Nahum 1
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
The burden of Nineveh - משא massa not only signifies a burden, but also a thing lifted up, pronounced, or proclaimed; also a message. It is used by the prophets to signify the revelation which they have received from God to deliver to any particular people: the oracle - the prophecy. Here it signifies the declaration from God relative to the overthrow of Nineveh, and the commission of the prophet to deliver it. As the Assyrians under Pul, Tiglath-pileser, and Shalmaneser, three of their kinds, had been employed by a just God for the chastisement of his disobedient people; the end being now accomplished by them, God is about to burn the rod wherewith he corrected Israel; and Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian empire, is to be destroyed. This prediction appears to have been accomplished a short time after this by Nebuchadnezzar and Cyaxares, the Ahasuerus of Scripture. Nahum, נחום Nachum, signifies comforter. The name was very suitable, as he was sent to comfort the people, by showing them that God was about to destroy their adversaries.
Open source ↗JEHOVAH'S ATTRIBUTES AS A JEALOUS JUDGE OF SIN, YET MERCIFUL TO HIS TRUSTING PEOPLE, SHOULD INSPIRE THEM WITH CONFIDENCE. HE WILL NOT ALLOW THE ASSYRIANS AGAIN TO ASSAIL THEM, BUT WILL DESTROY THE FOE. (Nah 1:1-15) burden of Nineveh--the prophetic doom of Nineveh. Nahum prophesied against that city a hundred fifty years after Jonah.
Open source ↗The burden of Nineveh,.... Of the city of Nineveh, and the greatness of it; see Gill on Jon 1:2; See Gill on Jon 3:3; Jonah was sent to this city to threaten it with ruin for its sins; at that time the king and all his people humbled themselves and repented, and the threatened destruction was averted; but they relapsing to their former iniquities, this prophet foretells what would be their certain fate; very rightly therefore the Targum, and some other Jewish writings (m), observe, that Jonah prophesied against this city of old; and that Nahum prophesied after him a considerable time, perhaps at a hundred years distance. This prophecy is called a burden; it was taken up by the prophet at the command of the Lord, and was carried or sent by him to Nineveh; and was a hard, heavy, grievous, and burdensome prophecy to that city, predicting its utter ruin and desolation; and which, as Josephus (n) says, came to pass hundred fifteen years after this prophecy; and which event is placed by the learned Usher (o) in the year of the world 3378 A.M., and which was 626 B.C.; and by others (p) in the year of the world 3403 A.M., of the flood 1747, in 601 B.C.; but by Dean Prideaux (q) and Mr. Whiston (r), in 612 B.C.; the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite; no other prophecy is called, a book but this, as Abarbinel observes; and gives this reason for it, because the other prophets immediately declared their prophecies, as Jonah; but Nahum never went to the Ninevites, but wrote his prophecy in a book, and sent it to them. It is called "the book of the vision"; what it contains being made known to him by the Lord in a vision, as was common; hence the prophets are called seers; and the prophet is described by the place of his birth, an Elkoshite; though some think he is so called…
Open source ↗The heading runs thus: "Burden concerning Nineveh; book of the prophecy of Nahum of Elkosh." The first sentence gives the substance and object, the second the form and author, of the proclamation which follows. משּׂא signifies a burden, from נשׂא, to lift up, to carry, to heave. This meaning has very properly been retained by Jonathan, Aquila, Jerome, Luther, and others, in the headings to the prophetic oracle. Jerome observes on Hab 1:1 : "Massa never occurs in the title, except when it is evidently grave and full of weight and labour." On the other hand, the lxx have generally rendered it λῆμμα in the headings to the oracles, or even ὅρασις, ὅραμα, ῥῆμα (Isaiah 13ff., Isa 30:6); and most of the modern commentators since Cocceius and Vitringa, following this example, have attributed to the word the meaning of "utterance," and derived it from נשׂא, effari. But נשׂא has no more this meaning than נשׂא קול can mean to utter the voice, either in Exo 20:7 and