TRV
See on the biblical-era map
Study This Verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Nahum 2:1–10. His two-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
Here is, I. An alarm of war sent to Nineveh, Nah 2:1. The prophet speaks of it as just at hand, for it is neither doubtful nor far distant: "Look about thee, and see, he that dashes in pieces has come up before thy face. Nebuchadnezzar, who is noted, and will be yet more so, for dashing nations in pieces, begins with thee, and will dissipate and disperse thee;" so some render the word. Babylon is called the hammer of the whole earth, Jer. 1:23. The attempt of Nebuchadnezzar upon Nineveh is public, bold, and daring: "He has come up before thy face, avowing his design to ruin thee; and therefore stand to thy arms, O Nineveh! keep the munition; secure thy towers and magazines: watch the way; set guards upon all the avenues to the city; make thy loins strong; encourage thy soldiers; animate thyself and them; fortify thy power mightily, as cities do when an enemy is advancing against them" (this is spoken ironically); "do the utmost thou canst, yet thou shalt not be able to put by the stroke of this judgment, for there is no counsel or strength against the Lord."
II.A manifesto published, showing the causes of the war (Nah 2:2):
The Lord has turned away the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel, that is, 1. The Assyrians have been abusive to Jacob, the two tribes (have humbled and mortified them), as well as to Israel, the ten tribes, have emptied them, and marred their vine-branches. For this God will reckon with them; though done long since, it shall come into the account now against that kingdom, and Nineveh the head-city of it. God's quarrel with them is for the violence done to Jacob. Or, (2.) God is now by Nebuchadnezzar about to turn away the pride of Jacob by the captivity of the two tribes, as he did the pride of Israel by their captivity; He has determined to do it, to bring emptiers upon them, and the enemy that is to do it must begin with Nineveh, and reduce that first, and humble the pride of that. God is looking upon proud cities, and abasing them, even those that are nearest to him. Samaria is humbled, and Jerusalem is to be humbled, and their pride brought low; and shall not Nineveh, that proud city, be brought down too? Emptiers have emptied the cities, and marred the vine-branches in the country of Jacob and Israel; and must not the excellency of Nineveh, that is so much her pride, be turned away too?
III.A particular account given in of the terrors wherein the invading enemy shall appear against Nineveh; every thing shall contribute to make him formidable.
1.The shields of his mighty men are made red, and probably their other arms and array, as if they were already tinctured with the blood they had shed, or intended hereby to signify they would put all to the sword; they hung out a red flag, in token that they would give no quarter.
2.The valiant men are in scarlet; not only red clothes, to intimate what bloody work they designed to make, but rich clothes, to intimate the wealth of the army, and that is the sinews of war.
3.The chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation; when they are making their approaches, they shall fly as swiftly as lightning; the wheels shall strike fire upon the stones, and those that drive them shall drive furiously with a flaming indignation, as Jehu drove. Or they carried flaming torches with them in the open chariots, when they made their approach in the night, as Gideon's soldiers carried lamps in their pitchers, to be both a guide to themselves and a terror to their enemies, and with them to set all on fire wherever they went.
4.The fir-trees shall be terribly shaken; the great men of Nineveh, that overtop their neighbours, as the stately firs do the shrubs; or the very standing trees shall be made to shake by the violent concussions of the earth, which that great army shall cause.
5.The chariots of war shall be very terrible (Nah 2:4): They shall rage in the streets, that is, those that drive them shall rage; you would think the chariots themselves raged; they shall be so numerous, and drive with so much fury, that even in the broad ways, where, one would think, there should be room enough, they shall jostle one another; and these iron chariots shall be made so bright that in the beams of the sun they shall seem like torches in the night; they shall run like the lightnings, so swiftly, so furiously. Nebuchadnezzar's commanders are here called his worthies, his gallants (so the margin reads it), his heroes; those he shall recount, and order them immediately and without fail to render themselves at their respective posts, for he is entering upon action, is resolved to take the field immediately, and to open the campaign with the siege of Nineveh. His worthies shall remember (so some read it); they shall be mindful of the duty of their place, and the charge they have received, and shall thereby be made so intent upon their business that they shall stumble in their walks, shall make more haste than good speed; they stumble, but shall not fall; for they shall make haste to the wall thereof, shall open the trenches; and the defence, or the covered way, shall be prepared (something to shelter them from the darts of the besieged), and they shall so closely carry on the siege, and with so much vigour, that at length the gates of the rivers shall be opened (Nah 2:6); those gates of Nineveh which open upon the river Tigris (on which Nineveh was built) shall be first forced by, or betrayed to, the enemy, and by those gates they shall enter. And then the palace shall be dissolved, either the king's house or the house of Nisroch his god; the same word signifies both a palace and a temple. When the God of heaven goes forth to contend with a people, neither the palaces nor their kings, neither the temples nor their gods, can protect and shelter them, but must all inevitably fall with them.
