The Books of the Bible by John H. Sailhamer

Author:John H. Sailhamer
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Christian, Reference, Criticism & Interpretation, Bible Study, Bible Study & Reference, Two Hours or More (65-100 Pages), Religion & Spirituality, Christian Books & Bibles
ISBN: 9780310500315
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 1998-08-10T00:00:00+00:00

Nahum

The prophet Nahum prophesies in the southern kingdom of Judah during the last decades of the dynasty of David. He begins with a hymn depicting the glory of the Lord and proclaiming the Lord as a mighty and righteous God who rules not only among his own people but also over all of his universe (Nah. 1:1-14). Thus Nahum sees God’s relationship to Israel both through the lens of the covenant and through the lens of creation. He proclaims comfort (note: the name Nahum means comfort in Hebrew) to Judah by noting that the Lord will judge their bitter enemy, the Assyrians. This mighty nation, which has by now overrun Judah and Israel for many years, has transgressed God’s edict. Assyria now stands under the impending judgment of God and will quickly pass from the scene of world history (Nah. 1:15b).

Nahum draws out the implication of Nineveh’s destruction for Judah. Simply put, it means Judah’s salvation (Nah. 1:15; 2:2). There is always a note of salvation in the midst of the prophets’ threats of judgment. The reader’s attention is directed to the “one who brings good news, who proclaims peace” (1:15). The picture draws on the imagery and hope established elsewhere in the Old Testament (cf. Gen. 49:10; Isa. 9:6).

The destruction of Nineveh is portrayed in graphic detail. The point of this depiction is to emphasize that it is the Lord who has brought this against them: “‘I am against you,’ declares the LORD Almighty. ‘I will burn up your chariots in smoke’“ (Nah. 2:13). Moreover, the book intends to show that God has done this great deed in order to “restore the splendor of Jacob” (2:2). In other words, behind the events of history stands the sovereign power of God, and behind that power stands God’s purpose. The nations have mistreated Israel, and God will not let that go unpunished. This is the lesson of God’s covenant with Abraham. God had promised, “Whoever curses you I will curse” (Gen. 12:3).

The fall of Nineveh is recounted a second time in order to put it in context with God’s ongoing work of judgment against the nations (Nah. 3:8-11). What God has done to Nineveh is merely an example of his actions among the other nations. No nation, not even the mighty Assyrian empire, can escape the chastening hand of God. Assyria scattered God’s people, and now they themselves “are scattered on the mountains with no one to gather them” (3:18).

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