Exo 23:1, to which Hupfeld appeals in support of it, or in Kg2 9:25, to which others appeal. The same may be said of משּׂא, which never means effatum, utterance, and is never placed before simple announcements of salvation, but only before oracles of a threatening nature. Zac 9:1 and Zac 12:1 form no exception to this rule. Delitzsch (on Isa 13:1) observes, with regard to the latter passage, that the promise has at least a dark foil, and in Nahum 9:1ff. the heathen nations of the Persian and Macedonian world-monarchy are threatened with a divine judgment which will break in pieces their imperial glory, and through which they are to be brought to conversion to Jehovah; "and it is just in this that the burden consists, which the word of God lays upon these nations, that they may be brought to conversion through suc…
Open source ↗This title directs us to consider, 1. The great city against which the word of the Lord is here delivered; it is the burden of Nineveh, not only a prophecy, and a weighty one, but a burdensome prophecy, a dead weight to Nineveh, a mill-stone hanged about its neck. Nineveh was the place concerned, and the Assyrian monarchy, which that was the royal seat of. About 100 years before this Jonah had, in God's name, foretold the speedy overthrow of this great city; but then the Ninevites repented and were spared, and that decree did not bring forth. The Ninevites then saw clearly how much it was to their advantage to turn from their evil way; it was the saving of their city; and yet, soon after, they returned to it again; it became worse than ever, a bloody city, and full of lies and robbery. They repented of their repentance, returned with the dog to his vomit, and at length grew worse than ever they had been. Then God sent them not this prophet, as Jonah, but this prophecy, to read them their doom, which was now irreversible. Note, The reprieve will not be continued if the repentance be not continued in. If men turn from the good they began to do, they can expect no other than that God should turn from the favour he began to show, Jer 18:10. 2. The poor prophet by whom the word of the Lord is here delivered: It is the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite. The burden of Nineveh was what the prophet plainly foresaw, for it was his vision, and what he left upon record (it is the book of the vision), that, when he was gone, the event might be compared with the prediction and might confirm it. All the account we have of the prophet himself is that he was an Elkoshite, of the town called Elkes, or Elcos, which, Jerome says, was in Galilee. Some observe that the scripture ordi…
Open source ↗1:1 message . . . vision: This opening, similar to that of other prophetic books (cp. Obad 1:1; Hab 1:1; Mal 1:1), identifies Nahum as a prophet, one who uttered messages from God. • Nineveh became the capital of the Assyrian Empire sometime shortly after 705 BC and remained so until its destruction in 612 BC. • The name Nahum means “comfort” or “encouragement.” An important theme of his prophecy is that God will bring encouragement to his people through Nineveh’s downfall (Nah 1:12-15; see Isa 40:1).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
מַשָּׂא (massâʼ, H4853) — a burden; specifically, tribute, or (abstractly) porterage; figuratively, an utterance,… נִינְוֵה (Nîynᵉvêh, H5210) — Nineveh, the capital of Assyria סֵפֶר (çêpher, H5612) — properly, writing (the art or a document); by implication, a book חָזוֹן (châzôwn, H2377) — a sight (mentally), i.e. a dream, revelation, or oracle נַחוּם (Nachûwm, H5151) — Nachum, an Israelite prophet אֶלְקֹשִׁי (ʼElqôshîy, H512) — an Elkoshite or native of Elkosh
Open source ↗אֵל (ʼêl, H410) — strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity) קַנּוֹא (qannôwʼ, H7072) — jealous or angry יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God נָקַם (nâqam, H5358) — to grudge, i.e. avenge or punish בַּעַל (baʻal, H1167) — a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively) owner (often used with another noun in… חֵמָה (chêmâh, H2534) — heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever) צַר (tsar, H6862) — narrow; (as a noun) a tight place (usually figuratively, i.e. trouble); also a pebble ;… נָטַר (nâṭar, H5201) — to guard; figuratively, to cherish (anger) אֹיֵב (ʼôyêb, H341) — hating; an adversary
