Nahum
“Consolation or comfort”
Summary
Nahum was a Hebrew prophet whose book prophesies the destruction of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, as divine judgment for its cruelty and wickedness.
☩The Prophet
Nahum is called 'the Elkoshite,' referring to his native place Elkosh, the site of which is disputed. Some place it in Galilee, where Jerome was shown the ruins by his guide, and Capernaum (literally 'village of Nahum') is sometimes thought to have derived its name from the prophet. Others locate Nahum's birthplace in Assyria, where his tomb is still visited as a sacred site by Jews at the village of Alkush, north of Mosul. However, the imagery of his prophecy suggests an inhabitant of Palestine, to whom the rich pastures of Bashan, the vineyards of Carmel, and the blossoms of Lebanon were familiar emblems of fertility. The name Nahum means 'consolation' or 'comforter.'
☩Date and Setting
The prophecy is generally dated between 660 and 612 BC, after the fall of Thebes (No-Amon) which is mentioned as a past event, and before the destruction of Nineveh which it predicts. Some place it during the reign of Hezekiah, around 714 BC, when Sennacherib invaded Judah. The prophecy was written at a time when Assyria was still a powerful empire and Nineveh seemed impregnable.
☩Message and Style
The prophecy opens with a declaration of the character of the Lord in judgment—slow to anger but jealous, with furious vengeance against His enemies. God is good and a safe refuge in the day of trouble for those who trust in Him, but for His enemies He makes an utter end. The book then describes in vivid detail the coming siege and destruction of Nineveh, portraying the city as a 'bloody city' full of lies and robbery. Nahum's style is praised as occupying a high place in Hebrew literature—clear and forcible, with sonorous and rhythmical diction where the words re-echo the sense.
☩Fulfillment
The prophecy was fulfilled when Nineveh fell to the combined forces of the Medes and Babylonians in 612 BC. The 'gates of the rivers' mentioned in the prophecy may refer to the Tigris and canals, as historical accounts suggest that a flood caused a breach in the sun-dried brick walls. Archaeological explorations have abundantly confirmed that fire played a major role in the city's destruction, as Nahum foretold. The denunciations close with, 'There is no healing of thy bruise; thy wound is grievous,' a prophecy completely fulfilled in Nineveh's total and permanent destruction.
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Nahum," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VI (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Nahum," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 3.George Morrish, "Nahum," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).