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Texts -- Nahum 2:3-13 (NET)

Context
Prophetic Vision of the Fall of Nineveh
2:3 The shields of his warriors are dyed red ; the mighty soldiers are dressed in scarlet garments . The metal fittings of the chariots shine like fire on the day of battle ; the soldiers brandish their spears . 2:4 The chariots race madly through the streets , they rush back and forth in the broad plazas ; they look like lightning bolts , they dash here and there like flashes of lightning . 2:5 The commander orders his officers ; they stumble as they advance ; they rush to the city wall and they set up the covered siege tower . 2:6 The sluice gates are opened ; the royal palace is deluged and dissolves . 2:7 Nineveh is taken into exile and is led away ; her slave girls moan like doves while they beat their breasts . 2:8 Nineveh was like a pool of water throughout her days , but now her people are running away ; she cries out: “Stop ! Stop !”– but no one turns back . 2:9 Her conquerors cry out: “Plunder the silver ! Plunder the gold !” There is no end to the treasure ; riches of every kind of precious thing . 2:10 Destruction , devastation , and desolation ! Their hearts faint , their knees tremble , each stomach churns , each face turns pale !
Taunt against the Once-Mighty Lion
2:11 Where now is the den of the lions , the feeding place of the young lions , where the lion , lioness , and lion cub once prowled and no one disturbed them? 2:12 The lion tore apart as much prey as his cubs needed and strangled prey to provide food for his lionesses ; he filled his lairs with prey and his dens with torn flesh.
Battle Cry of the Divine Warrior
2:13 “I am against you!” declares the Lord who commands armies : “I will burn your chariots with fire ; the sword will devour your young lions ; you will no longer prey upon the land ; the voices of your messengers will no longer be heard .”

Pericope

NET
  • Nah 2:3-10 -- Prophetic Vision of the Fall of Nineveh
  • Nah 2:11-12 -- Taunt against the Once-Mighty Lion
  • Nah 2:13 -- Battle Cry of the Divine Warrior

Bible Dictionary

  • Nineveh

    [ebd] First mentioned in Gen. 10:11, which is rendered in the Revised Version, "He [i.e., Nimrod] went forth into Assyria and builded Nineveh." It is not again noticed till the days of Jonah, when it is described (Jonah 3:3; 4:11)...
    [isbe] NINEVEH - nin'-e-ve (nineweh; Nineue, Nineui; Greek and Roman writers, Ninos): I. BEGINNINGS, NAME, POSITION 1. First Biblical Mention 2. Etymology of the Name 3. Position on the Tigris II. NINEVEH AND ITS SURROUNDINGS 1. It...
    [nave] NINEVEH Capital of the Assyrian empire, Gen. 10:11, 12. Contained a population of upwards of one hundred and twenty thousand when Jonah preached, Jonah 4:11. Extent of, Jonah 3:4. Seacherib in, 2 Kin. 19:36, 37; Isa. 37:3...

  • Nahum

    [smith] (consolation). Nahum, called "the Elkoshite," is the seventh in order of the minor prophets. His personal history is quite unknown. The site of Elkosh, his native place, is disputed, some placing it in Galilee, others in Assy...
    [nave] NAHUM, one of the minor prophets. Prophesies against the Assyrians; declares the majesty of God and his care for his people, Nah. 1. Foretells the destruction of Nineveh, Nah. 2, 3.

  • Assyria

    [isbe] ASSYRIA - a-sir'-i-a: I. GEOGRAPHY II. EARLY HISTORY III. CLIMATE AND PRODUCTIONS IV. POPULATION V. TRADE AND LAW VI. ART VII. MECHANICS VIII. FURNITURE, POTTERY AND EMBROIDERY IX. LANGUAGE, LITERATURE AND SCIENCE X. GOVERNM...
    [nave] ASSYRIA An empire founded by Nimrod, Gen. 10:8-12; Mic. 5:6. It extended from east of the Tigris, Gen. 2:14; 10:11; possibly to Egypt, Gen. 25:18. Its armies invade the land of Israel under Pul, 2 Kin. 15:19; 1 Chr. 5:26; ...

  • Prophecy

    [ebd] or prediction, was one of the functions of the prophet. It has been defined as a "miracle of knowledge, a declaration or description or representation of something future, beyond the power of human sagacity to foresee, disce...

  • Chariot

    [isbe] CHARIOT - char'-i-ot (merkabh, merkabhah, "riding-chariot," rekhebh, "war-chariot"; harma): 1. Chariots of Egypt 2. Chariots of the Canaanites 3. Chariots of Solomon and Later Kings 4. Chariots of the Assyrians 5. Chariots o...
    [nave] CHARIOT For war, Ex. 14:7, 9, 25; Josh. 11:4; 1 Sam. 13:5; 1 Kin. 20:1, 25; 2 Kin. 6:14; 2 Chr. 12:2, 3; Psa. 20:7; 46:9; Jer. 46:9; 47:3; 51:21; Joel 2:5; Nah. 2:3, 4; 3:2. Wheels of Pharaoh's, providentially taken off, Ex...

