INTRODUCTION TO NAHUM
The Book of Nahum belongs to three minor prophets in the Bible that
are directed primarily to a foreign entities: Jonah to Nineveh and Obadiah to
Edom are the others. Nahum prophesied to the city of Nineveh, capital of the
Assyrian Empire, but he came much later than Jonah. Using dramatic speech,
Nahum graphically tells about the fall of the city that once terrified the
ancient world, including Jerusalem and Judah.
Jonah came to Nineveh 150 years earlier and his ministry was
stunningly successful. Despite his reluctance to go, Jonah’s preaching spawned
mass repentance; this is impressive for a heathen nation. Would to God we had
these kind of results today!
After Jonah’s day, Assyria grew to be a great empire. In the time of
King Ahab, the Assyrians tried to conquer the 10 tribes of Israel but failed.
Then during the reign of Ashurbanipal III, the little tribe of Benjamin was
taken. Finally, in the year 722 BC, under Shalmaneser, the other 9 tribes were
conquered and exiled to the far-flung reaches of the Assyrian empire. Heathen
people were transplanted in their place (see II Kings 17) and by the New
Testament era they became known to the world as Samaritans.
After the Northern Kingdom of Israel was deported, Assyria set its
sights on the Southern Kingdom of Judah and the House of David. The siege of
Jerusalem in 701 BC was one of the great, though harrowing, events of
Scripture, told 3 times: In II Kings, II Chronicles, and Isaiah.
In the natural, Assyria’s military was so formidable and numerous, Jerusalem
should have fallen with ease. Yet, through divine intervention, the Assyrian
troops were smitten. Assyria continued its march of conquest, taking Thebes in
Upper Egypt. The empire expanded but fortunately, Judah was spared and even
outlasted Nineveh.
Yes, despite their conquest and victories, Assyria’s pride and
arrogance was its undoing. Nahum predicted that Nineveh’s days were numbered
and there was no way out.
HEBREW NAME OF NAHUM
Nahum means ‘comfort, consolation’ and
is the abbreviation of Nehemiah, ‘comfort of Jehovah.’
AUTHOR OF NAHUM
Nahum is the author of the book that bears his name; however, we
know nothing about him except he is an Elkoshite (1:1) . We are not even sure
whether his village of Elkosh is in the regions Judah or Galilee.
DATE OF NAHUM
Written between 660-620 BC, Nahum does not mention the Judean king,
possibly because it was evil Manasseh, son of righteous Hezekiah. Attacked by
the Medes from the North and by the Babylonians from the South, Nineveh fell in
612 BC. The Babylonian empire succeeded the Assyrian.
PORTRAIT OF CHRIST IN NAHUM
There are no Messianic prophecies in Nahum, but we know that Christ
will be judge at His second coming (1:2-8) and He is the good Lord, a
stronghold in the day of trouble (1:7; Proverbs 18:10).
THEME OF BOOK OF NAHUM
Nineveh, since the time of Jonah, presided over a growing empire
whose tentacles reached out to the land of Israel. Known for pride, arrogance,
and cruelty, the Lord had had enough. Though known for His slow anger and
long-suffering, Nineveh and Assyria passed the point of no return and their
judgement would be swift and sure.
While this prophecy is bad news for Nineveh, it is good news for Judah.
It provides comfort that God punishes (Assyrian) wickedness and will fulfil His
covenantal promises. It also shows that God is the righteous judge (II Timothy
4:8), rewarding people and nations according to their works, whether good or
evil.
TO BE CONTINUED
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