Nahum 1

1 burden. “Oracle”: see Isa. xiii. 1. “Vision,” the future revealed to his “inner eye.”

the Elkoshite. This Elkosh was most probably near Eleutheropolis, in the same region from which Micah came.

2 jealous. Jealous for His own honour, which means jealous for holiness, justice, truth; and jealous for His people, whose cause He will defend and vindicate.

3 slow to anger. His judgements are not hasty or capricious.

4. Bashan . . . Carmel . . . Lebanon.** Imagery from the prophet’s own country.

5 is burned. Or, “is upheaved,” as R.V.

8 of the place thereof. That is, of Nineveh.

9. What do ye imagine against the Lord?** If this be addressed to the Assyrians, the meaning is, that all their plots shall be vain, and that God will cut them off by a stroke which shall not need to be repeated.

10 as thorns. This probably alludes to the impenetrability of a closely-planted thorn hedge, as the next represents the careless security of the drunkard. Unassailable and secure as the Assyrians may appear, they “shall be consumed, like dry stubble, utterly.”

11. There is one come out of thee, etc.** Addressed to Nineveh, from which the Assyrian king went forth upon his expedition against Jerusalem.

12 quiet. Rather, “perfect”: i.e., “in full strength”: so R.V. Whatever be their power and their numbers, they shall be cut down; and he (i.e., their mighty monarch) shall pass away (not “pass through”).

Though I have afflicted thee. That is, Jerusalem, or Judah.

14 concerning thee. The Assyrian monarch. His race shall become extinct.

15 the feet of him that bringeth good tidings. See notes on Isa. xl. 9 and lii. 7.

keep thy solemn feasts. The destruction of the Assyrian invaders allowed the Israelites to resume their national festivals, to which the people could not come up on account of the enemy occupation.

the wicked. Heb. “Belial,” i.e., “the wicked one,” the Assyrian.

To the oppressed and afflicted people his first words are those of comfort and hope. God will not allow iniquity to go unpunished (i. 2, 3, 6). He is a stronghold in the day of trouble (i. 7). He will therefore break the yoke of Assyria (i. 11-13). The feet of the messengers of deliverance and peace may already be seen upon the distant mountains (i. 15; cp. Isa. iii. 7, and Rom. x. 15).

For Nineveh, the prophet’s message is one of judgement. Its wickedness is described. It is a bloody city, full of lies and robbery, of vice and superstition (iii. 1, 4). Its fall shall be complete (ii. 6, 9, 13; iii. 7, 18). And the nations which the mighty power of Assyria had oppressed shall rejoice in their deliverance from its despotism (iii. 19).