  • Huzzab

    [isbe] HUZZAB - huz'-ab (hutstsabh, only in Nah 2:7 the King James Version and the Revised Version margin): Its meaning is doubtful. According to Gesenius, it is a verb, Hoph. of tsabhabh, "flow," hence, to be rendered with precedi...
    [smith] (fixed), according to the general opinion of the Jews, was the queen of Nineveh at the time when Nahum delivered his prophecy. (Nahum 2:7) (B.C. about 700.) The moderns follow the rendering in the margin of our English Bible ...
    [nave] HUZZAB, probably a region E. of the Tigris, Nah. 2:7.

  • Shield

    [ebd] used in defensive warfare, varying at different times and under different circumstances in size, form, and material (1 Sam. 17:7; 2 Sam. 1:21; 1 Kings 10:17; 1 Chr. 12:8, 24, 34; Isa. 22:6; Ezek. 39:9; Nahum 2:3). Used figur...
    [smith] The ordinary shield consisted of a framework of wood covered with leather; it thus admitted of being burnt. (Ezekiel 39:9) It was frequently cased with metal, either brass or copper; its appearance in this case resembled gold...
    [nave] SHIELD, defensive armor. Different kinds of, designated as buckler, shield, target, Psa. 35:2; Ezek. 38:4. Used by Saul, 2 Sam. 1:21; by the Benjamites, 2 Chr. 14:8; 17:17. Uzziah equipped the children of Israel with, 2 Chr...

  • TORCH

    [isbe] TORCH - torch (lappidh; lampas; in the King James Version this word occurs only 4 times (Nah 2:3,4 (Hebrew 4,5); Zec 12:6; Jn 18:3). In the Revised Version (British and American) it is found 10 times (Gen 15:17; Jdg 7:16,20;...

  • Colors

    [nave] COLORS Symbolical uses of. Black A Symbol of Affliction and Calamity. Job 3:5; Job 10:20-22; Job 30:26; Psa. 107:10, 11; Psa. 143:3; Isa. 5:30; Isa. 8:22; Isa. 9:19; Isa. 24:11; Isa. 50:3; Joel 2:6, 10; Joel 3:14, 15; Amos...

  • DOVE

    [isbe] DOVE - duv (tor, yonah; peristera; Latin Zenaedura carolinensis): A bird of the family Columbidae. Doves and pigeons are so closely related as to be spoken and written of as synonymous, yet there is a distinction recognized ...
    [smith] The first menton of this bird occurs in Gen. 8. The dove?s rapidity of flight is alluded to in (Psalms 55:6) the beauty of its plumage in (Psalms 68:13) its dwelling int he rocks and valleys in (Jeremiah 48:28) and Ezek 7:16 ...

  • WHELP

    [isbe] WHELP - hwelp (gur, or gor; either absol. (Ezek 19:2,3,5; Nab 2:12); or constr. with 'aryeh, "lion" (Gen 49:9; Dt 33:22; Jer 51:38; Nah 2:11); also benelabhi', literally, "sons of a lioness," translated "the whelps of the li...

  • Media

    [ebd] Heb. Madai, which is rendered in the Authorized Version (1) "Madai," Gen. 10:2; (2) "Medes," 2 Kings 17:6; 18:11; (3) "Media," Esther 1:3; 10:2; Isa. 21:2; Dan. 8:20; (4) "Mede," only in Dan. 11:1. We first hear of this peop...

  • Lightning

    [isbe] LIGHTNING - lit'-ning (baraq, chaziz; astrape): Lightning is caused by the discharge of electricity between clouds or between clouds and the earth. In a thunder-storm there is a rapid gathering of particles of moisture into ...
    [nave] LIGHTNING, Job 28:26; 37:3; 38:25, 35; Psa. 18:14; 77:18; 78:48; 97:4; 135:7; 144:6; Jer. 10:13; 51:16; Ezek. 1:13, 14; Dan. 10:6; Nah. 2:4; Zech. 9:14; 10:1; Matt. 24:27; 28:3; Luke 10:18; Rev. 4:5; 8:5; 11:19; 16:18.

  • Lintel

    [ebd] (1.) Heb. mashkoph, a projecting cover (Ex. 12:22, 23; ver. 7, "upper door post," but R.V. "lintel"); the head-piece of a door, which the Israelites were commanded to mark with the blood of the paschal lamb. (2.) Heb. kaphta...

