Nahum — Chapter 1
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1This is the burden against Nineveh, the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite:
2The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and full of wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on His foes and reserves wrath for His enemies.
3The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.
4He rebukes the sea and dries it up; He makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither, and the flower of Lebanon wilts.
5The mountains quake before Him, and the hills melt away; the earth trembles at His presence—the world and all its dwellers.
6Who can withstand His indignation? Who can endure His burning anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; even rocks are shattered before Him.
7The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of distress; He cares for those who trust in Him.
8But with an overwhelming flood He will make an end of Nineveh and pursue His enemies into darkness.
9Whatever you plot against the LORD, He will bring to an end. Affliction will not rise up a second time.
10For they will be entangled as with thorns and consumed like the drink of a drunkard—like stubble that is fully dry.
11From you, O Nineveh, comes forth a plotter of evil against the LORD, a counselor of wickedness.
12This is what the LORD says: “Though they are allied and numerous, yet they will be cut down and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, O Judah, I will afflict you no longer.
13For I will now break their yoke from your neck and tear away your shackles.”
14The LORD has issued a command concerning you, O Nineveh: “There will be no descendants to carry on your name. I will cut off the carved image and cast idol from the house of your gods; I will prepare your grave, for you are contemptible.”
15Look to the mountains—the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your feasts, O Judah; fulfill your vows. For the wicked will never again march through you; they will be utterly cut off.
1The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
2God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.
3The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
4He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.
5The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
6Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.
7The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
8But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.
9What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.
10For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.
11There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counsellor.
12Thus saith the LORD: Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.
13For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.
14And the LORD hath given a commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.
15Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.
1The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
2Jehovah is a jealous God and avengeth; Jehovah avengeth and is full of wrath; Jehovah taketh vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth [wrath] for his enemies.
3Jehovah is slow to anger, and great in power, and will by no means clear [the guilty]: Jehovah hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
4He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel; and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.
5The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt; and the earth is upheaved at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
6Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken asunder by him.
7Jehovah is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that take refuge in him.
8But with an over-running flood he will make a full end of her place, and will pursue his enemies into darkness.
9What do ye devise against Jehovah? he will make a full end; affliction shall not rise up the second time.
10For entangled like thorns, and drunken as with their drink, they are consumed utterly as dry stubble.
11There is one gone forth out of thee, that deviseth evil against Jehovah, that counselleth wickedness.
12Thus saith Jehovah: Though they be in full strength, and likewise many, even so shall they be cut down, and he shall pass away. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.
13And now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.
14And Jehovah hath given commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image; I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.
15Behold, upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! Keep thy feasts, O Judah, perform thy vows; for the wicked one shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.
1This is an oracle about Nineveh; the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite:
2The Lord is a zealous and avenging God; the Lord is avenging and very angry. The Lord takes vengeance against his foes; he sustains his rage against his enemies.
3The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will certainly not allow the wicked to go unpunished. He marches out in the whirlwind and the raging storm; dark storm clouds billow like dust under his feet.
4He shouts a battle cry against the sea and makes it dry up; he makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither; the blossom of Lebanon withers.
5The mountains tremble before him; the hills convulse; the earth is laid waste before him; the world and all its inhabitants are laid waste.
6No one can withstand his indignation! No one can resist his fierce anger! His wrath is poured out like volcanic fire, boulders are broken up as he approaches.
7The Lord is good— indeed, he is a fortress in time of distress, and he protects those who seek refuge in him.
8But with an overwhelming flood he will make a complete end of Nineveh; he will drive his enemies into darkness.
9Whatever you plot against the Lord, he will completely destroy! Distress will not arise a second time.
10Surely they will be totally consumed like entangled thornbushes, like the drink of drunkards, like very dry stubble.
11From you, O Nineveh, one has marched forth who plots evil against the Lord, a wicked military strategist.
12This is what the Lord says: “Even though they are powerful— and what is more, even though their army is numerous— nevertheless, they will be destroyed and trickle away! Although I afflicted you, I will afflict you no more.
13And now, I will break Assyria’s yoke bar from your neck; I will tear apart the shackles that are on you.”
14The Lord has issued a decree against you: “Your dynasty will come to an end. I will destroy the idols and images in the temples of your gods. I will desecrate your grave, because you are accursed!”
15(2:1) Look! A herald is running on the mountains! A messenger is proclaiming deliverance: “Celebrate your sacred festivals, O Judah! Fulfill your sacred vows to praise God! For never again will the wicked Assyrians invade you; they have been completely destroyed.”
1A revelation about Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
2Yahweh is a jealous God and avenges. Yahweh avenges and is full of wrath. Yahweh takes vengeance on his adversaries, and he maintains wrath against his enemies.
3Yahweh is slow to anger, and great in power, and will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. Yahweh has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
4He rebukes the sea, and makes it dry, and dries up all the rivers. Bashan languishes, and Carmel; and the flower of Lebanon languishes.
5The mountains quake before him, and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, yes, the world, and all who dwell in it.
6Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the fierceness of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken apart by him.