IV.A prediction of the consequences of this; and it is easy to guess how dismal those will be.
1.The queen shall fall into the hands of the enemy (Nah 2:7): Huzzab shall be led away captive; she that was established (so some read it), thought herself safe because she was concealed and shut up in secret, shall be discovered (so the margin reads it) and shall be led away captive, in greater disgrace than that of common prisoners; she shall be brought up in a mock state, and her maids of honour shall lead her, because she is weak and faint, not able to bear such frights and hardships, which are doubly hard and frightful to those that have not been used to them; they shall attend her, not to speak cheerfully to her and to encourage her, but murmuring and moaning themselves, as with the voice of doves, the doves of the valleys (Eze 7:16), noted for their mourning, Isa 38:14; Isa 59:11. They shall be tabering upon their breasts, beating their own breasts in grief and vexation, as if they were drumming upon them, for so the word signifies.
2.The inhabitants, though numerous, shall none of them be able to make head against the invaders, or stand their ground (Nah 2:8): Nineveh is of old like a pool of water, replenished with people as a pool with water (and waters signify multitudes, Rev 17:15), or as those waters with fish; it was long ago a populous city; in Jonah's time there were 120,000 little children in it (Jon 4:11), and, ordinarily, cities and countries are increasing in their number every year; but, though they have so many hands to be employed in the public service, yet they shall not be able to inspire one another with courage, but they shall flee away like cowards. Their commanders shall do what they can to animate them; they shall cry, "Stand, stand, have a good heart on it, and we shall do well enough;" but none shall so much as look back; they shall not have the least spark of courage remaining, but every one shall think it is his wisest course to make his best of the opportunity to escape; they shall not so much as look back to see who calls for them. Note, God can dispirit the strongest and boldest, in the day of distress, so that they shall not be what one would expect from them, but like a pool of water, the water whereof is dried up and gone.
3.The wealth of the city shall become a prey, and all its rich furniture shall fall into the hands of the victorious enemy (Nah 2:9); they shall thus animate and excite one another to plunder: Take the spoil of silver; take the spoil of gold; thus the officers shall stir up the soldiers to improve their opportunity; here are silver and gold enough for them, for there is no end of the store of money and plate. Nineveh, having been of old like a pool of water, has gathered a vast deal of mud; and abundance of glory it has out of all the pleasant furniture, all the vessels of desire, which they have gloried in and which shall now be a prey and a pride to the conquerors. Note, Those who prepare raiment as the clay, and heap up silver as the dust, know not who may put on the raiment and divide the silver, Job 27:16, Job 27:17. Thus this rich city is empty, and void, and waste, Nah 2:10. See the vanity of worldly wealth; instead of defending its owners, it does but expose them, and enable their enemies to do them so much the more mischief.
4.The soldiers and people shall have no heart to appear for the defence of the city. Their spirits shall melt away like wax before the fire; their knees shall smite together (as Belshazzar's did, in his agony, Dan 5:6), so that they shall not be able to stand their ground, no, nor to make their escape; much pain shall be in all loins, as is the case in extreme frights, so that they shall not be able to hold up their backs. And the faces of them all shall gather blackness, like that of a pot that is every day over the fire; so the word signifies. Note, Guilt in the conscience will fill men with terror in an evil day, and those who place their happiness in the wealth of this world and set their hearts upon it think themselves undone when their silver, and their gold, and their pleasant furniture are taken from them.
