Nahum 2
CHAPTER 2 vividly pictures the attack, a century after the prophet wrote of it, of the Medes and Babylonians upon the ancient city of Nineveh. Led by Cyaxares, king of Media, who is called, in verse 1, “He that dasheth in pieces” (or “the Maul”), the invading hosts destroyed the place, at the same time bringing to an end the Assyrian kingdom which had been mighty in its day. Its king is said to have set fire to his palace, when he saw that continued resistance was useless, and burned to death himself and his wives. Nineveh has never been rebuilt.
The defenders are told to prepare for the siege, to strengthen the fortress (verse 1); because (verse 2) Jehovah has turned away the “excellency”—glory, or pride —of Jacob as the “excellency” of Israel; the “emptiers” have emptied them and marred their vine branches. Judgment, according to the principle stated in 1 Peter 4:1717For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17) had begun with those who stood in a special relationship before God (2 Kings 17:2020And the Lord rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight. (2 Kings 17:20)), the ten tribes being carried away into captivity, perhaps before Nahum wrote, by the king of Assyria, and the remaining two tribes were not long to remain in Israel’s land. Having first given attention to His earthly people, God now turned to their chief oppressor of that day.
“His” mighty men, in verse 3, refers to God, making use of the Median hosts for the destruction of Nineveh. “Flaming torches” shows a difficulty the translators had in putting into English what seems to refer to the glitter of polished steel. The last clause of verse 3 is believed to speak of soldiers’ spears.
Verse 5. “He shall recount his worthies” tells of the Assyrian king who thinks of his important men, and calls them to the defense of the city. But the city is entered, and by a way of which verse O affords a hint.
“The gates of the rivers shall be opened;” the river Tigris rose to an extraordinary height flooding a considerable part of Nineveh, and through this occurrence the Medes were able to enter in force, easily capturing the city.
Verse 7. Whether “Huzzab” was the name of the Assyrian queen, or Nineveh, is meant, is not clear; the language used here tells of captivity and great mourning. Verses 8-10 describe the collapse of the defense, and the plundering of the wealthy city.
The Assyrians have left a reputation of being a bloodthirsty nation, cruel to their enemies, and verses 11, 12 seem to bear this out. God was about to visit their iniquities upon them; fire and the sword would bring Nineveh to its end (verse 13).
ML 05/16/1937