Nahum 2

Attack against Nineveh

1 One who scatters is coming up against you. Man the fortifications! Watch the road! Brace^[a] yourself! Summon all your strength!^[b]

2 For the Lord will restore the majesty of Jacob, yes,^[c] the majesty of Israel, though ravagers have ravaged them and ruined their vine branches.^[d]

3 The shields of his^[e] warriors are dyed red; the valiant men are dressed in scarlet. The fittings of the chariot flash like fire on the day of its [battle] preparations, and the spears are brandished.

4 The chariots dash madly through the streets; they rush around in the plazas. They look like torches; they dart back and forth like lightning.

5 He gives orders to his officers; they stumble as they advance. They race to its wall; the protective shield is set in place.

6 The river gates are opened, and the palace erodes away.

7 Beauty^[f] is stripped,^[g] she is carried away; her ladies-in-waiting moan like the sound of doves,^[h] and beat their breasts.

8 Nineveh has been like a pool of water from her [first] days,^[i] but they are fleeing. "Stop! Stop!" [they cry,] but no one turns back.

9 "Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold!" There is no end to the treasure, an abundance of every precious thing.^[j]

10 Desolation, decimation, devastation! Hearts melt, knees tremble, loins shake, every face grows pale!^[k]

11 Where is the lions' lair, or the feeding ground of the young lions, where the lion and lioness prowled, and the lion's cub, with nothing to frighten them away?^[l]

12 The lion mauled whatever its cubs needed and strangled [prey] for its lionesses. It filled up its dens with the kill, and its lairs with mauled prey.^[m]

13 Beware, I am against you^[n]- the declaration of the Lord of Hosts. I will make your chariots go up in smoke^[o] and the sword will devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the sound of your messengers will never be heard again.

Nahum 2 Commentary

Chapter 2

Nineveh's destruction foretold. (1-10) The true cause, their sinning against God, and his appearing against them. (11-13)

Verses 1-10 Nineveh shall not put aside this judgment; there is no counsel or strength against the Lord. God looks upon proud cities, and brings them down. Particular account is given of the terrors wherein the invading enemy shall appear against Nineveh. The empire of Assyria is represented as a queen, about to be led captive to Babylon. Guilt in the conscience fills men with terror in an evil day; and what will treasures or glory do for us in times of distress, or in the day of wrath? Yet for such things how many lose their souls!

Verses 11-13 The kings of Assyria had long been terrible and cruel to their neighbours, but the Lord would destroy their power. Many plead as an excuse for rapine and fraud, that they have families to provide for; but what is thus obtained will never do them any good. Those that fear the Lord, and get honestly what they have, shall not want for themselves and theirs. It is just with God to deprive those of children, or of comfort in them, who take sinful courses to enrich them. Those are not worthy to be heard again, that have spoken reproachfully of God. Let us then come to God upon his mercy-seat, that having peace with him through our Lord Jesus Christ, we may know that he is for us, and that all things shall work together for our everlasting good.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit Strengthen
• [b]. Am 2:14
• [c]. Or like
• [d]. Jr 12:10
• [e]. the army commander attacking Nineveh
• [f]. Text emended; MT reads Huzzab
• [g]. Hb obscure
• [h]. Isa 38:14; 59:11
• [i]. Hb obscure
• [j]. 2 Ch 32:27; 36:10; Dn 11:8
• [k]. Isa 21:3; Jl 2:6
• [l]. Lv 26:6; Dt 28:26; Jr 7:33
• [m]. Jb 38:39-40
• [n]. Jr 21:13; 50:31; 51:25
• [o]. Lit will burn her chariots in smoke

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO NAHUM 2

This chapter gives an account of the destruction of the city of Nineveh; describes the instruments of it as very terrible and powerful, and not to be resisted, Na 2:1-4. The manner of taking it, the flight of its inhabitants, and the spoil of its riches and treasures, Na 2:5-10 and the king and the princes thereof, compared to a lion, and a lion's whelp, are insulted as being without a den or dwelling place, because of their cruelty and ravening, for which the Lord was against them, and threatened them with utter ruin, which he brought upon them, Na 2:11-13.