Historical interpretation
Fourteen Centuries of Reception
2 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
(Verse 3 and following) The shield of the strong is ablaze, the men of the army in scarlet; the fiery chariots are on the day of its preparation; and the drivers are asleep, they are disturbed on the journey, the chariots collide in the streets. Their appearance is like torches, like lightning running to and fro. They will remember their mighty men, they will rush on their way, they will quickly climb its walls, and the shelter will be prepared. The gates of the rivers are opened, and the temple is laid waste to the ground, and the captive soldier is taken away, and her maidservants threatened, moaning like doves, murmuring in their hearts. LXX: The arms of his power are from men, strong men mocking in fire, the reins of their chariots on the day of his preparation, and the horsemen will fear in the exits: and the chariots will be confounded, and they will collide in the streets. Their appearance is like lamps of fire, and like running lightning, and their nobles will be remembered, and they will flee in the days, and they will be weakened on their journey, and they will hasten to the walls, and they will prepare their defenses: the gates of the cities are open, and the royal palaces have fallen, and the wealth has been revealed; and she herself ascended, and her maids were led like doves speaking in their hearts. According to the history, the order follows against Nineveh, and the army of the Babylonians coming against it is described. Moreover, what it says: fiery reins of chariots, in burning cords, signifies the preparedness of speed, and is narrated as the parade of those preparing for battle. And now the Scripture weaves together things that Israel once suffered, things that Assyria did, and things that the Babylonians practice against the Assyrians. Therefore, he says, it is not surprising that they come so quickly to devastate, since the charioteers and strong men, either before or after, have been put to sleep, either in Israel or in Assyria. And returning to the order of description: The multitude of those coming is so great, that the marching column is mixed together on the path, and cannot be distinguished. The chariots themselves, while not finding the way, collide with each other in the streets due to the multitude. The appearance of the Babylonians is like lamps, like lightning running around, so that they terrify their enemies before they defeat them with the sword. Then Assyria will remember its strong ones, and will seek out those who fell on the journeys, and will quickly climb the walls of Nineveh, and because of the very long siege will prepare tents to drive away the heat. But what does it profit to build a house, unless the Lord builds it? What does it profit to close the gates, which the Lord opens? The gates of Nineveh are open, which had a multitude of citizens like rivers, and its temple, that is, its kingdom, is destroyed, and its soldiers are taken captive, that is, they are all led into Babylon. But understand that the handmaids of Nineveh, by metaphor, are the smaller cities, villages, and castles. Indeed, even the captive women will threaten before the faces of the victors; and there will be so great a terror that not even a sob or a wail of pain will burst forth, but they will silently groan within themselves and, with a muffled murmur, swallow their tears in the manner of cooing doves. This is according to Hebrew tradition. Now let us come to the translators of the Septuagint. They examined, who shook off Jacob and Israel, and dispersed their scourges; they also broke the weapons which they had been accustomed to have in order to hurl insults, and with which they had oppressed the weak; and not only did they do this, but they also burned the strong men who were mocking in the fire. Consider if you can say that strong men deride in the fire, the opposite strengths that serve as burning darts of the devil, who once had strong men deriding in the fire Jacob and Israel, having chariots and horses on which they were carried swiftly into battle on the day of their preparation. Therefore, the reins of these chariots and the horsemen will be confused on their journeys, and they will collide in the streets, when the illumination of the Lord shines upon Jacob and Israel, both demons and those who serve their will, will be overthrown by the Lord. We can understand these things by his coming, when brave men and charioteers and horsemen were speaking: What have we to do with you, Son of David? Have you come here to torment us before the time? (Matth. VIII, 29) But since we have once received a prophecy against Nineveh concerning the end of the world, it is better that we say that the weapons of the power of the devil were then taken away from men, and his strong ministers, who deceived men in fire. For all those who adulterate, their hearts are like an oven; the chains by which they were led into vices and the chariot's wheels will be released. The horsemen will be fearful at the exits, which is at the end of the world, and they will be confused and the chariots will collide in the streets. For although there is a wide and spacious road that leads to death, they will not be able to find the right path due to the pressure of time. They will collide with each other and yet continue to breathe out their old fury, flashing here and there like lightning. I saw, said the Lord, Satan falling like lightning from heaven (Luke 10:18). When the devil and all his officials understand this, they will remember the end that was predicted in the past, and they will flee in those days. For they will not move about at night, but as the day dawns, darkness will be driven away, and they will be weakened on their journey, making no progress and not fulfilling their efforts, and they will hasten to the walls. Indeed, such a great terror of the coming Lord will invade them, and they will be so weak to resist that they will flee to the ends of the world, where the world is enclosed and surrounded like walls, and they will prepare themselves to resist. When someone flees from an enemy, not daring to resist them, and comes to a solitary place, if by chance the enemy pursues them, they are forced to fight back out of necessity. But as they ponder these things, everything they have obtained and possessed will be brought forth and the doors they had closed will be opened, and their kingdoms will fall, and their wealth, that is, their riches, will be revealed. However, the substance of the world itself and all its servants, after they submit themselves to Christ and begin to serve Him, will be led joyfully and with gladness, and from the depths of their hearts they will believe, so that they may be compared to the cleanliness of doves, and they will murmur or speak in their hearts. And then will be fulfilled what is said in the sixty-seventh psalm about the victory of the Savior: He ascended on high, he led captivity captive.