  • STEEL

    [isbe] STEEL - stel: the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "brass" for "steel" in 2 Sam 22:35; Job 20:24; Ps 18:34; Jer 15:12, and "steel" for "torches" in Nah 2:3. See BRASS.
    [smith] In all cases were the word "steel" occurs in the Authorized Version the true rendering of the Hebrew is "copper." Whether the ancient Hebrews were acquainted with steel is not perfectly certain. It has been inferred from a pa...

  • TABERING

    [ebd] playing on a small drum or tabret. In Nahum 2:7, where alone it occurs, it means beating on the breast, as players beat on the tabret.
    [smith] an obsolete English word used in the Authorized Version of (Nahum 2:7) The Hebrew word connects itself with toph , "a timbrel." The Authorized Version reproduces the original idea. The "tabour" or "tabor" was a musical instru...

  • GOLD

    [ebd] (1.) Heb. zahab, so called from its yellow colour (Ex. 25:11; 1 Chr. 28:18; 2 Chr. 3:5). (2.) Heb. segor, from its compactness, or as being enclosed or treasured up; thus precious or "fine gold" (1 Kings 6:20; 7:49). (3.) He...
    [smith] Gold was known from the very earliest times. (Genesis 2:11) It was at first used chiefly for ornaments, etc. (Genesis 24:22) Coined money was not known to the ancients till a comparatively late period; and on the Egyptian tom...

  • WORTHIES

    [isbe] WORTHIES - wur'-thiz ('addir, "majestic," "noble" (compare Jdg 5:13, etc.)):In Nah 2:5, the King James Version "He shall recount his worthies" (margin "gallants"), the English Revised Version "He remembereth his worthies," t...

  • PREPARATION

    [isbe] PREPARATION - prep-a-ra'-shun: The concordances indicate that the word "preparation" occurs only twice in the Old Testament, once in 1 Ch 22:5, where it is used in the ordinary sense "to make preparation," and once in Nah 2:...

  • RAVEN; RAVIN

    [isbe] RAVEN; RAVIN - rav'-n, rav'-in: "Raven" (verb) is from "rapine," "violent plundering, used for Taraph, in Gen 49:27; Ps 22:13; Ezek 22:25,27, while "ravin" (noun) is the object ravened, in Nah 2:12 the torn carcasses (Tereph...
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Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • Some scholars have tried to prove that someone other than Nahum wrote sections of the book (1:1; 1:1-2:3; 1:2-10; 2:4-3:19), but their arguments are largely speculative. Jewish and Christian authorities have long held that Na...
  • Nahum mentioned the fall of the Egyptian city of Thebes (3:8), so we know he wrote after that event, which took place in 663 B.C. The Assyrian king Ashurbanipal conquered it. The prophet predicted the fall of the Assyrian cap...
  • I. Heading 1:1II. Nineveh's destruction declared 1:2-14A. The anger and goodness of Yahweh 1:2-8B. Yahweh's plans for Nineveh and Judah 1:9-141. The consumption of Nineveh 1:9-112. The liberation of Judah 1:12-133. The termin...
  • The rest of chapter 1 declares Nineveh's destruction in rather hymnic style, and chapters 2 and 3 describe its destruction. Each of these major parts of the book opens with a revelation of Yahweh....
  • 1:15 This is the first verse of chapter 2 in the Hebrew Bible. Nahum called his audience to give attention. Someone was coming over the mountains with a message of peace. Consequently the people of Judah could celebrate their...
  • The first message sees the details of the siege of Nineveh taking place in the city when the enemy attacked, and it ends with the reaction of a segment of the populace (v. 7).2:3 Nahum again focused on the destroyer (scattere...
  • The second description of Nineveh's fall is more philosophical than the first one and ends with a statement by Yahweh that gives the reason for its fall (v. 13).2:8 Nineveh had been as placid as the waters around the city for...
  • This description explains further the "why"for Nineveh's fall whereas the first two descriptions in the previous chapter gave more of the actual events, the "what"of it. There is much similarity between the descriptions of th...
  • This section, evidently another message that Nahum delivered concerning Nineveh's fall, begins by comparing it to the fall of another great city. Nahum proceeded to use many figures of speech to describe how various segments ...
  • 2:13 Zephaniah also prophesied the destruction of Assyria to Judah's north (really northeast) and her capital Nineveh (cf. Isa. 13:1-14:27; 21:1-10; Jer. 50-51). Since Nineveh fell to the combined forces of Babylonia, Media, ...
  • 4:2 As soon as John heard this invitation, he entered another ecstatic state (cf. 1:10). His body remained on the earth, but he saw a throne and someone sitting on it in heaven (cf. Ezek. 11:1, 5). "Throne"occurs 45 times in ...
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