Nahum Two

by Dr. Henry M. Morris

(taken from the Defender's Study Bible)

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Nahum 2:1 He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face: keep the munition, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily.

munition. The Hebrew word suggests this to be a fortification.

Nahum 2:2 For the LORD hath turned away the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel: for the emptiers have emptied them out, and marred their vine branches.

turned away. The Hebrew word for “turned away” basically means “turned back” or “turned again,” but is translated in very many different ways, depending on context. In this context (which is the coming destruction of Nineveh), it probably refers to Israel's subjugation and deportation as a cause of the coming judgment on Nineveh. Some modern translations translate it “restored,” with reference to Israel's future return after Assyria's defeat.

Nahum 2:3 The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken.

flaming torches. The red shields and armor are said to have been used both by Assyria and by the Medes, who later participated with the Babylonians in Nineveh's capture and obliteration. Although both armies used chariots, the meaning of the “flaming torches” is not clear. An intriguing possibility is that the prophetic vision here again mixes both near and far fulfillments. The prophet also sees in the distance, as it were, an end-time battle, with great tanks engaged in warfare. In the context of a prophet writing in 650 b.c. or so, these would best be described as “chariots with flaming torches.”

Nahum 2:4 The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings.

like the lightnings. Chariots that “run like the lightnings” would hardly be an appropriate description of battle chariots of the Medes, unless the metaphor is grossly exaggerated. It might be better again to see here a vision of an end-time battle, with tanks, strafing airplanes, and other speeding armored vehicles.

Nahum 2:5 He shall recount his worthies: they shall stumble in their walk; they shall make haste to the wall thereof, and the defence shall be prepared.

Nahum 2:6 The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved.

Nahum 2:7 And Huzzab shall be led away captive, she shall be brought up, and her maids shall lead her as with the voice of doves, tabering upon their breasts.

Huzzab. Huzzab was not the name of either Nineveh's queen nor its goddess. The word means “established,” so probably refers in irony to Nineveh itself, as the great city which had considered itself permanently “established” as the world's chief city, now being led away captive.

Nahum 2:8 But Nineveh is of old like a pool of water: yet they shall flee away. Stand, stand, shall they cry; but none shall look back.

Nahum 2:9 Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold: for there is none end of the store and glory out of all the pleasant furniture.

Nahum 2:10 She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain is in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness.

Nahum 2:11 Where is the dwelling of the lions, and the feedingplace of the young lions, where the lion, even the old lion, walked, and the lion's whelp, and none made them afraid?

Nahum 2:12 The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled his holes with prey, and his dens with ravin.

Nahum 2:13 Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions: and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.