Nahum

Contents

1 Overview 2 Historical context 3 Theme 4 The book

Overview

Nahum was a minor prophet whose prophecy is recorded in the Jewish scriptures and in the Christian Old Testament. His book comes in chronological order between Micah and Habakkuk in the Christian Bible. He wrote about the end of the Assyrian Empire, and its capital city, Nineveh, in a vivid poetic style.

Little is known about Nahum’s personal history. His name means “comforted” or “comforted by Yahweh”. He was from the town of Elkosh, the location of which is not known. Some accounts say that there was a city with a name similar to this (Al Qosh) two days travel north of Nineveh. He was a very nationalistic Hebrew, however, and joyously proclaimed the defeat of an empire that had terrorized Judah for about 2 centuries and which had carried off the northern kingdom of Israel into captivity. His writings could be taken as prophecy or as history. One account suggests that his writings are a prophecy written in about 615 BC, just before the downfall of Assyria, while another account suggests that he wrote this passage as a New Years’ liturgy for the autumn festival just after the downfall in 612 BC.

Historical context

Assyria for a very long time were vicious overlords of the Fertile Crescent. They were ferocious fighters and were well known for their barbaric acts which caused great fear in all the surrounding nations. Only God himself had saved the city of Jerusalem from Sennacherib by intervening and causing a plague to strike down the Assyrian army that was laying siege to the city (701 BC). The northern kingdom of Israel had fallen to them in 722 BC.

But now Assyria’s victims would be avenged as the kingdom of the Medes joined forces with the Babylonians to launch an assault on the huge fortified city of Nineveh just after the death of Assurbanipal in 627 BC when Assyria was in a time of disorganization. Archaeological digs have uncovered the splendor of Nineveh in its hey-day under Sennacherib (905-681 BC), Esarhaddon (681-669 BC), and Ashurbanipal (669-633 BC). Massive walls were eight miles in circumference. It had a water aquaduct, palaces and a library with 20,000 clay tablets, including the creation (Enuma Elish), and the flood (Gilgamesh). The Babylonian chronicle of the fall of Nineveh tells the story of the end of Nineveh. Naboplassar of Babylon joined forces with Cyaxares, king of the Medes, and laid siege for 2 months and apparently were aided by a flooding river which flowed through the city. Assyria lasted a few more years after the loss of its fortress, but attempts by Egyptian Pharaoh Neco II to rally the Assyrians failed and it seemed to be all over by 609 BC.

Theme

Nahum’s thought is passionately in favor of the destruction, just as Obadiah was in favor of the end of Edom for complicity in the fall of Jerusalem. The book makes no mention of the divine judgement that awaits Judah. This has caused some to suggest that Nahum was a false prophet – because most prophets predicted doom for Judah and Israel for not following Yahweh. (False prophets usually said that all was well for the Jewish people). This book also contrasts Hosea and Jonah (othern prophets in the Christian Bible) where Yahweh shows concern for the people of Nineveh and, of course, this is quite different from God's commandment that forbids murder. How can vindictive, taunting, cursing language exist in sacred scripture? Psalmists and prophets often demanded God’s judgement on their enemies. Retribution was part of the Hebrew belief in ”an eye for an eye”. Nahum’s writing testifies to his belief in the righteousness of God. The Assyrians had been used as “God’s razor”, but they had offended God and it was time for their judgement.

The book

Chapter 1: 2-9 is a hymn to a divine warrior, extolling the virtues of the Lord. Others suggest that this is the simulation of a court scene. Chapters 1:10-2:2 contain alternating oracles to Nineveh and Judah, with condemnation being declared to Nineveh and freedom of bondage to Judah. Chapters 2:3-3:19 describe the sack of Nineveh. The lion, the symbol of Assyrian power is made reference to. Nineveh is portrayed as a disgraced prostitute and compared to Thebes, the Egyptian city that Assyria itself had destroyed. Nahum describes the siege and frenzied activity of Nineveh’s troops as they try in vain to halt the invaders. With “poetic genius” he becomes a participant in the battle, and with subtle irony, barks battle commands to the defenders. Nahum uses numerous similes and metaphors. Nineveh is compared to a lion’s den where the lioness and young await the return of the lion with his kill. It comes to conclusion with a satirical warning where Assyria’s rulers sleep and merchants flee.

he:נחום