Nahum 1

Chap. I. Ver. 1—15. The majesty of God exhibited in his goodnese to his own people, and his severity toward their enemies.—This chapter opens the prophecy with a sublime description of the majesty and power of God, tempered with lenity and goodness to his people, but breathing wrath and judgment to all his enemies. The Prophet then turns to the Assyrians, describes the confusion that prevailed in their counsels, and the corruption of their manners, insomuch that Nineveh, as well as Babylon, appears to have fallen a victim to intoxication. The one gone forth, the wicked counsellor mentioned in ver. 11, has been generally explained of one or other of the Assyrian kings; but we conceive applies more justly to Rab-shakeh, the general of Sennacherib, who was the messenger of his blasphemies, and probably the chief author of them; especially of the letter sent in his master’s name, (2 Kings 19)

49, &c. Both this wicked king and his wicked counsellor loudly boasted of their success against surrounding nations, without drawing any line of distinction between the God of Israel and the idols of the heathen, The Prophet therefore announces the confusion of these blasphemers; the termination of their proud career; and, as to Sennacherib, that his tomb is prepared. ((2 Kings 19:37).) Messengers are then seen from the surrounding mountains, announcing the death of the tyrant, and the deliverance of Israel from his yoke, so that they may perform their religions rites secure and uninterrupted. Similar language is, by Isaiah, applied to messengers announcing the Soran of Messiah, and the salvation of mankind.

(Isa. ia II. Ver. 1—13. The armies, commissioned by God, attack Nineveh.—‘‘ Nineveh is now called on to Prepets for the approach of her enemies, the instruments of Jehovah’s vengeance; and the military array and muster, the very arms and dress of the Medes and Babylogions their rapid approach to the city, the process of the siege and inundation of the river, of the inhabitants, the sacking of the wealthy city, and the consequent desolation and terror, are all described in the true spirit of Hebrew poetry, with many pathetic, vivid, and sublime images.”—Dr. J. Smith. In verse 7, Huzzab, meaning either the queen, or rather, Nineveh herself, is represented as a great princess, led captive with her attendants, bewailing her and their own condition, by beating their breasts, and ‘by other expressions of sorrow.

to lions and lionesses, strong and ferocious, yet devoted to death and to destruction. Chap. I. Ver. 1—17. The judgments of God on the Chaldeans.—The Prophet, contemplating with a virtuous indignation the rapid progress of vice and impiety among his country- Chap. I. Ver. 4. The lato is slacked—That is, compass about.—More accurately, ‘ ‘ “ doth circumvent.” Ver. 5. Behold ye among the heathen.—For St. Paul’s quotation of this pas- Sage, see (Acts 3:41). But for ‘* the heathen” (Heb. ‘ nations,”) the LXX. read, ~ pap ie Soy ha RD Seapinera,/ with A difference of one letter only, port he tha caine so the Arabic and Syriac. Wonder mar. a Li 2 alae “ Swift.” Ler. 8. Horses are swifter.—[The Chaldean cavalry were proverbi swiftness.

courage, and cruelty. Oppian, speaking of the owes Aber ps the Euphrates, says, “‘ They are by nature war horses, and so intrepid that neither the sight nor the roaring of the lion appals them; and, besides, are astonishingly fleet.” The leopard, of all quadrupeds, is allowed to be the swiftest: they ure Brod used for hunting, and seize their prey with surcame its enemy. See on ch. ii. 6.)— Bagster. Ver. 19. Bruit.—See note on (Jeremiah 10:22). ~ been, as I may say, long ago ruined and destroyed, Such an ‘utter end’ hath been made of it; and such is the truth of the Divine predictions! ‘Lhis_per- haps may strike us the more strongly, by supposing only a parallel instance. Let us then suppose, that a person should come in the name of a prophet, preaching repentance to the people of this nation, or otherwise denouncing the destruction of the largest city within a few years…..1 presume we should 1ook upon such a prophet as a madman, and show no farther attention to his message than_to deride and despise it; and yet such an event would not be more strange and incredible than the destruction and devastation of Nineveh.

For Nineveh was much the larger, and much the stronger, and older city of the two: and the Assyrian empire had subsisted and flourished more than any form of government in this country; so that you cannot object the instability of the eastern monarchies in this case. Let us then….. suppose again, that things should succeed according to the prediction; the floods should arise, and the enemy should come, the city should be overflown and broken down, be taken and pillaged, and destroyed so totally, that even the learned could not agree about where it was situated. What would be said or thought in such a case? Whoever of posterity should read and compare the prophecy and event together, must they not by such an illustrious instance be thoroughly convinced of the providence of Gop, and of the truth of his prophet, and be ready to acknowledge, ‘ Verily this is the word that the Lord hath spoken, verily there is a Gop who judgeth the earth?

” }—Bagster. THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK. Gon for punishing them by the instrumentality of the Chaldeans; in answer to which complaint, Gop shows the certainty of the vision, and denounces the destruction of the Babylonian empire, with the judgments to be inflicted upon the Chaldeans for their ambition, cruelty, treachery, and idolatry: the sues then implores Gop to hasten the deliverance of his people, recounting the wonderful deliverances which Gop had vouchsafed to his people, in conducting them through the wilderness, and giving them possession of the promised land;_and. deeply affected with the approaching judgments, he yet resolves to rejoice in the mercy and goodness of Gop when all other comforts failed.

