Nahum 1 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Nahum 1

1:1 An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.

God’s Wrath Against Nineveh

2   The LORD is a jealous and avenging God;
    the LORD is avenging and wrathful;
  the LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries
    and keeps wrath for his enemies.
3   The LORD is slow to anger and great in power,
    and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty.
  His way is in whirlwind and storm,
    and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
4   He rebukes the sea and makes it dry;
    he dries up all the rivers;
  Bashan and Carmel wither;
    the bloom of Lebanon withers.
5   The mountains quake before him;
    the hills melt;
  the earth heaves before him,
    the world and all who dwell in it.
6   Who can stand before his indignation?
    Who can endure the heat of his anger?
  His wrath is poured out like fire,
    and the rocks are broken into pieces by him.
7   The LORD is good,
    a stronghold in the day of trouble;
  he knows those who take refuge in him.
8     But with an overflowing flood
  he will make a complete end of the adversaries,¹
    and will pursue his enemies into darkness.
9   What do you plot against the LORD?
    He will make a complete end;
    trouble will not rise up a second time.
10   For they are like entangled thorns,
    like drunkards as they drink;
    they are consumed like stubble fully dried.
11   From you came one
    who plotted evil against the LORD,
    a worthless counselor.
12   Thus says the LORD,
  “Though they are at full strength and many,
    they will be cut down and pass away.
  Though I have afflicted you,
    I will afflict you no more.
13   And now I will break his yoke from off you
    and will burst your bonds apart.”
14   The LORD has given commandment about you:
    “No more shall your name be perpetuated;
  from the house of your gods I will cut off
    the carved image and the metal image.
  I will make your grave, for you are vile.”
15   ² Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him
    who brings good news,
    who publishes peace!
  Keep your feasts, O Judah;
    fulfill your vows,
  for never again shall the worthless pass through you;
    he is utterly cut off.

Footnotes

[1] 1:8 Hebrew of her place
[2] 1:15 Ch 2:1 in Hebrew

Commentary

v1-3: The wrath of God against the ungodly; here against Nineveh, capital of Assyria. The Lord's wrath and vengeance are reserved for His foes and His enemies. Those who take their stand against God will suffer the consequences.

Although He is slow to anger, He is not so slow as to compromise His justice; the wicked will not be treated like the righteous; just as the righteous will not be treated as the wicked.

v4-6: The great power of God;

seas and rivers dried up;
Bashan and Carmel wither;
The flower of Lebanon wilts;
Mountains quake, hills melt;
The earth trembles.

Since the earth suffers these things, woe betide the man, or the city, or the nation, which stands against God.

v7: The guarantee of security for those who trust in God.

In these verses we read the goodness and severity of God, Rom 11.23.

v8: Severity on "his foes," an overwhelming flood, an end for Nineveh, and being pursued into darkness.

v9-11: Nineveh has conspired against the Lord; there is one "who plots evil against the Lord and counsels wickedness," he is the wicked who invades Judah (v15), laying waster her land (2.2). Thus, the Lord responds on behalf of His people.

For Nineveh, a final end is coming, with no further opportunity; contrast 1 Sam 6.8, "I will not have to strike him a second time," for the city will be devoured.

Any plot against the Lord must fail, as in Ps 2.2-5; Acts 5.39. He is spirit, and cannot be hurt; He is omnipotent, and cannot be defeated; He also cannot be diminished.

v12-13: Nineveh assumed himself safe, behind thick walls, with many defenders, yet he will be cut down and destroyed. In particular, Nineveh will afflict Judah no more, his yoke upon Judah will be removed. It is clear that Nineveh's destruction is linked with Judah's preservation.

v14: The command concerning Nineveh, regarding his destruction; his carved images and idols will be destroyed; around that we read that he will have no descendants, and the grave is being prepared for him.

v15: Good news for Judah; the message of peace and security.