1.
The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
burden . Compare Isaiah 13:1 Isaiah 27:13 . See the Structure, p. 930), and Habakkuk. = A prophetic oracle: or, the prophetic doom of Nineveh, written about ninety (603-514 = B.C.) years before Nineveh's doom; and while the Assyrian Empire was at its height. The doom of Nineveh came therefore 176 years after Jonah's mission. The prophecy was addressed to Nahum's own People, but as a menace to Nineveh.
Nineveh . This heading is not "undoubtedly by a later hand", as alleged. The words "the place thereof" (Nahum 1:8 ) would be unintelligible without it. Nineveh is not mentioned again until Nahum 2:8 ; and is only hinted at elsewhere (Nahum 3:1 , Nahum 3:18 ). The Structure below is the best commentary.
vision . Like Isaiah, always one whole. Not written before or separately from, its deliverance.
Nahum = the compassionate, or consoler. The name refers back to Jehovah's compassion connected with Jonah's mission eighty-seven years before. Nothing is known of Nahum beyond his book.
Elkoshite . Hebrew. 'Elkoshi. A village of this name exists to-day, twentyfour miles north of Nineveh (now Konyunjik). See Layard's Nineveh and its Remains, i. p. 233.
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.
GOD . Hebrew El. App-4 .
jealous . Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 20:5-7 . Deuteronomy 4:24 ). App-92 . See the Structure (book comments for Nahum), and note the subjects of "A" and "A"; "B" and "B"; "C" and "C".
the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 . Note the Figure of speech Epizeuxis ( App-6 ), for great emphasis.
revengeth = avengeth.
is furious = a possessor of wrath. Hebrew "lord of wrath".
take vengeance on = be an Avenger to.
wrath . Figure of speech Ellipsis (Absolute). App-6 .
for = against.
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.
slow to anger = long-suffering. Reference to Pentateuch (Ex. Nah 34:6 , Nah 34:7 ). App-92 . Hebrew "Long of anger". The opposite of Proverbs 14:17 . Compare Jonah 4:2 .
great . Compare Job 9:4 ; and see the Structure "-3-5", above.
will not, &c . Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 34:7 . Numbers 14:18 ).
acquit = clear, or hold guiltless.
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.
He rebuketh the sea . Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 14 .) Compare Psalms 106:9 .
and drieth up, &c . Compare Joshua 4:23 .Psalms 74:15 .
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.
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.
abide = stand up. Compare Jeremiah 10:10 . Malachi 3:2 .
7.
The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
good . See the Structure "7", above. Compare 1 Chronicles 16:34 .Psalms 100:5 .Jeremiah 33:11 .Lamentations 3:25 .
strong hold = a place of safety.
He knoweth, &c . Compare Psalms 1:6 . 2 Timothy 2:12 .
trust in = flee for refuge to. Hebrew. hasah. App-69 .
8.
But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.
9.
What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.
imagine = devise. Compare Psalms 2:1 .
affliction = distress, or trouble; Hebrew. zarar , as in Nahum 1:7 , i.e. the trouble that now threatens Nineveh.
the second time . Referring to the rising up after Jonah's proclamation. Compare "rise", Jeremiah 51:64 . Same word as "abide", Nahum 1:6 , above.
10.
For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.
folden = entangled.
thorns . The emblem of hostile armies (Isaiah 10:17 ; Isaiah 27:4 ).
11.
There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counseller.
of. Genitive of Origin. App-17 .
thee: i.e. Nineveh (feminine)
evil . Hebrew. ra'a . App-44 .
a wicked counsellor = a counselor of Belial. The counsellor probably = Rabshakeh; and Belial = Sennacherib. See note on p. 1261.
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.
quiet = secure.
cut down = cut down (like dry stubble).
when he, &c . Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 12:12 ). Compare Isaiah 8:8 . Daniel 11:10 .
-12 Though, &c . = And [now, O Judah], &c. Through not seeing the Structure and the change of subject at "-12-14", modern critics say "the first part of this verse is certainly more or less corrupt"; and they alter the Hebrew text to make it agree with the last clause, the subject changing there to the removal of evil from Judah.
thee: i.e. Judah (Nahum 1:13 ).
13.
For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.
will I break, &c . Reference to Pant. (Genesis 27:40 ). App-92 .
his yoke . Some codices read "his rod".
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.
no more of thy name, &c. : i.e. the dynasty of Nineveh should end.
make = make [it]: i.e. "the house of thy gods".
grave = sepulchre. Hebrew. keber . See note on Genesis 23:4 . App-35 .
vile = despicable. Compare Isaiah 37:37 , Isaiah 37:38 .
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.
Behold . Figure of speech Asterismos ( App-6 ), for emphasis, calling attention to the reference to Isaiah 52:7 , the the hypotheticalsecond Isaiah, 100 years before he is supposed by modern critics to have lived.
keep thy solemn feasts. Figure of speech. Polyptoton. App-6 . Hebrew "feast thy solemn feasts" : used for great emphasis. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 16:16 , &c.; Nah 23:21 , &c). App-92 .
the wicked . Hebrew [the man of] Belial . See note on Nahum 1:11 .