AUTHOR

Nahum was a Hebrew prophet about whom very little is known. He is called an Elkoshite (1:1), but the location of Elkosh is unknown. The date of the prophet’s ministry can be placed between 700–600 BC by two events mentioned in his book. Nahum 3:8 refers to the destruction of the Egyptian capital, No-amon or Thebes, in 663 BC and indicates that the prophet was active after this time. In chapter 2 he looked forward to the destruction of Nineveh which took place in 612 BC. Nahum, therefore, prophesied after 650 BC, probably close to the time of the fall of Nineveh.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF NAHUM

The Assyrians practiced cruel violence against other nations, all in the interest of financial gain and power. They brought about the destruction of Samaria, the capital of Israel, and they invaded Judah in the days of Hezekiah. They practiced a form of empire building through demanding yearly payments of tribute, followed by invasion if the tribute was not paid. The Assyrian king would then set up a puppet king over the rebellious nation. If rebellion continued, the nation would be incorporated directly into the empire. Scholars refer to this period as the neo-Assyrian period, and the empire extended to Babylonia in the south, to Syria-Palestine in the northwest, to Egypt in the southwest, and to the area of Turkey in the north.

THE MEANING OF NAHUM’S MESSAGE

Nahum summarized the message of his book in his opening statement about the awesome power of God in wrath and judgment. God is good, but his goodness includes both his love for those who place their trust in him and his justice for those who set themselves against him. Nineveh, as the capital of the cruel and violent Assyrian Empire, was ripe for judgment. Justice demanded that the Lord right the situation. That is what Nahum meant when he declared that the Lord “takes vengeance and is fierce in wrath” (1:2).

How difficult it is to watch what is happening in the world today! Terrorists seem to strike all over the globe; dictators oppress their people through murder and brute force; wars break out all the time and never seem to fully solve anything. Nahum assures us that none who do evil can expect to escape divine justice. The desire for justice is inborn to the human psyche, so it is encouraging to know that in the end evil will be defeated. Nahum also warns us to be sure that we are among those who seek refuge in God and not among those who fight against him. Divine judgment is a sword that cannot be deflected by hypocrisy.