]—Bagster. men, reproaches, as it were, the Almighty, for suffering such a state of things to prevail, and then era bursts forth in a divine oracle, and threatens them with judgments, not only relaxed or neglected. — Dot prising agility. |}—Bagster.——Spread themselves—That is, to ravage und destroy, like the modern Tartars. So Harmer. But the late Mr. Taylor, remarking that the Hebrew (Parash) is here used both for horses and horsemen, (see Gesenius,) applies the term in buth places to the former, as being, in the first place, a technical term, implying the ground they cover; and, in the second place, to their being a foreign breed, “from afar,” perhaps Egyptian. See Taylor’s Expos. Index. Ver.

9. Their faves shall sup wp.—See margin. So Peters, Newcome, &c. The meaning appears to us to be, that as the east wind blasts and destroys every thing within its reach, so these Chaldeans should gather up every thing within their reach, as is said, ver. 15.——Their faces, according to the Hebrew idiom, means, their presence; which agrees with the clause following; gather the captivity, i. e. the captives. Ver. 10. They shall heap dust (or earth) and talce it.—The Chaldee explaing

Notes on the verses

Chap. I. Ver. 1. The burden.—See note on (Isaiah 17:1).——The Elkoshite.— This term is differently understood, ‘* Many suppose (says Townsend) that he was a descendant of Elkosha, while others infer that he was born at Elkosh, or Elkosha, a village in Galilee.” The latter sense is adopted by all the authorities referred to in the Introduction to this book. Ver. 2. 4 ees God.—See margin. See exposition De. ch. xvi——And is Surious.—Heb. “ Having fury,” or wrath, namely, for his enemies. Ver. 3. Will not at all acguit.—See note on (Exodus 34:7). Ver. 4, The sea… the rivers.—See (Exodus 14:21). (Joshua 3:16). Ver. 6. Who can abide?—See margin; that is, all must fall before him. Ver. 8. With an overrunning (or overflowing) flood, &c.—This describes a complete and utter overthrow..

¢ as a thorn hedge, says Gese- Ver. 10. Folden together as thorrs—That is, nius. The idea seems to be, that they and their aecnat f e counsels were as full of confusion and perplexity as a thorn hedge, with an infinite number of prickles in every direction; they also intoxicated themselves like drunkards: in this case, oe were prepared for destruction, as stubble fully dry is to be consumed by fire. ase ii. A wicked counseilor.—See margin—Or evil adviser. See expo- Ver. 12. Though they be quiet.— Wheeler, At peace; Boothroyd, ‘ Pros: netted likewise many—Or numerous. Goninaen 2 Ki. mia 17, 18. —(Or, If they would have been at peace so should they have been many, and so should they have been shorn, and he should have passed away.]—B.

Ver. 14. That no more of thy name be suwn.—Newcome, “That thy name be no more scattered (or spread) abroad.” 2 Cuapr. II. Ver. 1. He that.–See margin. See Je. i, 23. Some refer this to and strong hammer breaks into pieces, and then with ig! pile te it noe properly Tefers to the Medes.——Dasheth—As a peeey the pieces, so shall the destroyer of Nineveh do om ee Ver. 2. The excellency of Jacob—FPerhaps Jerusalem.—The emptiers, ot wasters—i. e. the Assyrians, who had now wasted Israel, and carried the nation into captivity.: = y Ver. 3. The shield…. made red.—We conceive this implies the sanguinary character of the enemy. Compare (Isaiah 12:1-2). But some think it alludes only to their dress.—— With flaming (or fiery) torches.—These either preceded or accompanied their war chariots.

See Orient. Lit. No. 1562,— And the fir trees—Which formed the axle-trees of these war chariots. Dr. Wheeler. Ver. 5. Worthies.—See margin. Netwcome. ‘* Mighty meu.””——Defence.— See margin; namely, under which the besiegers fought. Ver. 6. The gates, &c.—[ Diodorus Siculus informs us, that “there was an ancient prophesy, received from their forefathers, that Nineveh should not be taken till the river first became an enemy to the city: and in the third year of the siege the Euphrates (Tigris) being swollen with continued rains, overflowed part of the city, and threw down 20 stadia of the wall. ‘The king then think- Ing that the oracle was fulfilled, the river having manifestly become an enemy to the city, casting aside al!

hope of safety, and lest he should fall into the enemy’s hands, built a large funeral pyre in the palace; and having colleges his gold and silver and royal vestments, together with his concubines and eunuchs, placed himself with them in a little apartment built in the midst of the pyre, and burnt them, himself, and the palace together. When the death of the king was announced by certain deserters, the enemy entered at the breach the waters had made, and took the city.|— Bagster.: Ver. 7. And Huzzab.—See margin. Or, ‘‘ the establishment;’’ meaning, the queen and the royal harem; though some think this might be the queen’s proper name; and others, that the city of Nineveh itself was thus deseri See Orient.

