The Book of Nahum
The name Nahum means comfort, which was fitting considering the prophet’s message was intended to comfort Judah. Little is known about Nahum, except what he tells us.
Historical Context: The Assyrian Empire is likely still intact at this point. The Book of Nahum takes place before Nineveh falls to the Medes and Babylonians. Nahum’s prophecy was concerned with God’s judgement and the destruction of Nineveh. The prophecy was given to the people of Judah as reassurance of the destruction of their oppressors.
God judges evil wherever it’s found. He is able to bring down the greatest stronghold and always protects His people. There was no promise of hope for Assyria, because of their wickedness.
Nahum had a single message: Evildoers will have their day of reckoning, no matter how mighty they seem. God is loyal, He will avenge our enemies.
Nahum 1
Nineveh was known for cruel deportation and torture of Israelites.
The prophecy of Nahum was vastly different from the prophecy of Jonah. Jonah came to Nineveh to warn the Assyrians to repent and turn to God, which they did, for a time. Nahum came to encourage the people of Judah in Nineveh and reassure them that the Assyrians would fall.
The Lord is jealous and avenging. He takes vengeance. God’s jealousy is unlike human jealousy. He is zealous to protect the well-being of His people. He disciplined Israel through Assyria, but Assyria was still responsible for its arrogrance, evil and violence. The enemies of Judah were the enemies of God.
“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.'“ (Nahum 1:7)
“Trouble will not come a second time.” (Nahum 1:9)God allowed Assyria to attack His people because of their disobedience, but now that their judgement passed, He would deliver them. The Assyrians were a means to an end.
“Although I have afflicted you, Judah, I will afflict you no more. Now I will break their yoke from your neck and tear your shackles away.” (Nahum 1:12)
Nahum sent a message of God’s command to Nineveh: There would be no descendants. God was preparing their grave.
Within a few years, the Assyrian Empire vanished from earth.
Nahum 2
Nahum wanted the Assyrians to know they were facing their greatest opponent. He told them to brace themselves and to marshal all their strength. The irony? No amount of strength could save them.
God promised to end Israel’s oppression to motivate Judah’s faithfulness to the covenant relationship with God.
Nineveh’s troops would stumble and fall against God. They would be pillaged, plundered and stripped. The lion was a symbol of Assyria. Kings hunted them for sport, as they were plentiful in the land. The Assyrians considered themselves “lions on the attack.” God mocked them, asking where now is the lion’s den, where they had nothing to fear?
“I am against you, declares the Lord Almighty.” (Nahum 2:13)
God was coming to wipe away the Assyrians. They would have no prey, no nation weaker than them.
Nahum 3
The city of Nineveh was never without victims. Assyria was known for its cruelty to surrounding nations. Assyria hired out her military forces like a prostitute, according to Nahum. In the Old Testament, prostitution was akin to sorcery.
Nahum repeated that God declared that He was against Assyria.
Nineveh believed it was invincible, but Nahum reminded them of the fall of the once-great Egypt and its capital Thebes. Thebes was even more protected than Nineveh, and ironically, fell to Nineveh.
The Ninevites would be powerless against God’s wrath, and would fall into the clutches of its enemies. In the threat of war, people would strengthen the wall surrounding the city, then gather food and water. Nothing would save them this time.
At the end of the book of Nineveh, the destruction of the Assyrians was complete. Their leaders were dead and the people had fled to the mountains.
Nahum addressed the King of Assyria, telling him that the Assyrians would never recover, and the nation’s fall would be celebrated by surrounding nations
By 612 B.C., the Assyrian Empire was defeated after an alliance of the Medes & Babylonians destroyed Nineveh. Some Israelites fled, while others assimilated into Babylonian surroundings, only to be captured by them centuries later.
It only took 3 chapters for God to wipe the Assyrian Empire away.