Of his mighty men: He speaks of the Chaldeans and Medes sent to destroy Ninive.
Stupefied: consopiti. That is, they drive on furiously like men intoxicated with wine.
Continue studying Nahum 2:3 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
Summary
Nahum 2:3 vividly portrays the terrifying and overwhelming military might poised to strike Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, as an instrument of God's impending judgment. The verse describes the attackers' shields dyed red, their valiant warriors clad in scarlet, and their chariots blazing with fiery torches, all prepared for the decisive "day of his preparation." This imagery culminates in the metaphor of "fir trees being terribly shaken," signifying the utter panic, chaos, and desolation that will engulf the city, underscoring the certainty and ferocity of Nineveh's divinely ordained destruction.
Context
Literary Context
Nahum's prophecy is a singular oracle against Nineveh, contrasting sharply with Jonah's earlier message of repentance. Chapter 1 establishes Yahweh's character as a jealous, avenging God who is slow to anger but will not leave the guilty unpunished, setting the stage for the coming judgment. Chapter 2 then launches into a dramatic, almost cinematic description of the siege and fall of Nineveh. Verse 3, specifically, is part of a vivid battle scene that begins in Nahum 2:1 with a call to "guard the fortress, watch the road," and continues through Nahum 2:10, detailing the city's plunder and desolation. This verse focuses on the terrifying appearance and readiness of the attacking forces, building suspense and emphasizing the inevitability of the city's demise.
Historical & Cultural Context
Nineveh was the formidable capital of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, renowned for its military prowess, brutal conquests, and oppressive rule over conquered peoples, including Israel and Judah. By Nahum's time (likely late 7th century BCE), Assyria had been a dominant power for centuries, known for its cruelty, deportation policies, and idolatry. The city itself was heavily fortified, considered impregnable. The description of "red shields" and "scarlet" warriors aligns with ancient military practices where armies would use specific colors, often associated with bloodshed or power, for intimidation and identification. "Flaming torches" on chariots could refer to actual incendiary devices used in siege warfare or simply the terrifying, fiery glint of polished metal in the sun, creating an image of overwhelming, destructive power. The "day of his preparation" refers to the meticulous organization and readiness for a major military campaign, highlighting the deliberate and overwhelming nature of the assault.
Key Themes
This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes in Nahum. The most prominent is Divine Judgment and Retribution, where God uses human instruments (in this case, the Babylonians and Medes, though not explicitly named) to execute His righteous wrath against a wicked and oppressive nation. It also underscores God's Sovereignty over Nations, demonstrating that even the most powerful empires are subject to His ultimate authority and justice, as seen in Nahum 1:3. The vivid imagery also highlights the Military Might and Terror associated with divine judgment, portraying an unstoppable force that will bring Utter Destruction and Desolation upon Nineveh, a theme echoed in the prophetic declarations of its complete ruin in Nahum 3:1-7.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
Meaning "to show blood (in the face), i.e.; flush or turn rosy; be (dyed, made) red (ruddy)." In this context, it describes the shields of the mighty men, suggesting they are either literally painted red, perhaps with blood or a dye symbolizing bloodshed, or are polished to a fiery, reddish gleam, indicative of their readiness for violent conflict and the blood that will be shed.
Meaning "powerful; by implication, warrior, tyrant; champion, chief, excel, giant, man, mighty (man, one), strong (man), valiant man." This term emphasizes the formidable strength, valor, and elite status of the attacking soldiers, portraying them as exceptionally strong and skilled warriors, perfectly suited to execute God's decree against Nineveh.
A primitive root meaning "to reel, i.e. (figuratively) to brandish; terribly shake." This word vividly describes the violent, convulsive movement of the "fir trees," which serves as a powerful metaphor for the widespread panic, fear, and instability that will grip Nineveh and its inhabitants as the overwhelming attack commences. It suggests a profound and unsettling disturbance.
Verse Breakdown
"The shield of his mighty men is made red,"
This clause immediately sets a tone of impending violence. The shields, typically defensive, are presented as instruments of terror, either literally dyed red to symbolize bloodshed and war, or reflecting the fiery light of the battle, creating a menacing appearance. This color is a direct visual warning of the carnage to come.
"the valiant men [are] in scarlet:"
Complementing the red shields, the warriors themselves are adorned in scarlet. Scarlet, often a color of royalty or wealth, here likely signifies their elite status and their readiness for battle, possibly hinting at the blood that will stain their garments or the ferocity of their intent. It contributes to the overall terrifying and imposing visual of the approaching army.
