NAHUM [27 JULY DAY 207]

INTRODUCTION

Nahum. Means comfort, consolation. He was a prophet from Southern Kingdom. God sent him to warn the Assyrians. He spoke to the city, Nineveh (Nimrod built Gen 10:11), concerning God's judgment. It is likely written about 660 B.C.

He lived in the time of Hezekiah, after the captivity of Israel by the king of Assyria, which was in the ninth year of Hezekiah, and before Sennacherib's invading Judah, which was in the fourteenth year of Hezekiah.

Nineveh was first judged by flood (1:8; 2:6) then by fire (3:13) and finally conquered. The Assyrian monarchy was subdued by Nebuchadnezzar, some time before the first captivity of Judah. In the midst of this prophecy,

A hundred years ago, Jonah had warned of their downfall and the nation repented. Years later they returned to evil again. Nahum predicted that this proud and powerful nation would be utterly destroyed because of its sins. They were judged for their idolatry (1:14), pride (2:13), murder lies, treachery, and social injustice (3:1-19).

Chapter one Judgment Declared.

It begins with the awesome appearance of God to judge evil among the nations just as in Micah. It is the warning of pride. The proud will be brought low. He used the language of Exodus God is compassionate yet will not allow evil. God remains faithful to His people.

Chapter two Judgment Described

The overthrow of the city and breaking down of the city wall. The slaughter of the people and the downfall.

Chapter three Judgment Defended

The destruction of Nineveh is deserved. He gives reasons for the destruction of the city characterized by cruelty and corruption. The city, is a city of murder (3:1), a city of cruelty (3:19).

In 612 BC, the Babylonians (and others), clothed in red, marched up the left bank of the Tigris River and surrounded Ninevah, just as Nahum said (cf. Nah. 2:3, Ezek. 23:14). The unusually hard rains that year caused the river to flood and wash away portions of the wall, allowing the enemy soldiers to enter the city through the breach, just as Nahum said (cf. Nah. 2:6). The resultant bloodshed and looting were astronomical, just as Nahum said (cf. Nah. 2:9-10). And though secular historians fail to report it, the destruction of Ninevah was by the hand of God, just as Nahum said (cf. Nah. 3:6-7).