Nahum

Introduction

In 612 BC the Assyrian Empire was nearing collapse. Its capital Nineveh was about to fall before a combined invasion of Babylonian, Medean and Scythian forces. But those living in the nations that Assyria had cruelly oppressed felt little pity. In their view, the Assyrians were simply getting a long-overdue taste of their own medicine. The prophet Nahum echoes these thoughts on behalf of the people of Judah. He situates this event within the context of God’s rule over all kingdoms on earth. God will judge the Assyrians, even though he had used them as his own instrument, because they were excessively destructive and proud.

Nahum’s oracle describes God’s character and power, announcing God’s purpose to judge Assyria. Words of comfort to Judah alternate with words of doom to Nineveh. The defence of the Assyrian capital will prove futile and the city will be plundered, confirming God’s judgment.

Chapter 1

¹A prophecy concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

The Lord’s anger against Nineveh

²The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;

the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath.

The Lord takes vengeance on his foes

and vents his wrath against his enemies.

³The Lord is slow to anger but great in power;

the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.

His way is in the whirlwind and the storm,

and clouds are the dust of his feet.

⁴He rebukes the sea and dries it up;

he makes all the rivers run dry.

Bashan and Carmel wither

and the blossoms of Lebanon fade.

⁵The mountains quake before him

and the hills melt away.

The earth trembles at his presence,

the world and all who live in it.

⁶Who can withstand his indignation?

Who can endure his fierce anger?

His wrath is poured out like fire;

the rocks are shattered before him.

⁷The Lord is good,

a refuge in times of trouble.

He cares for those who trust in him,

⁸but with an overwhelming flood

he will make an end of Nineveh;

he will pursue his foes into the realm of darkness.

⁹Whatever they plot against the Lord

he will bring to an end;

trouble will not come a second time.

¹⁰They will be entangled among thorns

and drunk from their wine;

they will be consumed like dry stubble.

¹¹From you, Nineveh, has one come forth

who plots evil against the Lord

and devises wicked plans.

¹²This is what the Lord says:

‘Although they have allies and are numerous,

they will be destroyed and pass away.

Although I have afflicted you, Judah,

I will afflict you no more.

¹³Now I will break their yoke from your neck

and tear your shackles away.’

¹⁴The Lord has given a command concerning you, Nineveh:

‘You will have no descendants to bear your name.

I will destroy the images and idols

that are in the temple of your gods.

I will prepare your grave,

for you are vile.’

¹⁵Look, there on the mountains,

the feet of one who brings good news,

who proclaims peace!

Celebrate your festivals, Judah,

and fulfil your vows.

No more will the wicked invade you;

they will be completely destroyed.

Chapter 2

Nineveh to fall

¹An attacker advances against you, Nineveh.

Guard the fortress,

watch the road,

brace yourselves,

marshal all your strength!

²The Lord will restore the splendour of Jacob

like the splendour of Israel,

though destroyers have laid them waste

and have ruined their vines.

³The shields of the soldiers are red;

the warriors are clad in scarlet.

The metal on the chariots flashes

on the day they are made ready;

the spears of juniper are brandished.

⁴The chariots storm through the streets,

rushing back and forth through the squares.

They look like flaming torches;

they dart about like lightning.

⁵Nineveh summons her picked troops,

yet they stumble on their way.

They dash to the city wall;

the protective shield is put in place.

⁶The river gates are thrown open

and the palace collapses.

⁷It is decreed that Nineveh

be exiled and carried away.

Her female slaves moan like doves

and beat on their breasts.

⁸Nineveh is like a pool

whose water is draining away.

‘Stop! Stop!’ they cry,

but no-one turns back.

⁹Plunder the silver!

Plunder the gold!

The supply is endless,

the wealth from all its treasures!

¹⁰She is pillaged, plundered, stripped!

Hearts melt, knees give way,

bodies tremble, every face grows pale.

¹¹Where now is the lions’ den,

the place where they fed their young,

where the lion and lioness went,

and the cubs, with nothing to fear?

¹²The lion killed enough for his cubs

and strangled the prey for his mate,

filling his lairs with the kill

and his dens with the prey.

¹³‘I am against you,’

declares the Lord Almighty.

‘I will burn up your chariots in smoke,

and the sword will devour your young lions.

I will leave you no prey on the earth.

The voices of your messengers

will no longer be heard.’

Chapter 3

Woe to Nineveh

¹Woe to the city of blood,

full of lies,

full of plunder,

never without victims!

²The crack of whips,

the clatter of wheels,

galloping horses

and jolting chariots!

³Charging cavalry,

flashing swords

and glittering spears!

Many casualties,

piles of dead,

bodies without number,

people stumbling over the corpses –

⁴all because of the wanton lust of a prostitute,

alluring, the mistress of sorceries,

who enslaved nations by her prostitution

and peoples by her witchcraft.

⁵‘I am against you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.

‘I will lift your skirts over your face.

I will show the nations your nakedness

and the kingdoms your shame.

⁶I will pelt you with filth,

I will treat you with contempt

and make you a spectacle.

⁷All who see you will flee from you and say,

“Nineveh is in ruins – who will mourn for her?”

Where can I find anyone to comfort you?’

⁸Are you better than Thebes,

situated on the Nile,

with water around her?

The river was her defence,

the waters her wall.

⁹Cush and Egypt were her boundless strength;

Put and Libya were among her allies.

¹⁰Yet she was taken captive

and went into exile.

Her infants were dashed to pieces

at every street corner.

Lots were cast for her nobles,

and all her great men were put in chains.

¹¹You too will become drunk;

you will go into hiding

and seek refuge from the enemy.

¹²All your fortresses are like fig-trees

with their first ripe fruit;

when they are shaken,

the figs fall into the mouth of the eater.

¹³Look at your troops –

they are all weaklings.

The gates of your land

are wide open to your enemies;

fire has consumed the bars of your gates.

¹⁴Draw water for the siege,

strengthen your defences!

Work the clay,

tread the mortar,

repair the brickwork!

¹⁵There the fire will consume you;

the sword will cut you down –

and it will devour you like a swarm of locusts.

Multiply like grasshoppers,

multiply like locusts!

¹⁶You have increased the number of your merchants

till they are more numerous than the stars in the sky,

but like locusts they strip the land

and then fly away.

¹⁷Your guards are like locusts,

your officials like swarms of locusts

that settle in the walls on a cold day –

but when the sun appears they fly away,

and no-one knows where.

¹⁸King of Assyria, your shepherds slumber;

your nobles lie down to rest.

Your people are scattered on the mountains

with no-one to gather them.

¹⁹Nothing can heal you;

your wound is fatal.

All who hear the news about you

clap their hands at your fall,

for who has not felt

your endless cruelty?