Study notes

Nahum 2

Introducing NahumWho wrote it, when, why, and what to look for as you read

1:9–3:19 Section

Nahum spoke messages of judgement against Nineveh and Assyria.

The story about Jonah also included a message of judgement against Nineveh. That was many years before Nahum’s time. At that time Jonah spoke God’s message to the people and leaders of Nineveh. The Ninevites listened and changed their ways. They stopped doing evil things. God had mercy on them and didn’t bring the judgement he had warned them about.

But during Nahum’s time the people of Nineveh and Assyria were once again doing evil. The message that Nahum brought was different from Jonah’s message. It wasn’t only a warning to the city of Nineveh. It was an order from God about the entire nation of Assyria. The Assyrian government would have no more power. God had used the Assyrian government and armies as his tools to bring judgement.

They brought his judgement against the northern kingdom by taking complete control of it. They brought his judgement against the southern kingdom by causing much harm. God didn’t allow Assyria to take complete control of the southern kingdom. But the southern kingdom was forced to support the Assyrian government with taxes. The story about this is recorded in 2 Kings chapters 18 and 19.

Yet the Assyrians didn’t recognise that they had success because God gave it to them. They worshipped false gods and made evil plans against the Lord. They told lies, stole, murdered and practiced magic. They traded and did business in ways that ruined people groups and the land. These ways of living were completely against the way God wants people to live.

Because of this God would no longer use the Assyrians as his tool. The king, leaders, army and traders would be killed. Nahum spoke his messages about Assyria to the people of the southern kingdom. They were only one of the people groups that suffered because of Assyria. When God stopped the evil actions of the Assyrian government, it was good news. It was good news for people that the Assyrian government treated badly. Their suffering was over and they could have peace for a period of time.

2:1

Even if Nineveh's defenders prepared with walls, roads, defenses, and forces, they were destined to fail (Nahum 1:1–14).

2:2

The vine represents God's blessing to his people (Isaiah 27:2–6), while the stripped vine shows God's earlier punishment of them (Isaiah 5:1–7). The children of Israel were in a sad state compared to the days of the great kings David and Solomon. However, God promised to restore the splendor of his people.

2:4

Chariots were almost impossible to stop in battle due to their speed and strength.

2:5

  • The Assyrian king recovers from the surprise attack on Nineveh and calls out to his officers. He and the city are unprepared, so they hurry to the walls to stop the siege.

  • the protective shield is set in place (literally the covering is prepared): The meaning of the Hebrew term here is unclear. Covering probably refers to something that attackers or defenders used for protection. It helped shield them from weapons thrown through the air.

2:6

  • The rush to defend comes too late (Nahum 2:5). The defenses are already breached.

  • Nineveh had a reservoir created by a double dam on the Khosr River, a tributary of the Tigris that flowed through the city. The reservoir was enhanced by a series of flood gates.

    The Greek historian Diodorus reported that a great amount of rain had already swollen the city’s river system. By first closing, then opening the flood gates, Nineveh’s attackers released the stored water as a battering ram against the city walls.

2:7

  • Because God had decreed Nineveh’s exile, it would certainly happen.

  • beat upon their breasts: This was a common sign of mourning. People did this to show sorrow and regret (see, for example, Luke 18:13).

2:9

The great wealth from other nations came into the Assyrian capital through trade, tribute, and spoils, but it vanished quickly. Ruthless aggression and wickedness may succeed for a short time, but they will eventually face destruction (Proverbs 13:22; Obadiah 1:15; Luke 12:16–20).

2:10

emptied … desolate … laid waste: The Hebrew words here use alliteration (repeating similar sounds) to create a strong effect: buqah umbuqah umbullaqah. This sound pattern emphasizes how complete the destruction was. A similar effect in English would be “devastated, despoiled, and destroyed.”

2:11–13

After describing Nineveh’s fall (Nahum 2:1–10), Nahum includes the first of three taunt songs (see also 3:8–13, 14–19). Taunt songs were a common form of poetry in the ancient Near East.

In this song, Nahum uses sharp humor to compare Nineveh to a lion’s den. Sennacherib and other Assyrian kings often compared themselves to lions. They even decorated their palaces with images of lions and scenes of royal lion hunts.

However, because God had become Nineveh’s enemy, the city would no longer be a safe place for a powerful predator. Its strength and pride would not protect it.

Verse notes: Adapted by Mission Mutual (Aquifer Open Study Notes) from Tyndale Open Study Notes © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. CC BY-SA 4.0. Section notes: Biblica Study Notes © 2023 Biblica, Inc. CC BY-SA 4.0, via BibleAquifer. About the sources