Nahum – what is it all about?

Topics
 Introduction
• The book of Nahum is the seventh book of the
12 minor prophets of the Hebrew Bible.
• It is attributed to the prophet Nahum
• It was probably written in Jerusalem in the 7th
or possibly 8th century BC.
 Background
• Nahum prophesied, according to some, in the beginning of the
reign of Ahaz (740s BC).
• Others, however, think that his prophecies are to be referred to
the latter half of the reign of Hezekiah (700s BC).
• Probably the book was written in Jerusalem, where he
witnessed the invasion of Sennacherib and the destruction of his
host (2 Kings 19:35).
• And still others support the idea that the "book of vision" was
written shortly before the fall of Nineveh at the hands of the
Medes and Babylonians (612 BCE). This theory is evidenced by
the fact that the oracles must be dated after the Assyrian
destruction of Thebes in 663 BCE as this event is mentioned in
Nahum 3:8.
 Nahum himself…
• Little is known about Nahum’s personal
history.
• His name means "comforter"
• He was from the town of Alqosh, (Nahum 1:1)
which scholars have attempted to identify
with several cities, including the modern
Alqush of Assyria and Capharnaum of
northern Galilee.
 Nahum’s tomb
• The tomb of Nahum is supposedly inside the synagogue at Alqosh,
although there are other places outside Iraq that lay claim also to
being the original “Elkosh” from which Nahum hailed.
• Alquosh was abandoned by its Jewish population in 1948, when
they were expelled, and the synagogue that purportedly houses
the tomb is in a poor structural state, to the extent that the tomb
itself is apparently in danger of destruction.
• When all Jews were compelled to flee Alqosh in 1948, the iron
keys to the tomb were handed to a Chaldean man by the name of
Sami Jajouhana. Few Jews visit the historic site, yet Jajouhana
continues to keep the promise he made with his Jewish friends,
and looks after the tomb.
 Historical context
• The subject of Nahum's prophecy is the approaching
complete and final destruction of Nineveh, the capital of the
great and at that time flourishing Assyrian empire.
• Nineveh was a city of vast extent, and was then the center of
the civilization and commerce of the world, a "bloody city all
full of lies and robbery" (Nahum 3:1), for it had robbed and
plundered all the neighbouring nations. It was strongly
fortified on every side, bidding defiance to every enemy.
• Jonah had already uttered his message of warning, and
Nahum was followed by Zephaniah, who also predicted
(Zephaniah 2:4-15) the destruction of the city.
• These predictions were fulfilled (625 BC) when Nineveh was
destroyed apparently by fire, and the Assyrian empire came
to an end, an event which had a profound affect.
NINEVEH
 Archaeology
• Archaeological digs have uncovered the splendor of Nineveh in its zenith.
• Massive walls were nearly eight miles in circumference. It had a water aqueduct,
palaces and a library with 20,000 clay tablets, including accounts of a creation and a
flood.
• The Babylonian chronicle of the fall of Nineveh tells the story of the end of Nineveh.
Naboplassar of Babylon joined forces with Cyaxares, king of the Medes, and laid siege
for a few months.
• However, according to the ancient historian, Diodorus Siculus, the armies laid siege to
the city for over two years. In the third year, the Khosr River, which ran through the
city flooded, broke down the floodgates and part of the wall which allowed the
enemy to come in. This fulfilled part of Nahum's prophesy in 1:8; 2:6 and 3:13.
• The city was destroyed so completely by the flood and the enemies that when
Alexander the Great fought the battle of Arbela nearby in 331 BC, he did not know
there had been a city there. Nineveh was never rebuilt, and this confirms Nahum's
prediction in 1:9 that “distress will not rise up twice.“ It wasn't until 1850 that
Nineveh was discovered by archaeologists and even later that non-Biblical historical
reports were found. Before 1850 commentators had used the books of Jonah and
Nahum as ‘evidence’ of the false history of the Bible because there was no other
record of Nineveh.
 Overview
• The book of Nahum consists of two parts:[12]
• Chapter one shows the majesty and might of God the LORD in goodness and
severity.[13]
• Chapters two and three describe the fall of Nineveh in 612 BCE. Nineveh is
compared to Thebes, the Egyptian city that Assyria itself had destroyed in
663 BCE. Nahum describes the siege and frenzied activity of Nineveh’s
troops as they try in vain to halt the invaders.
• Poetically, he becomes a participant in the battle, and with subtle irony,
barks battle commands to the defenders.
• Nahum uses numerous similes and metaphors. Nineveh is ironically
compared with a lion, in reference to the lion as an Assyrian symbol of
power; Nineveh is the lion of strength that has a den full of dead prey but
will become weak like the lion hiding in its den.
• Nineveh’s prophecy comes to conclusion with a taunt song and funeral dirge
of the impending destruction of Nineveh and the "sleep" or death of the
Assyrian people and demise of the once great Assyrian conqueror-rulers.
 Comparison with Jonah
• Jonah had prophesied to Nineveh about 150 years earlier. It is
interesting to compare Jonah's prophesy with Nahum's.
Jonah: The Mercy of God Nahum: The Judgment of God

800 B.C. 650 B.C.

Emphasis on the prophet - only one Emphasis on the prophecy - the only thing we know about
prophecy in the whole book the prophet is that he was from Elkosh.

Disobedient prophet Obedient prophet

Obedient Nation who are able to Disobedient Nation - in only 150 years the nation became
repent so bad that it had to be destroyed.

Deliverance from Water Destruction by water

Repentence of Nineveh Rebellion of Nineveh

Structure
I. Nineveh's Doom Declared--The Who (1:2-
15)

• A. Because of God's Attributes (1:2-8)

– 1. God's wrath (1:2-3a)
– 2. God's power (1:3b-6)
– 3. God's goodness (1:7)
– 4. God’s Judgement (1:8)
• B. Because of Ninevah's Sin (1:9-15)
 II. Nineveh's Doom Described--The How
(2:1-13)

• A. The coming of Nineveh's enemies (2:1-2)

• B. The attack on Nineveh's defenses (2:3-7)
• C. The plundering of the city (2:8-10)
• D. The Destruction of Nineveh's “Lair.“ (2:11-
13)
 III. Nineveh's Doom Deserved--The Why
(3:1-19)

• A. Because of Her Brutal Conquests and Slave

Trade (3:1-7)
• B. The Example of Thebes (3:8-10)
• C. The Inevitable Destruction (3:11-18)
• D. The Response of the Nations (3:19)
 Summary
• This judgment is coming because of the rebellion against God. This means we need to look at
the circumstances in the light of what God wants. The book reveals quite a lot about the
character of God:
• (1) God is Sovereign - He is in control of both nature and the nations. He used the Babylonians
to bring his judgment on the Assyrians. He also used a flood to help the Babylonians.
• (2) God is Just - Assyria's judgment was well deserved. Although God used them to destroy
Israel, it went to their heads and they attributed their success to their own power and God did
not appreciate that. God also dealt with the Assyrians appropriate to the way in which they had
dealt with other nations. Many of the same atrocities they committed on others were
committed on them.
• (3) God protects his people - Although God used Assyria to discipline Israel, he would take
notice of those who were faithful.
• Why is God judging?
• Because God cares for those who trust in Him.
• Because God will judge those who violate His law.
• This is a message of condemnation for those who disobey God and a message of consolation for
those who trust and obey Him.
• Ninevah exalted herself but she was humbled by God. If you exalt yourself, God will humble
you.