LESSON 35 THE BOOK OF NAHUM

 

Nahum is the shortened form of Nehemiah (Comfort of Yahweh).  Nahum prophesied  to the great city of Nineveh that under the ministry of Jonah, experienced revival a hundred years earlier.  He proclaimed the downfall and total annihilation of the Assyrian's capital city because of their departure from the grand privilege of coming to know the true and living God. Luke12:48___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The style of writing exceeds many others in its vividness.  Carroll wrote:  "This is one of the finest pieces of literature in all the world."  The reference to the destruction of the great city of No in 3:8 (Noamon) accrued in 633 BC and Nineveh fell in 607 BC.   This helps us establish the time of witting between 630 BC and 610 BC.   After the Assyrians revival, they  soon returned to their ruthless practices, destroying Samaria and scattering the ten tribes of the northern Kingdom.  Sennacherib also came close to capturing Jerusalem during the reign of Hezekiah in BC   Nahum's prophecy came at a time when Nineveh was at its peak of prosperity.  This mighty city had walls 100 feet high, and wide enough to accommodate three chariots.  On the wall were huge towers that stretched an additional 100 feet above the top of the walls.  At the base of the wall was a moat 150 feet wide and 60 feet deep.  These impressing features made Nineveh the greatest city in the world, and able to withstand a 20 year siege.   This made Nahum's prophecy of their downfall seem unlikely or humanly  impossible.  

 

SURVEY OF NAHUM

The destruction of Nineveh:

Decreed      Chapter 1

Described   Chapter 2

Deserved    Chapter 3

 

 Decreed  -  Chapter 1

The distinction between God visiting his enemies and those that trust him (v7) can clearly be seen.  God is described as "good, a stronghold" toward his friends, but toward his foes, "He will make a full end."  The power to Judge is very descriptive in the first part of this chapter.  God's "in-time" method of vengeance stands as a warning of the eternal and final judgement of Jesus Christ. 

1:8_________________________________________________________

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This verse was fulfilled when the Tigris river overflowed its banks and the flood destroyed part of Nineveh's magnificent wall, which  allowed Babylon to penetrate the city. 

 

Our present world "now" stands under the same prophetical word of Judgement:

2 Peter 3:7___________________________________________________

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Described  -  Chapter 2

Nahum describes the scene of their destruction so vividly that we can almost feel the fear and destruction in the hearts of the people. 

2:10________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Deserved  -  Chapter 3

Why such severe Judgement upon these people?  They were the greatest commercial center of the age (3:16-17).    The first three verses answer our question.  The cruelty, savagery and showing no mercy upon other nations had come full circle. 

 

Conclusion:  The news of Nineveh's destruction brought relief to the surrounding nations.  Israel along with all other nations would receive comfort from the knowledge of their destruction.   As Nineveh had only one Jonah for time and eternity, many nations that have come and gone only had one chance to repent and believe.