Nahum 1
1
Yahweh’s Judgment of Nineveh
1This is the book of the vision of Nahum who was from the village of Elkosh. # 1:1 Nahum means “full of comfort.” Elkosh means “God is my bow.” Nahum had a vision in which he saw the events that he described in these three chapters. He may have received his message while in a trance or some similar state. A prophecy concerning Nineveh:
2Yahweh is a God who tolerates no rivals. # 1:2 Or “Yahweh is a jealous God.” The English word jealous most often carries a negative connotation of being envious of what someone else has. This is not the full sense of the Hebrew word qannoʾ, which is best understood as God’s burning passion to fully possess what is his. God is jealous over those whom he loves and wants them to be fully his. And God is vengeful toward anyone who would harm those who belong to him. See Ex. 20:5; 34:14; Deut. 32:21; James (Jacob) 4:5.
Lord Yahweh will take vengeance on his foes.
He punishes his adversaries
and keeps wrath for his enemies. # 1:2 Verses 2–8 are in the form of an alphabetic poem, known as an acrostic. An acrostic poem begins each line in Hebrew with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet in alphabetical order. In this case, the poem goes only halfway through the alphabet, up to the eleventh of the twenty-two letters. This type of poem is found in several places in the Old Testament (see Pss. 25; 34; 37; 111; 112; 119; 145; Prov. 31:10–31; Lam. 1–4).
3Yahweh is very slow to anger # 1:3 Or literally “Yahweh is long of nostril,” a figure of speech for “Yahweh does not easily become angry.” See Ex. 34:6; Num. 14:18. but so great in power;
Yahweh will not let the guilty go unpunished.
He marches out in the whirlwind and storm, # 1:3 Or “His way is in the whirlwind and storm.” That is, where the Lord walks, great storms begin to blow. God will use the storms of our lives to reveal himself and his ways to us.
and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
4He rebukes the sea and dries it up
and makes all the rivers run dry. # 1:4 The Jewish reader would immediately see the reference to the miracle-crossings of the Red Sea (see Ex. 14; Ps. 106:9) and the river Jordan (see Josh. 3:16–17; 4:23).
At his rebuke, the lush meadows of Bashan and Carmel wither;
the flowering fields of Lebanon fade. # 1:4 Bashan, Carmel, and Lebanon represent the most fertile parts of the land (see Isa. 33:9; 35:2).
5In his presence, the mountains quake
and the hills melt away. # 1:5 See Judg. 5:4–5; Mic. 1:4; Hab. 3:6.
When he appears, the earth heaves,
and the world and all who dwell in it are laid waste.
6Who can stand before an angry God?
Who can face his fiery fury? # 1:6 See Jer. 7:20; 42:18; 44:6.
When his wrath erupts, it pours out like lava,
and boulders are broken to bits as he approaches.
God, Our Hiding Place
7The goodness of Yahweh is beyond belief!
For when trouble comes, we run into his heart and hide.
He always cares for those # 1:7 Or “he knows those.” This knowledge (Hb. yadaʿ) is more than understanding us. It is also caring and protecting us. He knows us fully and protects us when we turn to him, for we are one with him in Christ. We best see God’s goodness in times of trouble. who seek refuge in him.
8But with an overwhelming flood, # 1:8 Linguists are divided over where this phrase connects. Some connect it to the previous line: “He cares for those who seek refuge in him in [the time of] an overwhelming flood.” Others to what follows: “With an overwhelming flood, he will make an end of Nineveh.” Perhaps this ambiguity is intentional, and the phrase connects to both. See D. T. Tsumura, “Janus Parallelism in Nah 1:8,” Journal of Biblical Literature 102 (1983): 109–11.
he will make a complete end of Nineveh, # 1:8 Or “her place.”
and darkness will overtake his enemies. # 1:8 This “darkness” may be a metaphor of calamity or even destruction (see Job 18:18).
Prophecy concerning Assyria
9Whatever evil plot you hatch against Yahweh,
he will so completely thwart
that it will not rise up a second time.
10They will be like drunkards from their carousing—
like entangled thorns, they will be consumed as dry stubble. # 1:10 This verse is recognized as the most difficult verse in Nahum to translate. Some view it as the most difficult verse in the Bible. Some modern translations omit the words “like drunkards from their carousing.” See J. M. Powis Smith, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on Micah, Zephaniah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Obadiah and Joel (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1911), 294.
11From you, Nineveh, came one
who plotted evil against Yahweh,
a wicked, worthless strategist. # 1:11 This is likely a reference to King Sennacherib, who ruled over Assyria from 705 to 681 BC and who besieged Jerusalem in 701 during the reign of Hezekiah, king of Judah (see 2 Kings 18:13–19:37).
Prophecy concerning Judah
12Yahweh says,
“Although your enemies are many and secure in their alliances,
they will nonetheless be mowed down and pass away.
Though I have afflicted you, my people,
I will not do it again.
13And now I will break his yoke of bondage from your neck
and tear away your shackles of Assyrian oppression.”
Prophecy concerning the King of Nineveh
14Yahweh has decreed against you, Nineveh:
“Your dynasty is over! # 1:14 Or literally “it will not be sown from your name anymore.” The culture of that time regarded the lack of descendants and loss of the family name as a serious matter (see Deut. 7:24; 29:20; 1 Sam. 24:21).
Every idol in the temple of your gods I will destroy,
your carved and engraved idols.
I will dig your grave, for you are nothing to me.”
Prophecy concerning Judah
15What a beautiful sight to behold—
the precious feet of the messenger
coming over the mountains to announce good news
and to proclaim peace!
People of Judah, celebrate your feasts,
keep your solemn promises to God, # 1:15 See Pss. 22:25; 66:13. Verse 15 is 2:1 in the Hebrew Bible.
for the wicked one # 1:15 Or “Belial.” Belial means “the wicked one” or “the worthless one.” This is a reference to both the demonic power coming against God’s people and the king of Assyria, who will never invade the land again. will never pass through you again;
he is completely cut off.
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Nahum 1: TPT
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