Nahum 3

Word Biblical Commentary's Outline

• • 5. Judgment oracle against Nineveh 3:1–7

  • 6. The analogy of Thebes 3:8–13

  • 7. Satirical warnings for Nineveh 3:14–17

  • 8. Rejoicing over ultimate defeat 3:18–19

Tyndale Old Testament Commentary's Outline

• 7. WOE TO NINEVEH (3:1–19)

  • a. Woe (3:1)

  • b. Fighting and death (3:2–3)

  • c. The whore’s disgrace (3:4–7)

  • d. Assyria the invincible? A satire (3:8–17)

    • i. Mighty Thebes destroyed (3:8–10)

    • ii. Assyrian inadequacy (3:11–13)

    • iii. Fruitless preparations (3:14–17)

  • e. How the mighty have fallen (3:18–19)

Woe over Nineveh (3:1-19)

3:1-3 Destruction of Nineveh

3:1 Woe to the bloody city,
all full of lies and plunder
—no end to the prey!

2 The crack of the whip,
and rumble of the wheel,
galloping horse and bounding chariot!

3 Horsemen charging,
flashing sword and glittering spear,
hosts of slain,
heaps of corpses,
dead bodies without end
—they stumble over the bodies!

What are the different senses that describe Nineveh?

The Assyrians were famous for their treatment of their foes, what picture does the prophet give us of Assyria's own treatment at the hands of their conquerors.

3:4-7 Humiliation of Nineveh

3:4 And all for the countless whorings of the prostitute,
graceful and of deadly charms,
who betrays nations with her whorings,
and peoples with her charms.

5 Behold, I am against you,
declares the Lord of hosts,
and will lift up your skirts over your face;
and I will make nations look at your nakedness
and kingdoms at your shame.

6 I will throw filth at you
and treat you with contempt
and make you a spectacle.

7 And all who look at you will shrink from you and say,
“Wasted is Nineveh; who will grieve for her?”
Where shall I seek comforters for you?

What do you think verse 4 has to do with Nineveh's downfall?

"The reason for this terror is that she had lusted for power like the lusting of a harlot. Nineveh sold her military aid and power in order to lure nations under her control. By this statement Nahum may have also subtly alluded to Ishtar, the Assyrian-Babylonian goddess of sex and war, who was called a harlot and some of whose exploits were acts of savagery. Nineveh’s control over others was exercised by sorceries and witchcraft. The Assyrians used hundreds of incantations in order to seek to foretell the future and influence others’ lives; they also read omens in the movements of birds, animals, clouds, and in dreams."

Are there things in our culture that might be described as graceful and full of deadly charms? What are a few of them?

How is the Lord going to deal with Nineveh’s pride and Harlotry?

Mocking and Humiliation are hurtful. Why is this behavior acceptable here?

3:8-13 The failing strength of Assyria

3:8 Are you better than Thebes
that sat by the Nile,
with water around her,
her rampart a sea,
and water her wall?

9 Cush was her strength;
Egypt too, and that without limit;
Put and the Libyans were her helpers.

10 Yet she became an exile;
she went into captivity;
her infants were dashed in pieces
at the head of every street;
for her honored men lots were cast,
and all her great men were bound in chains.

11 You also will be drunken;
you will go into hiding;
you will seek a refuge from the enemy.

12 All your fortresses are like fig trees
with first-ripe figs—
if shaken they fall
into the mouth of the eater.

13 Behold, your troops
are women in your midst.
The gates of your land
are wide open to your enemies;
fire has devoured your bars.

Why is Assyria compared to Egypt here?

What are some of the images that the prophet uses to describes Assyria's dissolution?

Ultimately, who is in charge?

3:14-19a Evaporating Defense

3:14 Draw water for the siege;
strengthen your forts;
go into the clay;
tread the mortar;
take hold of the brick mold!

15 There will the fire devour you;
the sword will cut you off.
It will devour you like the locust.
Multiply yourselves like the locust;
multiply like the grasshopper!

16 You increased your merchants
more than the stars of the heavens.
The locust spreads its wings and flies away.

17 Your princes are like grasshoppers,
your scribes like clouds of locusts
settling on the fences
in a day of cold—
when the sun rises, they fly away;
no one knows where they are.

18 Your shepherds are asleep,
O king of Assyria;
your nobles slumber.
Your people are scattered on the mountains
with none to gather them.

19a There is no easing your hurt;
your wound is grievous.

How are Nineveh’s citizens pictured?

How are Nineveh’s defenses pictured?

3:19b Joy of Assyria's Downfall

3:19b All who hear the news about you
clap their hands over you.
For upon whom has not come
your unceasing evil?

Why would people take joy in Nineveh’s destruction?

Can you think of any modern states or rulers that there was joy about the downfall of?

No doubt we all have felt overwhelmed by the darkness both within ourselves and in our world. Nahum lived in a dark time, a time in which the faithful few must have wondered how long they would have to resist cultural and spiritual compromise.

Have you ever found your will to do what’s right weakening as you became discouraged with what you saw in your life and in the world around you? The prophet Nahum reminds us of God’s active hand, working even in the darkest of times to bring justice and hope throughout the world.