"the chariots [shall be] with flaming torches in the day of his preparation,"
This phrase introduces the dynamic and destructive element of the chariots. "Flaming torches" could refer to actual fire-bearing instruments used to ignite structures or create confusion, or to the glinting, fiery appearance of the chariots' metalwork as they are prepared for battle. "The day of his preparation" underscores the meticulous and overwhelming readiness of these forces, indicating that the assault is not a spontaneous event but a divinely orchestrated, fully equipped, and imminent operation.
"and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken."
This powerful metaphorical statement concludes the verse, shifting from the direct description of the army to the effect of its arrival. Fir trees, often symbols of strength and stability, being "terribly shaken" conveys the profound and widespread panic, chaos, and desolation that will sweep through Nineveh. It suggests that nothing, not even the strongest elements or fortifications, will remain stable or untouched by the overwhelming force of the judgment.
Literary Devices
Nahum 2:3 is rich in Imagery, painting a vivid and terrifying picture of the attacking army. The use of colors like red and scarlet is a powerful form of Symbolism, directly associating the forces with bloodshed, war, and destruction. The phrase "flaming torches" on chariots employs Visual Imagery to evoke a sense of fiery, destructive power, possibly also hinting at Hyperbole to emphasize the terror. The concluding phrase, "the fir trees shall be terribly shaken," is a potent Metaphor for the widespread panic and instability that will grip Nineveh. The fir trees, typically sturdy, represent the foundations and inhabitants of the city, and their violent shaking underscores the complete and overwhelming nature of the impending devastation. This Sensory Language creates an atmosphere of dread and inevitability.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Nahum 2:3 serves as a stark reminder of God's unwavering justice and His ultimate sovereignty over all earthly powers. The vivid depiction of the attacking army is not merely a historical account but a theological statement: God is actively involved in history, raising up and bringing down nations according to His righteous will. Nineveh's fall, orchestrated by God, demonstrates that persistent wickedness and oppression will inevitably face divine retribution. This passage affirms that God sees the suffering of the oppressed and will act decisively to bring justice, even against seemingly invincible empires. It underscores the principle that no human power can ultimately defy the moral order established by the Creator.
Reflection and Application
Nahum 2:3, while describing a historical judgment, carries timeless implications for our understanding of God's character and our own lives. It compels us to recognize that God is not indifferent to injustice or human cruelty. The meticulous "preparation" of the forces against Nineveh reminds us that God's justice is not haphazard but deliberate, comprehensive, and certain. For those who perpetuate injustice or live in defiance of God's ways, this verse serves as a sobering warning of the inevitable consequences. Conversely, for those who are oppressed or suffer under the weight of injustice, it offers profound hope and assurance that God is a righteous judge who will ultimately intervene, bringing down the proud and delivering the afflicted. It calls us to trust in His perfect timing and His unwavering commitment to justice, even when circumstances seem overwhelmingly bleak.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the significance of the colors "red" and "scarlet" in Nahum 2:3?
In Nahum 2:3, the colors "red" for the shields and "scarlet" for the valiant men are highly symbolic and contribute significantly to the terrifying imagery of the attacking army. Biblically, red and scarlet are frequently associated with war, bloodshed, violence, and judgment. For example, in Isaiah 63:2-3, God's garments are stained red from treading the winepress of His wrath. The use of these colors here emphasizes the brutal and destructive nature of the impending attack on Nineveh, signaling the immense amount of blood that will be shed and the ferocity of the divine retribution. They serve as a visual declaration of war and an omen of the city's violent end.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
While Nahum 2:3 describes a historical judgment on Nineveh, its underlying themes find ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "day of his preparation" for judgment against a wicked empire foreshadows the ultimate "Day of the Lord" when Christ will return to execute final judgment and establish His righteous kingdom. The terrifying military might depicted here, though a human army, points to the unmatched power and authority of Christ, who is described in Revelation 19:11-16 as a conquering warrior, whose eyes are "like a flame of fire" and whose robe is "dipped in blood." Just as Nineveh's oppressive reign was brought to an end, Christ's return will decisively defeat all forms of evil, oppression, and rebellion against God, bringing complete justice and establishing an eternal reign of righteousness and peace, as promised in Isaiah 9:6-7. The shaking of the "fir trees" in Nahum's prophecy, symbolizing the terror and instability of judgment, finds its ultimate parallel in the shaking of all things that are not of God, leading to the unshakable kingdom of Christ (Hebrews 12:26-29). Thus, Nahum's prophecy, while terrifying for Nineveh, ultimately points to the hope of Christ's victorious reign where justice will finally prevail.