government officials - all will fail to protect them. Shepherds and nobles alike will sleep, possibly referring to the sleep of death. 

Nahum 3:19 Everyone who was enslaved by Assyria will celebrate her destruction. We will feel the same joy when the Lord delivers us from the world and its ways. (Revelation 19:1-8)