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָרֵךְ (ʼârêk, H750) — long אַף (ʼaph, H639) — properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the… גָּדוֹל (gâdôwl, H1419) — great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent כֹּחַ (kôach, H3581) — vigor, literally (force, in a good or a bad sense) or figuratively (capacity, means,… נָקָה (nâqâh, H5352) — to be (or make) clean (literally or figuratively); by implication (in an adverse sense)… דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb סוּפָה (çûwphâh, H5492) — a hurricane שְׂעָרָה (sᵉʻârâh, H8183) — a hurricane עָנָן (ʻânân, H6051) — a cloud (as covering the sky), i.e. the nimbus or thunder-cloud אָבָק (ʼâbâq, H80) — light particles (as volatile) רֶגֶל (regel, H7272) — a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda
Open source ↗גָּעַר (gâʻar, H1605) — to chide יָם (yâm, H3220) — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the… חָרַב (chârab, H2717) — to parch (through drought) i.e. (by analogy,) to desolate, destroy, kill יָבֵשׁ (yâbêsh, H3001) — to be ashamed, confused or disappointed; also (as failing) to dry up (as water) or wither… נָהָר (nâhâr, H5104) — a stream (including the sea; expectation the Nile, Euphrates, etc.); figuratively,… בָּשָׁן (Bâshân, H1316) — Bashan (often with the article), a region East of the Jordan אָמַל (ʼâmal, H535) — to droop; by implication to be sick, to mourn כַּרְמֶל (Karmel, H3760) — Karmel, the name of a hill and of a town in Palestine פֶּרַח (perach, H6525) — a calyx (natural or artificial); generally, bloom לְבָנוֹן (Lᵉbânôwn, H3844) — Lebanon, a mountain range in Palestine
Open source ↗הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) רָעַשׁ (râʻash, H7493) — to undulate (as the earth, the sky, etc.; also a field of grain), particularly through… גִּבְעָה (gibʻâh, H1389) — a hillock מוּג (mûwg, H4127) — to melt, i.e. literally (to soften, flow down, disappear), or figuratively (to fear,… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… תֵּבֵל (têbêl, H8398) — the earth (as moist and therefore inhabited); by extension, the globe; by implication,… יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to…
Open source ↗עָמַד (ʻâmad, H5975) — to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive) פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… זַעַם (zaʻam, H2195) — strictly froth at the mouth, i.e. (figuratively) fury (especially of God's displeasure… קוּם (qûwm, H6965) — to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative) חָרוֹן (chârôwn, H2740) — a burning of anger אַף (ʼaph, H639) — properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the… חֵמָה (chêmâh, H2534) — heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever) נָתַךְ (nâthak, H5413) — to flow forth (literally or figuratively); by implication, to liquify אֵשׁ (ʼêsh, H784) — fire (literally or figuratively) צוּר (tsûwr, H6697) — properly, a cliff (or sharp rock, as compressed); generally, a rock or boulder;… נָתַץ (nâthats, H5422) — to tear down
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God טוֹב (ṭôwb, H2896) — good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the… מָעוֹז (mâʻôwz, H4581) — a fortified place; figuratively, a defence יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… צָרָה (tsârâh, H6869) — tightness (i.e. figuratively, trouble); transitively, a female rival: יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… חָסָה (châçâh, H2620) — to flee for protection; figuratively, to confide in
Open source ↗עָבַר (ʻâbar, H5674) — to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive,… שֶׁטֶף (sheṭeph, H7858) — a deluge (literally or figuratively) עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application כָּלָה (kâlâh, H3617) — a completion; adverb, completely; also destruction מָקוֹם (mâqôwm, H4725) — properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific);… חֹשֶׁךְ (chôshek, H2822) — the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death,… רָדַף (râdaph, H7291) — to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively (of time) gone by) אֹיֵב (ʼôyêb, H341) — hating; an adversary