Cust. No. 361.— As with the voice of doves—That is, of lamentution. —— Tabering—That is, striking their breasts with their hards, as they strike the (aber, or tabret. Ver. 8. Like a post.—See ch. iii. 5. Stand, &c.—This is exactly the character of an undisciplined army, calling upon others to stand, and running away themselves. _ Ver. 9. There is none end of the store.—Diodorus says that Arbaces carried away many talents of gold and silver to Ecbatana, the royal city of the Medes. Bp. Newton.——And glory.—Newcome, “ Glorious store,” connecting this with the preceding term.—Out of all the pleasant furniture. —See margin; which may include both furniture and drinking vessels. Ver. 10. She is empty.—[ Nineveh was taken and utterly ruined by Assuerus, or Cyaxares, king of Media, and Nabuchodonosor, or Nabopolassar, king of Babylon, B.

C. 606, or 612. Diodorus, who, with others, ascribes the taking of it to Arbaces the Mede and Belesis the Babylonian, says, that he ‘dis ersed the citizens in the villages, levelled the city with the ground, Gansta the gold and silver, of which there were many talents, to Ecbatana, the metropolis of the Medes; and thus subverted the empire of the Assyrians.’’]—Bagster.— The heart melteth.—See \s. xiti. 7, 8.——The faces of them all gather blackness.—We understand this figuratively, as an expression of vexation and disappointment; but compare note on (Joel 2:6). Ver. 11. Dwelling place of the lions—Referring to the fierce character of the Ninevites. The curious reader may see in Josephus a paraphrase of the last six verses of this chapter.

Antiq. lib. ix. ¢. 11. CuapP. Ill. Ver. 1. Bloody city.—See margin; i. e. violence and murder. {Nineveh; the threatenings against which, says Dr. Adam Clarke, are continued in a strain of invective, pons nary for its richness, variety, and energy. One may hear and see the whip crack, the horses prancing, the wheels rumbling, the chariots bound’ng after the qatopee steeds, the reflection from the drawn and higlily polished swords, and the hurled spears, like flashes of lightning dazzling the eyes, the slain lying in heaps, and horses und chariots stumbling over them !]—Bagster. Ver. 2. The noise of a whip, &c.— These first three verses (says Abp. Newcome) are a description of Nineveh, as it was in the time of the prophet,”

en and of bustle, of luxury and crime.——Jumping (or bounding) Ver. 3. The horseman lifteth—Newcome, ‘ mounteth.”.——The bright sqword.—-See margin. Ver. 5. I will discot er thy skirts.—Bp. Lowth remarks, that it was the barbarous custom of anci ynt conquerors to strip their captives (even women) naked, and so to make tl 2m travel. Ver. 8. Populous Ni —That is, “* No-Ammon,” a city of Egypt. See (Jeremiah 47:25), and note. _ Probably Diospolis, or the city of Jupiter, who was called Amon by the Fx yptians, and the same with the celebrated Thebes in Upper Egypt, situated between Memphis and Syene, about lat. 25° 30’ N. and long. 32° 30 B. It was celebrated for its hundred gates and numerous inhabitants, and in the time of its splendour extended 23 miles.

|}—Bagster.— Situate among the rivers—That is, the channels of the Nile and the sea; all large lakes were so called, as Gennesareth, Sodom, &c. Ver. 9. Infinite.—Literally, “ without end.” Z s; Ver. 10. She was carried away.—Boothroyd (following Prideaux) explains this of the taking of No by Sennacherib, as predicted by Isaiah, ch. xx. 4.— Cast lots.—It was common to cast lots in dividing the captives. Ver. 11. Thou shalt be drunken—That is, “ with the cup of God’s wrath.” Boothroyd. (Diodorus relates, that while-the Assyrian army were feasting for their former victories, those about Arbaces being informed of their negligence and drunkenness, fell upon them unexpectedly, slew many, and drove the rest into the city.

]|— Bagster. | “. Ver. 12. Like Jig trees—Their fortresses shall tumble to pieces, as ripe figs fall from the tree when shaken. See (Revelation 6:18). Ver. 13. Women—That is, weak and helpless. P Ver. 14. Tread the mortar.—This is said to be the practice as respect. bricks, and we suppose mortar, to the present day, in Persia. See Orient. Lit. Ver. 16. The canker-worm spoileth.—Margin. ‘* Spreadeth himself and flieth away;” Boothroyd, “ As locusts, they (the merchants) spread themselves, and fly around.” Aer, Ver. 17. In the cold day.—Heb. “ In the day of cold;”’ i. e. in cold weather. Ver. 18. Thy nobles.—See margin.— Dvwell in the dust.—Newcome, In sloth.’ i. e. all the tributary princes deserted Nineveh, and were inactive.

— {That is, the rulers and tributary princes, who, as Herodotus informs us, deserted Nineveh in the day of her distress, and came not to her succour. Déodorus also says, that when the enemy shut up the king In the city, many notions revolted; each going over to the besicgers for oe eed of their liberty;