Nahum2

Nahum chapter two vividly describes the impending destruction of Nineveh by an invading force. The prophet portrays the attacking army with fiery chariots and swift movements, overwhelming the city's defenses. Nineveh, once a powerful and secure city, is depicted as becoming desolate, its inhabitants fleeing in terror, and its vast treasures plundered. The chapter concludes with the Lord's direct declaration against Nineveh, affirming His judgment upon its predatory nature.
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Nineveh Warned of the Destroyer

1
One who scatters advances against you, O Nineveh. Guard the fortress! Watch the road! Brace yourselves! Summon all your strength! ​
2
For the LORD will restore the splendor of Jacob like the splendor of Israel, though destroyers have laid them waste and ruined the branches of their vine. ​

Terror of the Invading Army

3
The shields of his mighty men are red; the valiant warriors are dressed in scarlet. The fittings of the chariots flash like fire on the day they are prepared, and the spears of cypress have been brandished. ​
4
The chariots dash through the streets; they rush around the plazas, appearing like torches, darting about like lightning. ​
5
He summons his nobles; they stumble as they advance. They race to its wall; the protective shield is set in place. ​

The City Falls and is Plundered

6
The river gates are thrown open and the palace collapses. ​
7
It is decreed that the city be exiled and carried away; her maidservants moan like doves, and beat upon their breasts. ​
8
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. ​
9
“Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold!” There is no end to the treasure, an abundance of every precious thing. ​
10
She is emptied! Yes, she is desolate and laid waste! Hearts melt, knees knock, bodies tremble, and every face grows pale! ​

The Lion's Den Is Destroyed

11
Where is the lions’ lair or the feeding ground of the young lions, where the lion and lioness prowled with their cubs, with nothing to frighten them away? ​
12
The lion mauled enough for its cubs and strangled prey for the lioness. It filled its dens with the kill, and its lairs with mauled prey. ​
13
“Behold, I am against you,” declares the LORD of Hosts. “I will send your chariots up in smoke, and the sword will devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voices of your messengers will no longer be heard.” ​

Study Notes for Nahum 2

Verse 1

The destroyer refers to the invading army (Babylonians and Medes). The command to Nineveh to 'keep the munition' is ironic, highlighting the futility of their defenses against God’s determined judgment.

Verse 2

This verse is a parenthesis of comfort for Judah (Jacob/Israel), assuring them that although Assyria had previously marred their land, God will now restore them after Nineveh’s destruction.

Verse 3

The description of the invading shields and uniforms being 'red' and 'scarlet' emphasizes their terrifying appearance, possibly symbolizing blood or the fiery nature of the impending attack.

Verse 4

The vivid imagery compares the speed and recklessness of the chariots to torches and lightning, emphasizing the swift, chaotic, and irresistible nature of the siege.

Verse 5

The Assyrian king attempts to rally his 'worthies' (officers), but their hasty preparation and stumbling suggest panic and ineffective defense as the enemy reaches the walls.

Verse 6

Nineveh was protected by the Tigris River and a system of moats. The 'gates of the rivers' opening likely refers to a breach in the defenses caused by flooding, fulfilling a historical account of the city’s fall.

Verse 7

Huzzab (meaning 'the established one' or possibly a reference to the Queen) personifies Nineveh. Her capture and the mourning of her maids, symbolized by the 'voice of doves,' depict profound lamentation and humiliation.

Verse 8

Nineveh’s ancient stability is compared to a 'pool of water,' but now its inhabitants flee like draining water. Their panic is so complete that no one heeds the desperate cries to 'Stand, stand.'

Verse 9

The prophet instructs the invaders to 'take ye the spoil,' highlighting the immense wealth Nineveh had amassed through centuries of conquest and plunder, now becoming the spoil of others.

Verse 10

A powerful description of utter desolation, using three terms for emptiness. The physical symptoms (melting heart, smiting knees, blackness in faces) illustrate the paralyzing terror gripping the city’s population.

Verse 11

Nineveh (Assyria) is consistently likened to a vicious lion, symbolizing its predatory nature and oppressive power over surrounding nations. This rhetorical question taunts them for the loss of their secure dominion.

Verse 12

This verse reinforces the 'lion' metaphor, emphasizing how Assyria violently acquired resources ('ravin') to enrich itself, feeding its kingdom through relentless military aggression and cruelty.

Verse 13

This climactic declaration confirms that the destruction of Nineveh is a direct, sovereign act of judgment by Yahweh, the 'LORD of hosts,' ending Assyria’s reign of terror and cutting off their communication and military strength.

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