7Yahweh is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knows those who take refuge in him.
8But with an overflowing flood, he will make a full end of her place, and will pursue his enemies into darkness.
9What do you plot against Yahweh? He will make a full end. Affliction won’t rise up the second time.
10For entangled like thorns, and drunken as with their drink, they are consumed utterly like dry stubble.
11There is one gone out of you, who devises evil against Yahweh, who counsels wickedness.
12Yahweh says: “Though they be in full strength, and likewise many, even so they will be cut down, and he shall pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more.
13Now will I break his yoke from off you, and will burst your bonds apart.”
14Yahweh has commanded concerning you: “No more descendants will bear your name. Out of the house of your gods, will I cut off the engraved image and the molten image. I will make your grave, for you are vile.”
15Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace! Keep your feasts, Judah! Perform your vows, for the wicked one will no more pass through you. He is utterly cut off.
Summary
Nahum opens with a hymn describing the LORD as jealous and avenging toward his enemies, yet slow to anger and immense in power, marching through the earth in whirlwind and storm (vv. 2-3). Creation itself reacts to his presence — seas dry up, mountains quake, and no one can withstand his fierce anger (vv. 4-6). In contrast, the LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble for those who trust him (v. 7), even as he vows complete destruction on his adversaries so they will never trouble Judah again (vv. 8-10). The chapter turns to address Nineveh directly, denouncing the wicked plotter who schemes against the LORD and pronouncing an end to that nation's name, idols, and power (vv. 11-14). It closes by announcing good news of peace for Judah, calling the people to keep their festivals now that the wicked oppressor is cut off (v. 15).
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- Nineveh (v.1): Capital of the Assyrian Empire; subject of Jonah and Nahum.
- Lebanon (v.4): Region north of Israel known for its cedar forests.
- Carmel (v.4): Mountain range along the Mediterranean coast; site of Elijah's contest with Baal.
- Bashan (v.4): Fertile region east of the Sea of Galilee.
Places on this map
- NinevehMosul, IraqAssyria's last capital, on the east bank of the Tigris across from modern Mosul, about 500 miles north-east of Israel. Sennacherib walled in an enormous city here, which is the scale behind Jonah's three days' journey and its 120,000 who cannot tell right from left. Wikipedia
- LebanonMount Lebanon range, LebanonIn the Bible this is the mountain range, not the modern country: a snow-capped wall rising over 10,000 feet behind the Phoenician coast. Its cedar was the prestige timber of the ancient Near East and both the tabernacle's successors and Solomon's temple were built from it. Wikipedia
- Mediterranean SeaCalled simply the Great Sea, and treated as the western edge of the world. Israel's coast has almost no natural harbours, so for most of its history the sea was a boundary rather than a road, and seafaring was left to the Phoenicians. Wikipedia
- BashanGolan and Hauran, SyriaThe volcanic tableland north-east of the Sea of Galilee, deep in basalt soil and famous for cattle and oak. The bulls of Bashan in the Psalms are a compliment to the pasture before they are an insult to anyone. Wikipedia
- Sea of GalileeLake Kinneret, IsraelA freshwater lake 13 miles by 8, sunk 700 feet below sea level in a bowl of hills. Cold air spilling over the rim onto warm water is what produces the sudden violent squalls the Gospels keep describing. Wikipedia
- Assyrianorthern IraqThe upper Tigris heartland around Nineveh, Calah and Asshur. Its armies reached Israel by following the Fertile Crescent north-west and then south down the coast, so the threat always arrived from the north even though Assyria lay to the east. Wikipedia
- Mount CarmelHaifa, IsraelA wooded limestone ridge that runs 15 miles from the coast inland, reaching about 1,700 feet and forcing the main north-south road through the passes at Megiddo. Rain clouds break on it first, which is why Elijah's contest over rain was staged here. Wikipedia
Towns sit on their excavated or traditional site. Regions, rivers and seas are ringed rather than dotted, because for those a single point is only an anchor. Coastlines from Natural Earth.
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Verse-by-verse commentary on this chapter, written for the everyday reader and freely available online.
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
- Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.
Videos
Articles
- GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of Nahum -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.
Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.
Reflection
- Patience That Is Not Weakness (v.3) — Nahum says the LORD is slow to anger yet will never leave the guilty unpunished. When evil seems to prosper unchecked in the world around you, do you mistake God's patience for indifference?
- A Stronghold for Those Who Trust Him (v.7) — the same God whose wrath topples nations is described as good, a refuge for anyone who takes shelter in Him. Are you currently relating to God more as someone to fear or as the stronghold you can run to?
- God's Judgment Is Thorough (v.9) — Nahum declares that when God finally acts, the affliction will not need to rise a second time. Is there an injustice you're still carrying anger or anxiety over that you need to fully entrust to God's complete judgment?
- Someone's Judgment Is Another's Good News (v.15) — the fall of a cruel oppressor is announced as good tidings and peace for those who suffered under it. Where do you need to trust that God settling accounts with someone else's wrongdoing is actually good news for you?