Nahum 2:5

He shall recount his worthies: they shall stumble in their walk; they shall make haste to the wall thereof, and the defence shall be prepared.

He shall recount {H2142} his worthies {H117}: they shall stumble {H3782} in their walk {H1979}; they shall make haste {H4116} to the wall {H2346} thereof, and the defence {H5526} shall be prepared {H3559}.

[The king of Ninveh] assigns his officers; they stumble as they march; they hurry to its wall and set up shields to protect the battering ram.

He summons his nobles; they stumble as they advance. They race to its wall; the protective shield is set in place.

He remembereth his nobles: they stumble in their march; they make haste to the wall thereof, and the mantelet is prepared.

Commentary

Context

Nahum 2:5 is part of the prophet Nahum's vivid and dramatic oracle against Nineveh, the formidable capital of the Assyrian Empire. Chapters 2 and 3 describe the impending siege and catastrophic fall of this great city, which had long been a symbol of cruelty and oppression. This particular verse paints a picture of the Assyrian king's frantic efforts to rally his elite forces as the invading armies approach the city walls, highlighting the suddenness and disarray of their final stand. The prophecy underscores God's righteous judgment against a nation known for its violence and idolatry, a theme established earlier in Nahum 1:2.

Key Themes

  • Futility of Human Strength Against Divine Will: Despite the Assyrian king "recounting his worthies" (his mighty, elite soldiers), their efforts are depicted as stumbling and frantic. This illustrates that even the most powerful human armies are powerless when God's judgment is set in motion.
  • Imminent and Sudden Doom: The urgency implied by "they shall make haste to the wall" and their "stumbling in their walk" conveys the panic and disorganization that precedes Nineveh's swift and inevitable destruction. This contrasts with Nineveh's previous perceived invincibility.
  • Divine Judgment and Justice: The fall of Nineveh, as described in this prophecy, serves as a powerful testament to God's justice against wickedness and oppression, offering a message of hope to those suffering under such regimes. The destruction of Nineveh is a direct consequence of its long history of aggression and cruelty (Nahum 3:1).

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "recount" (paqad) can mean to muster, review, or appoint. Here, it suggests the king is desperately calling forth and inspecting his troops. "Worthies" (addirim) refers to the mighty ones, nobles, or majestic ones, emphasizing the elite status of these soldiers, yet even they are shown to be in disarray. The phrase "stumble in their walk" (kashal b'halikatham) vividly portrays their confusion, disorganization, and perhaps even their moral or spiritual collapse under the pressure of the invasion.

Practical Application

Nahum 2:5 offers timeless insights:

  • God's Sovereignty Over Nations: This verse reminds us that no empire or human power, however mighty, can ultimately stand against God's purposes. He is sovereign over all earthly kingdoms and their destinies, a truth echoed in Daniel 2:21.
  • The Consequences of Unrepentant Sin: Nineveh's fall serves as a stark warning about the inevitable consequences of persistent wickedness, cruelty, and pride. It highlights that divine judgment, though often delayed, is certain.
  • Trust in God, Not Human Strength: For believers, the passage underscores the futility of placing ultimate trust in human defenses, military might, or political power. Our true security and hope rest in the Lord, who is the ultimate defender and judge, as declared in Psalm 20:7.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 46:12

    ¶ The nations have heard of thy shame, and thy cry hath filled the land: for the mighty man hath stumbled against the mighty, [and] they are fallen both together.

  • Nahum 3:18

    Thy shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria: thy nobles shall dwell [in the dust]: thy people is scattered upon the mountains, and no man gathereth [them].

  • Jeremiah 51:27

    Set ye up a standard in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare the nations against her, call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashchenaz; appoint a captain against her; cause the horses to come up as the rough caterpillers.

  • Jeremiah 51:28

    Prepare against her the nations with the kings of the Medes, the captains thereof, and all the rulers thereof, and all the land of his dominion.

  • Nahum 3:3

    The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering spear: and [there is] a multitude of slain, and a great number of carcases; and [there is] none end of [their] corpses; they stumble upon their corpses:

  • Jeremiah 50:29

    Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel.

  • Isaiah 5:27

    None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken:
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