Bible Commentaries
Nahum

Nah NAHUM. THE STRUCTURE OF THE BOOK AS A WHOLE. Nahum 1:2-8 . JEHOVAH''S ATTRIBUTES DECLARED. Nahum 1:9 - Nahum 3:19 . JEHOVAH''S JUDGMENTS FORETOLD. For the CANONICAL order and place of the Prophets, see Appdx-1, and pages 1206 and 1207 . For the CHRONOLOGICAL, order of the Prophets, see Appdx-77. For the Formula of Prophetic utterance, see Appdx-82. For the Inter-relation of the Prophetical Books, see Appdx-78. For the Relation of NAHUM to the twelve Minor (or Shorter) Prophets, see p. 1206. For the References to the Pentateuch, see Appdx-92. Nahum concludes the seven pre-captivity Prophets, being the last of the second group of three; and corresponding with JONAH, which also has Nineveh for its subject. See the Structure (p. 1206). Some eighty-seven years before, JONAH had proclaimed Jehovah''s favour to Nineveh, which had prolonged its existence till now, when Nahum''s prophecy of coming judgment was fulfilled without further delay. Nahum is undated; but, if 1:11 refers primarily to the Rab-shakeh (as we believe it does) of 2 Kings 18:26-28 , then we have a clue of great importance, for that speaks of the fourteenth year of Hezekiah, and gives us the date as 603 B. C. The Rab-shakeh = the chief of the captains, was apparently a renegade Jew, and a "counsellor" high in favour with the Assyrian king (Sennacherib). He was apparently, as to office, similar to our "Political Officer" in the Indian Frontier campaigns. He insisted on speaking to the common People on the wall in the Jews'' language; indicating a freedom in the use of Hebrew that would scarcely be possessed by an Assyrian ambassador. The Rab-shakeh''s words certainly show a deadly animosity towards Jehovah; which is borne out by Nahum 1:11 , and Psalms 120:2 ; Psalms 123:3 . See Appdx-67. If this be correct, then we may date Nahum as living and prophesying in 603 B. C. Nahum 1:2-8 . JEHOVAH''S ATTRIBUTES. Nahum 1:2 . Vengeance. Nahum 1:3 -. Long-suffering. - Nahum 1:3-5 . Power. Unequalled. Nahum 1:6 . Power. Irresistible. Nahum 1:7 . Goodness. Nahum 1:8 . Vengeance. Nahum 1:9 - Nahum 3:19 . JEHOVAH''S JUDGMENTS FORETOLD. Nahum 1:9-12 -. Destruction of Nineveh. Nahum 1:12-15 . Deliverance of Judah. Nahum 2:1 - Nahum 3:19 . Destruction of Nineveh. Nahum 1:2-15 . DELIVERANCE OF JUDAH. =Nahum 1:12-14 . Evil removed. Nahum 1:15 . Good bestowed. Nahum 2:1 - Nahum 3:19 . DESTRUCTION OF NINEVEH. Nahum 2:1-2 . Jehovah''s defiance. Nahum 2:3-10 . Judgment. Invasion. Nahum 2:11-13 ; Nahum 3:1-7 . Causes. Nahum 3:8-10 . Examples. Citation. Nahum 3:11-13 . Examples. Application. Nahum 3:14 . Jehovah''s defiance. Nahum 3:15-17 . Judgment. Devastation. Nahum 3:18-19 . Causes. = Nah 2:310 . JUDGMENT. INVASION. Nahum 2:11-13 ; Nahum 3:1-7 . CAUSES. Nahum 2:11-12 . Jehovah. Defiance. Nahum 2:13 . The cause. Hostility. Nahum 3:1-3 . Jehovah. Defiance. Nahum 3:4-7 . The cause. Hostility.