1 The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

2 God is jealous, and the LORD revenges; the LORD revenges, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserves wrath for his enemies.

3 The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

4 He rebukes the sea, and makes it dry, and dries up all the rivers: Bashan languishes, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languishes.

5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yes, the world, and all that dwell therein.

6 Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.

7 The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knows them that trust in him.

8 But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.

9 What do you imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.

10 For while they be entwined together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.

11 There is one come out of you, that imagines evil against the LORD, a wicked counselor.

12 Thus said the LORD; Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more.

13 For now will I break his yoke from off you, and will burst your bonds in sunder.

14 And the LORD has given a commandment concerning you, that no more of your name be sown: out of the house of your gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make your grave; for you are vile.

15 Behold on the mountains the feet of him that brings good tidings, that publishes peace! O Judah, keep your solemn feasts, perform your vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through you; he is utterly cut off.

burden. Compare Isa 13:1 Isa 27:13. See the Structure, p. 930), and Habakkuk. = A prophetic oracle: or, the prophetic doom of Nineveh, written about ninety (603-514 = B.C.) years before Nineveh’s doom; and while the Assyrian Empire was at its height. The doom of Nineveh came therefore 176 years after Jonah’s mission. The prophecy was addressed to Nahum’s own People, but as a menace to Nineveh.

Nineveh. This heading is not "undoubtedly by a later hand", as alleged. The words "the place thereof" ( Nah 1:8) would be unintelligible without it. Nineveh is not mentioned again until Nah 2:8; and is only hinted at elsewhere ( Nah 3:1, Nah 3:18). The Structure below is the best commentary.

vision. Like Isaiah, always one whole. Not written before or separately from, its deliverance.

Nahum = the compassionate, or consoler. The name refers back to Jehovah’s compassion connected with Jonah’s mission eighty-seven years before. Nothing is known of Nahum beyond his book.

Elkoshite. Hebrew. ’Elkoshi. A village of this name exists to-day, twentyfour miles north of Nineveh (now Konyunjik). See Layard’s Nineveh and its Remains, i. p. 233.

GOD. Hebrew El. App-4.

jealous. Reference to Pentateuch ( Exo 20:5-7. Deu 4:24). App-92. See the Structure (book comments for Nahum), and note the subjects of "A" and "A"; "B" and "B"; "C" and "C".

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4. Note the Figure of speech Epizeuxis (App-6), for great emphasis.

revengeth = avengeth.

is furious = a possessor of wrath. Hebrew "lord of wrath".

take vengeance on = be an Avenger to.

wrath. Figure of speech Ellipsis (Absolute). App-6.

for = against.

slow to anger = long-suffering. Reference to Pentateuch (Ex. Nah 34:6, Nah 34:7). App-92. Hebrew "Long of anger". The opposite of Pro 14:17. Compare Jon 4:2.

great. Compare Job 9:4; and see the Structure "-3-5", above.

will not, &c. Reference to Pentateuch ( Exo 34:7. Num 14:18).

acquit = clear, or hold guiltless.

He rebuketh the sea. Reference to Pentateuch ( Ex. 14.) Compare Psa 106:9.

and drieth up, &c. Compare Jos 4:23. Psa 74:15.

The mountains quake, &c. Compare Mic 1:3, Mic 1:4.

burned = upheaved.

world. Hebrew. tebel = the world as inhabited.

abide = stand up. Compare Jer 10:10. Mal 3:2.

good. See the Structure "7", above. Compare 1Ch 16:34. Psa 100:5. Jer 33:11. Lam 3:25.

strong hold = a place of safety.

He knoweth, &c. Compare Psa 1:6. 2Ti 2:12.

trust in = flee for refuge to. Hebrew. hasah. App-69.

But, &c. Note the transition in Nah 1:8, which is explained by the Structure "8", above.

the place thereof. Hebrew her place: i.e. Nineveh’s. See note on title above ( Nah 1:1).

imagine = devise. Compare Psa 2:1.

affliction = distress, or trouble; Hebrew. zarar, as in Nah 1:7, i.e. the trouble that now threatens Nineveh.

the second time. Referring to the rising up after Jonah’s proclamation. Compare "rise", Jer 51:64. Same word as "abide", Nah 1:6, above.

folden = entangled.

thorns. The emblem of hostile armies ( Isa 10:17; Isa 27:4).

of. Genitive of Origin. App-17.

thee: i.e. Nineveh (feminine)

evil. Hebrew. ra’a. App-44.

a wicked counsellor = a counselor of Belial. The counsellor probably = Rabshakeh; and Belial = Sennacherib. See note on p. 1261.

quiet = secure.

cut down = cut down (like dry stubble).

when he, &c. Reference to Pentateuch ( Exo 12:12). Compare Isa 8:8. Dan 11:10.

-12 Though, &c. = And [now, O Judah], &c. Through not seeing the Structure and the change of subject at "-12-14", modern critics say "the first part of this verse is certainly more or less corrupt"; and they alter the Hebrew text to make it agree with the last clause, the subject changing there to the removal of evil from Judah.

thee: i.e. Judah ( Nah 1:13).

will I break, &c. Reference to Pant. ( Gen 27:40). App-92.

his yoke. Some codices read "his rod".

no more of thy name, &c. : i.e. the dynasty of Nineveh should end.

make = make [it]: i.e. "the house of thy gods".

grave = sepulchre. Hebrew. keber. See note on Gen 23:4. App-35.

vile = despicable. Compare Isa 37:37, Isa 37:38.

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos (App-6), for emphasis, calling attention to the reference to Isa 52:7, the the hypotheticalsecond Isaiah, 100 years before he is supposed by modern critics to have lived.

keep thy solemn feasts. Figure of speech. Polyptoton. App-6. Hebrew "feast thy solemn feasts" : used for great emphasis. Reference to Pentateuch ( Deu 16:16, &c.; Nah 23:21, &c). App-92.

the wicked. Hebrew [the man of] Belial. See note on Nah 1:11.