The Prophet
NAHUM

1 Namely, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babel, who captured and scattered many kingdoms.

2 O Nineveh.

3 This and what follows the prophet speaks ironically, or in a deriding manner, intimating thereby that the Assyrians, with all their means of defense and resistance, would not be able to do anything.

a fortress, stronghold

4 Take good heed which way the enemy may come.

5 That is, your power and might. See Job 40:16.

6 As if he said: O Asshur, it is the time the judgment of the LORD also comes upon you now, since it has gone over the people of God a considerable time now, whereby the LORD humbled the pride of Jacob, as formerly He had done that of Israel. Other, For the LORD is returned with the Excellency or Glory of Jacob, that is, Christ Jesus, as Amos 8:7. Namely, that henceforth He assist His people, and suffer them no longer to be destroyed by thee, but rather that He cause thee to be destroyed concerning the same. See 2 Sam. 1 on verse 19 of the Ornament or Glory of Israel.

7 That is, the Assyrians with their large armies, which did plunder and empty all the places they came to.

b Psalm 80:12; Isa. 10:12.

8 The sense is: They have made Judah and Israel empty, that is, they plundered their cities, and laid the land waste.

9 This may be well understood according to the letter; yet some understand by the vine branches here the cities and villages of the land of Judah; as the people of the Jews is frequently resembled to a vine. See Micah 7:1. Others understand by it their sons and daughters; and some the fruit of the land.

10 In this verse and the sequel the prophet describes the condition and armature of those who were to come with their great and powerful armies against Nineveh and the Assyrians, the enemies of the Israelites, to subdue and to suppress them.

11 Namely, the enemies that was to lay siege against Nineveh.

12 With the blood of the slain, or understand this also of the red dyed garments, which many, especially among the soldiery of the Medes, Persians and Babylonians, etc., used to wear. See Ezek. 23:14.

13 See of the word valiant Gen. 47 on verse 6: Exod. 18 on verse 21.

14 Or, dyed scarlet.

15 That is, their chariots go so fast and violently forwards, that, when they run over the stones, they make fiery sparks, whereof more in verse 4. Understand here the fighting chariots, which were used in battle, men sitting in or on, and fighting forth out of them. See Joshua 17:16; 2 Sam. 10:18.

16 Namely, unto battle.

17 Or, the spears. The sense is: The spears which have been made of fir trees. Others do take it in this sense: These chariots run so swiftly and fiercely, that the forest and the trees, which stand therein, do shake and tremble.

18 Or, shall be drilled.

19 Understand the chariots with them who sat thereon. See 2 Sam. 10 on verse 18.

20 That is, the chariots shall run, rumble and rattle through the streets and alleys of the city with such speed and clatter, as if the charioteers and those who sit on them were all raging mad.

21 The sense is: It shall seem that fire is jumping out of their eyes when they are angry.

22 Or, they shall break through like the lightnings.

23 Namely, the king of Assyria.

24 That is, he shall put his confidence in them. Other, He shall muster his mighty men.

25 That is, they shall run so fast and with such absurdity that they shall tumble and fall over each other.

26 Or, in their goings, in their streets and alleys, everywhere they go.

27 Namely, the Assyrians.

28 Understand the walls of the city of Nineveh.

29 Or, the cover. Understand such a warlike structure or a gallery, under which or wherein the soldiers were scot-free. Hebr. and the protection shall be made ready.

30 That is, the water gates. Here is spoken of the river Tigris, and other brooklets running in and out, going close by the city of Nineveh. The sense is: The enemy shall fall upon that part of the city where it seems to be strongest, namely, where the Tigris and other steams run along. Diodorus Siculus states in Bibliotheca, lib. 3, cap. 7, that, when the Chaldeans had besieged Nineveh, it came to pass that through the overflowing of the Tigris, the wall of the city was thrown over, for twenty furlongs long, and the enemy entered the city by this breach.

31 Or, the temple, for, the Hebrew word signifies both, palace and temple. Understand here the temple of the Assyrian idol.

32 Namely, through the heat of the fire, either the material fire or that of the consuming wrath of God. Other, shall flow away. This agrees very well with the great overflowing of the waters mentioned before.

33 Several understand Huzzab to be the queen’s name. Others think that Huzzab signifies queen, from jatsab, to assist, for the reason that she daily came to or stood about the king. Compare Psalm 45:9. Other, she that is settled: that is, the city, which conceives to stand firm.

34 Or, shall be made bare or uncovered, namely, of all her jewels and precious ornaments.

35 Or, gone up, namely, on the wagon, in which she is to be carried away captive out of her own land into another.

36 That is, wailing, weeping, sighing within themselves, not daring to cry out and complain for fear of the enemies.

37 As if he said: They shall not play upon the tambourines or drums as they were wont to do in their jollities, but they shall beat with their fists upon their own breasts unto a sign of the distress in her heart.

c beating, as on a tabor or drum

38 That is, Nineveh has ever been very populous, since its beginning. Thus many waters is taken for abundance of people, Isa. 8:7; Rev. 17:15. Compare Jonah 4:11.

39 Hebr. from the days she, without further addition.

40 Namely, the inhabitants of Nineveh shall flee, when their city shall be taken by their enemies.

41 Understand this to be spoken to the enemies who were to overtake Nineveh; either this is to be taken for the words of the prophet, or of the soldiers, addressing their fellow soldiers.

42 Understand here by store all manner of treasures and jewels, money, garments, etc.

43 That is, of all sorts of curious and costly household furniture, which one could wish or desire. Compare 2 Chron. 32:27.

44 Namely, Nineveh.

dDeut. 1:28; 20:8; Joshua 2:11; 5:1; 7:5; Isa. 13:7; Ezek. 21:7.

45 Or, strike or push one against the other. Compare Isa. 13:7; Dan. 5:6.

e Isa. 13:8; 21:3.

46 See the annotation on Joel 2:6.

47 Namely, as a pot or kettle, in which food is cooked and which hangs over the fire and becomes smoke-stained.

48 These are the words of the prophet, speaking in the Name of God, and deriding the conquered Assyrians.

49 Thus the prophet calls the dwellers of Nineveh, who were robbers and bloodthirsty men, especially their kings, princes and commanders. See Ezek. 19 with the annotations on verse 2, 3, etc. The apostle likewise calls the Emperor Nero a lion, 2 Tim. 4:17.

50 It is the nature of the lion to suffocate and to languish the beasts which they have caught.

f (that which was) torn in pieces, seize prey

51 See the annotation at Jer. 21:13. Other, I come to thee, namely, to punish thee; He turns His speech to the Ninevites.

52 That is, I will consume her chariots with fire, O Nineveh, that they shall vanish away in smoke. Compare Judges 20:40.

53 Namely, of the city of Nineveh. Here is a change of person, her for thy.

54 54 O Nineveh. And thy prey, that is, the prey which the Ninevites have plundered.

55 Or, will destroy.

56 Or, of thy ambassadors, by whom ye were wont to announce the war to the kings round about. See 2 Kings 18:17, etc.