Book of Nahum, Background

Quick Rundown

     Compressed in only three chapters, Nahum takes place about 140 years after Jonah when he preached to Ninevah, and the Ninevites repented. Nahum records the Lord’s judgment against Ninevah in the richest of language. Imagine it in the Hebrew language. By about 612 BC the Assyrian Empire was nearing collapse and Ninevah, the capital was about to fall to combined invasions from Babylonian, Scythian, and Median forces. We should pause here and point out Father issuing judgment on a nation which had been instrumental in judging many others, particularly Judah in this context. The Assyrians were excessively destructive and they were about to get a taste of their own medicine. Nahum’s oracle portrayed Ninevah’s fall as an example of how God won’t allow violent empires to endure. God will not allow unjust violent oppression and human suffering to continue because the death of the innocent grieves Him. The Lord’s goodness & justice are what moves Him to orchestrate the downfall of oppressive and arrogant nations. Ultimately, Assyria’s attempts to defend the capital proved futile (3:12).

Title

     The book’s title is taken from the prophet-of-God’s oracle against Ninevah, the capital of Assyria. Nahum’s name means “comfort” or “consolation” and is also a short form of Nehemiah which means “comfort of Yahweh.”

Author and Date

     There is very little background provided about Nahum except that he was an Elkoshite (1:1). Elkosh may have been his birthplace or place of ministry and attempts at identifying its location have been unsuccessful. Likely located somewhere in northern modern-day Iraq, some sources suggest Al Qosh. If this were the case that means Nahum would have been a descendant of the exiles taken to Assyria around 722 B.C. Other recommendations include Capernaum which means “town of Nahum” located in southern Judah (1:15). Nonetheless, for this specific oracle, the location of the prophet does not appear significant to the overall interpretation nor application of the book.

     There are also no mentions of any kings in the introduction, which means dating Nahum’s prophecy is dated by historical data. The message of judgment against Ninevah and overwhelmingly congruent and extrabiblical historical accounts portrayed the fall of the once strongest nation in the world around 612 B.C. Assyria’s power began to decline rapidly during this time just around the death of the ruler Ashurbanipal in 626 B.C. Nahum’s mention of the fall of No-amon, also called Thebes (3:8-10), at the hands of Ashurbanipal around 663 B.C. appeared to be still fresh in mind. There is also no mention of any rekindling that occurred ten years later, suggesting a mid-seventh century B.C. date during the reign of Manasseh (ca 695-642 B.C.; cf 2 Kings 21:1-18).

Background and Setting

     It is worth noting that a century prior thanks to Jonah’s preaching, Ninevah repented. Unfortunately, Ninevah returned to idolatry, violence, and arrogance of the worst kind (3:1-4). Assyria was at the height of its power, having recovered from Sennacherib’s defeat at Jerusalem in 701 B.C. (Isaiah 37:36-38). Assyria’s borders extended all the way into Egypt. Esarhaddon had recently transplanted conquered peoples into Samaria and Galilee in 670 B.C., leaving Syria and Palestine very weak (2 Kings 17:24; Ezra 4:2). But God brought Ninevah down under the rising power of Babylon’s king Nabopolassar and his son, the famous Nebuchadnezzar in 612 B.C. Assyria’s demise turned out just as God had prophesied.

Historical and Theological Themes

     Nahum forms a sequel to the book of Jonah, who prophesied a century earlier. Jonah recounted the remarkable remission of God’s judgment toward Ninevah if they repented.  In contrast, Nahum depicts God’s later execution of judgment. By most depictions, Ninevah was an impressive city which was also invulnerable with high walls reaching 100 feet high and moats as wide as 150 feet and deep as 60 feet. But Nahum established the fact that the sovereign God would bring vengeance upon those who violated His law, unabated (1:2-5, 8, 14; 3:5-7). The prophecy brought comfort to Judah and all the victims of Assyria. Nahum said Ninevah would end “with an overflowing flood” and it happened when the Tigris River overflowed to destroy enough of the walls to let the Babylonians through (1:8). Nahum also indicated that the city would be hidden (3:11). The site was not rediscovered until 1842 A.D.

Interpretive Challenges

     Nahum’s prophecy is straightforward in its prophetic announcement against Ninevah because of its people’s cruel atrocities and idolatrous practices. You can read more about the Battle of Ninevah at Encyclopedia Brittanica’s site.

Outline

I.    Superscription (1:1)

II.    Ninevah’s Destruction Declared (1:2-15)

       A. God’s Power Illustrated (1:2-8)

       B.     God’s Punishment Stated (1:9-15)

III.  Ninevah’s Destruction Detailed (2:1-13)

       A.     Ninevah is Assaulted (2:1-10)

       B.     Ninevah is Discredited (2:11-13)

IV.  Ninevah’s Destruction Executed (3:1-19)

       A.     First Blow (3:1-3)

       B.     Second Blow (3:4-7)

       C.     Third Blow (3:8-19)

Source: MacArthur Study Bible, NASB, Updated Edition. 2006. Nelson Bibles, Thomas Nelson. La Habra, CA.