Nahum 3:1-7

1 vae civitas sanguinum universa mendacii dilaceratione plena non recedet a te rapina

2 vox flagelli et vox impetus rotae et equi frementis et quadrigae ferventis equitis ascendentis

3 et micantis gladii et fulgurantis hastae et multitudinis interfectae et gravis ruinae nec est finis cadaverum et corruent in corporibus suis

4 propter multitudinem fornicationum meretricis speciosae et gratae et habentis maleficia quae vendidit gentes in fornicationibus suis et familias in maleficiis suis

5 ecce ego ad te dicit Dominus exercituum et revelabo pudenda tua in facie tua et ostendam gentibus nuditatem tuam et regnis ignominiam tuam

6 et proiciam super te abominationes et contumeliis te adficiam et ponam te in exemplum

7 et erit omnis qui viderit te resiliet a te et dicet vastata est Nineve quis commovebit super te caput unde quaeram consolatorem tibi

Nahum 3:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NAHUM 3

In this chapter is contained the prophecy of the destruction of Nineveh, and with it the whole Assyrian empire; the causes of which, besides those before mentioned, were the murders, lies, and robberies it was full of, Na 3:1 for which it should be swiftly and cruelly destroyed, Na 3:2,3 as also its whoredoms and witchcrafts, or idolatry, by which nations and families were seduced, Na 3:4 and hence she should be treated as a harlot, her nakedness exposed, and she cast out with contempt, and mocked at by all, Na 3:5-7 and all those things she placed her confidence in are shown to be of no avail; as her situation and fortresses, as she might learn from the case of No Amon, Na 3:8-12 nor the number of her inhabitants, which were weak as women; nor even her merchants, captains, nobles, and king himself, Na 3:13-18 nor the people she was in alliance with, who would now mock at her, her case being irrecoverable and incurable, Na 3:19.