Open source ↗חָשַׁב (châshab, H2803) — properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e. (literally) to weave or (generally) to… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application כָּלָה (kâlâh, H3617) — a completion; adverb, completely; also destruction צָרָה (tsârâh, H6869) — tightness (i.e. figuratively, trouble); transitively, a female rival: קוּם (qûwm, H6965) — to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative) פַּעַם (paʻam, H6471) — a stroke, literally or figuratively (in various applications, as follow)
Open source ↗סָבַךְ (çâbak, H5440) — to entwine סִיר (çîyr, H5518) — a pot; also a thorn (as springing up rapidly); by implication, a hook סָבָא (çâbâʼ, H5433) — to quaff to satiety, i.e. become tipsy סֹבֶא (çôbeʼ, H5435) — potation, concretely (wine), or abstractly (carousal) אָכַל (ʼâkal, H398) — to eat (literally or figuratively) קַשׁ (qash, H7179) — straw (as dry) מָלֵא (mâlêʼ, H4392) — full (literally or figuratively) or filling (literally); also (concretely) fulness;… יָבֵשׁ (yâbêsh, H3002) — dry
Open source ↗יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… חָשַׁב (châshab, H2803) — properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e. (literally) to weave or (generally) to… רַע (raʻ, H7451) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God בְּלִיַּעַל (bᵉlîyaʻal, H1100) — without profit, worthlessness; by extension, destruction, wickedness יָעַץ (yâʻats, H3289) — to advise; reflexively, to deliberate or resolve
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God שָׁלֵם (shâlêm, H8003) — complete (literally or figuratively); especially friendly רַב (rab, H7227) — abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality) גַּזָז (gazâz, H1494) — to cut off; specifically to shear aflock or shave the hair; figuratively to destroy an… עָבַר (ʻâbar, H5674) — to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive,… עָנָה (ʻânâh, H6031) — to depress literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive (in various…
Open source ↗שָׁבַר (shâbar, H7665) — to burst (literally or figuratively) מוֹט (môwṭ, H4132) — a wavering, i.e. fall; by implication, a pole (as shaking); hence, a yoke (as essentially… נָתַק (nâthaq, H5423) — to tear off מוֹסֵר (môwçêr, H4147) — properly, chastisement, i.e. (by implication) a halter; figuratively, restraint
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God צָוָה (tsâvâh, H6680) — (intensively) to constitute, enjoin שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… זָרַע (zâraʻ, H2232) — to sow; figuratively, to disseminate, plant, fructify בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… כָּרַת (kârath, H3772) — to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to… פֶּסֶל (peçel, H6459) — an idol מַסֵּכָה (maççêkâh, H4541) — properly, a pouring over, i.e. fusion of metal (especially a cast image); by implication,… שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… קֶבֶר (qeber, H6913) — a sepulchre קָלַל (qâlal, H7043) — to be (causatively, make) light, literally (swift, small, sharp, etc.) or figuratively…
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
And He will stretch out His hand against the north and destroy Assyria; He will make Nineveh a desolation, as dry as a desert.
This is the burden of the word of the LORDagainst the land of Hadrachand Damascus its resting place—for the eyes of menand of all the tribes of Israelare upon the LORD—
“Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me.”
From that land he went forth into Assyria, where he built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Calah,
This is the burden against Babylon that Isaiah son of Amoz received:
Nineveh has been like a pool of water throughout her days, but now it is draining away. “Stop! Stop!” they cry, but no one turns back.
This is the burden against Moab: Ar in Moab is ruined, destroyed in a night! Kir in Moab is devastated, destroyed in a night!
This is the burden against the Desert by the Sea: Like whirlwinds sweeping through the Negev, an invader comes from the desert, from a land of terror.
This is the burden against Tyre: Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is laid waste, without house or harbor. Word has reached them from the land of Cyprus.
In the year that King Ahaz died, this burden was received: