Nahum 2

7. Huzzab--the name of the queen of Nineveh, from a Hebrew root implying that she stood by the king ( Psalms 45:9 ), [VATABLUS]. Rather, Nineveh personified as a queen. She who had long stood in the most supreme prosperity. Similarly CALVIN. MAURER makes it not a proper name, and translates, "It is established," or "determined" (compare Genesis 41:32 ). English Version is more supported by the parallelism.
led away captive--The Hebrew requires rather, "she is laid bare"; brought forth from the apartments where Eastern women remained secluded, and is stripped of her ornamental attire. Compare Isaiah 47:2 Isaiah 47:3 , where the same image of a woman with face and legs exposed is used of a city captive and dismantled (compare Nahum 3:5 ), [MAURER].
brought up--Her people shall be made to go up to Babylon. Compare the use of "go up" for moving from a place in Jeremiah 21:2 .
her maids . . . as . . . doves--As Nineveh is compared to a queen dethroned and dishonored, so she has here assigned to her in the image handmaids attending her with dove-like plaints ( Isaiah 38:14 , 59:11 . The image implies helplessness and grief suppressed, but at times breaking out). The minor cities and dependencies of Nineveh may be meant, or her captive women [JEROME]. GROTIUS and MAURER translate, for "lead her," "moan," or "sigh."
tabering--beating on their breasts as on a tambourine.

8. But--rather, "Though" [G. V. SMITH].
of old--rather, "from the days that she hath been"; from the earliest period of her existence. Alluding to Nineveh's antiquity ( Genesis 10:11 ). "Though Nineveh has been of old defended by water surrounding her, yet her inhabitants shall flee away." GROTIUS, less probably (compare Nahum 3:8-12 ), interprets, the "waters" of her numerous population ( Isaiah 8:7 , Jeremiah 51:13 , Revelation 17:15 ).
Stand, stand, shall they cry--that is, the few patriotic citizens shall cry to their fleeing countrymen; "but none looketh back," much less stops in flight, so panic-stricken are they.

9. silver . . . gold--The conquerors are summoned to plunder the city. Nineveh's riches arose from the annual tribute paid by so many subject states, as well as from its extensive merchandise ( Nahum 3:16 , Ezekiel 27:23 Ezekiel 27:24 ).
store--accumulated by the plunder of subject nations. It is remarkable, that while small articles of value (bronze inlaid with gold, gems, seals, and alabaster vases) are found in the ruins of Nineveh, there are is none of gold and silver. These, as here foretold, were "taken for spoil" before the palaces were set on fire.
glory out of all the pleasant furniture--or, "there is abundance of precious vessels of every kind" [MAURER].

10. Literally, "emptiness, and emptiedness, and devastation." The accumulation of substantives without a verb (as in Nahum 3:2 ), the two first of the three being derivatives of the same root, and like in sound, and the number of syllables in them increasing in a kind of climax, intensify the gloomy effectiveness of the expression. Hebrew, Bukah, Mebukah, Mebullakah (compare Isaiah 24:1 Isaiah 24:3 Isaiah 24:4 , Zephaniah 1:15 ). CALVIN translates, "withdraw (literally, 'gather up') their glow," or flush, that is grow pale. This is probably the better rendering. So MAURER.

11. dwelling of . . . lions--Nineveh, the seat of empire of the rapacious and destructive warriors of various ranks, typified by the "lions," "young lions," "old lion" (or lioness [MAURER]), "the lion's whelp." The image is peculiarly appropriate, as lions of every form, winged, and sometimes with the head of a man, are frequent in the Assyrian sepulchres. It was as full of spoils of all nations as a lion's den is of remains of its prey. The question, "Where," &c. implies that Jehovah "would make an utter end of the place," so that its very site could not be found ( Nahum 1:8 ). It is a question expressing wonder, so incredible did it then seem.

12. prey . . . ravin--different kinds of prey. Compare Isaiah 3:1 , "the stay and the staff."

13. burn . . . in the smoke--or (so as to pass) "into smoke," that is, "entirely" [MAURER], ( Psalms 37:20 , 46:9 ). CALVIN, like English Version, explains, As soon as the flame catches, and the fire smokes, by the mere smoke I will burn her chariots.
cut off thy prey from the earth--Thou shalt no more carry off prey from the nations of the earth.
the voice of thy messengers . . . no more . . . heard--No more shall thy emissaries be heard throughout thy provinces conveying thy king's commands, and exacting tribute of subject nations.