Bible Commentaries
Nahum 3

Verse 1

Nah 3:1. The leading men In Nineveh would not hesitate at bloodshed if it would help their plots to overcome the other citizens. Prey departeth not denotes that the practice of preying upon the helpless citizens never ceased. Thirst for power was merciless.

Verse 2

Nah 3:2. This verse begins describing the details at the "woe" with which the chapter begins. Noise of a whip. Military operations were carried on largely with chariots drawn by horses, and this phase predicts the lashing of the animals in urging them on through the city. Streets had rough and rocky surfaces and the chariot wheels were equipped with hard tires, hence the rattling noise they would make. Jumping is from RAQAD which Strong defines, "A primitive root; properly to stamp, i.e. to spring about (wildly or for joy)." The word has been rendered by dance, jump, leap and skip. The prancing horses would naturally produce such movements in the chariots.

Verse 3

Nah 3:3. The horse·man means the man driving the horses drawing the chariots of the preceding verse, for the charioteers did not restrict their activltles to their driving. "They would leap from the rear of the vehicle (whtch was open at that end) and make close attack upon any person of the enemy nearby. Or they would cast the spear from the chariot at those farther a.way. The great number of the slain is indicated by the words stumble upon their corpses.

Verse 4

Nah 3:4. This verse sets forth the evils for which the Lord decreed this awful fate for Nineveh and the nation. Literal whoredom was doubtless practiced there, but the term is also used to mean the abominable evils or idolatry. This would Include various kinds of traffic such as witchcraft, by which outside people were defrauded out of their belongings and other rights.

Verse 5

Nah 3:5. Idolatry is compared with adultery in the Bible, and a harlot is likened unto a city or nation that practices the false religion, hence the accusations were made against Nineveh recorded in this passage. Discover thy skirts upon thy face. The harlot's skirt was lifted up as far as her face to make sure that her nakedness was exposed. A harlot would not have any sense of shame as far as modesty is concerned, but to have her body exposed by someone who did not intend to patronize her would be humiliating. This is a prediction that Nineveh was literally to be exposed to the gaze of the world.

Verse 6

Nah 3:6, The filth is figurative and refers to the insults and shame that would be cast upon Nineveh by the nations. Make thee vile means to expose the City so that her true condition could be seen and she would be known to be vile.

Verse 7

Nah 3:7. This verse means the same as verse 10 of the preceding chapter.

Verse 8

Nah 3:8. No is another name for Thebes, an important city in Egypt. In connection with the description of the city given here, I shall quote from Smith's Bible Dictionary which will verify it: "The description of No as situate among the rivers, the waters round ahout it' (Nah 3:8), remarkably characterizes Thebes. It lay on both sides of the Nile, and was celebrated for its hundred gates, for its temples, obelisks, statues, etc. It was emphatically the city of temples, in the ruins of whtch many monuments ot ancient Egypt are preserved. The plan of the city was a parallelogram, two miles from north to south and four from east to west, but none suppose that in its glory it really extended 33 miles along both sides ot the Nile. Thebes was destroyed by Ptolemy, B. C. 81, and since then its population has dwelt in villages only." The argument of the prophet in this verse is that if such a stronghold as Thebes could be overthrown, then Nineveh should not feel so confident of resisting the invader.

Verse 9

Nah 3:9. The fall of No (Thebes) cannot be explained on the ground that the city had insufficient support. She had the backing of two countries, Egypt and Ethiopia. and of the groups known as Put and Lubim.

Verse 10

Nah 3:10. In spite of the greatness of this Egyptian city, her inhabitants were carried away, the captivity meaning the humiliation that they suffered at the hands of other forces among the nations. Cast lots for the honorable men means the various nations that came against No divided these important men among themselves by casting lots.

Verse 11

Nah 3:11 . Thou means Nineveh and she is herehy warned that as surely as the city of No was overthrown so she will be ruined also. Shalt be drunken means she will be dealt such a blow that she will be stunned and caused to stagger. Shalt be hid denotes that the city would become obscure and seek strength or help (but in vain).

Verse 12

Nah 3:12. The firstripe fruit of the fig tree would be very desirable and the Strong holds or fortified places in the city would be the spots most to be desired by an enemy. If the mere shaking ot a tree would place the fruit into the mouth of the eater, it would Illustrate the ease and surety with which the invading army will obtain these coveted spots in Nineveh.

Verse 13

Nah 3:13. People is from AM and a part of Strong's definition is, "Collectively troops or attendants. " The thought of the prediction is that the military forces in the city will be no stronger than if they were women, and they are not considered qualified for military service. As a consequence, the gates will be early thrown open as was illustrated by the mere shaking of the tree in the preceding verse. Bars is defined "a bolt" in the lexicon and it denotes that the fasteners on the gates will be easily destroyed by the fire of the enemy.

Verse 14

Nah 3:14. The actions detailed are those of a city preparing to resist a siege, and the verse Is a prediction that Nineveh will need all the preparation she can make.

Verse 15

Nah 3:15. Notwithstanding all the preparations suggested in the preceding verse, the fire of the besiegers will devour the fortifications. The cankerworn and locust were destructive insects and consumed that which they attacked. Though the people of Nineveh should make themselves as numerous as these insects were, yet they were to be attacked and destroyed by the invading forces which will be still more numerous.

Verse 16

Nah 3:16. Nineveh had grown in her business and political interests until it was compared with the stars of the heaven. But in spite of all this apparent strength, the Cankerworm (invading enemy) will present great numbers to attack the city and flee away or make a success in the operation.

Verse 17

Nah 3:17-19. There Is nothing new in these verses that has not been set forth in other verses of the book. The subject is the utter defeat of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, with not a possibility of a "come·back." (See the historical quotation at Nah 2:10.)