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Text -- Nahum 3:12 (NET)

Strongs On/Off
Context
The Assyrian Defenses Will Fail
3:12 All your fortifications will be like fig trees with first-ripe fruit: If they are shaken, their figs will fall into the mouth of the eater!
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Dictionary Themes and Topics: Nineveh | Nahum | Fig | FORTIFICATION; FORT; FORTIFIED CITIES; FORTRESS | FOOD | Assyria | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Wesley , JFB , Clarke , Calvin , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Keil-Delitzsch , Constable , Guzik

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Wesley: Nah 3:12 - -- Whose weight and ripeness will bring them quickly to the ground.

Whose weight and ripeness will bring them quickly to the ground.

Wesley: Nah 3:12 - -- If but lightly touched.

If but lightly touched.

JFB: Nah 3:12 - -- On the borders of Assyria, protecting the approaches to Nineveh: "the gates of thy land" (Nah 3:13).

On the borders of Assyria, protecting the approaches to Nineveh: "the gates of thy land" (Nah 3:13).

JFB: Nah 3:12 - -- Expressing the rapidity and ease of the capture of Nineveh (compare Isa 28:4; Rev 6:13).

Expressing the rapidity and ease of the capture of Nineveh (compare Isa 28:4; Rev 6:13).

Clarke: Nah 3:12 - -- Thy strong holds - The effects of the consternation into which the Ninevites were cast by the assault on their city are here pointed out by a very e...

Thy strong holds - The effects of the consternation into which the Ninevites were cast by the assault on their city are here pointed out by a very expressive metaphor; the first-ripe figs, when at full maturity, fell from the tree with the least shake; and so, at the first shake or consternation, all the fortresses of Nineveh were abandoned; and the king, in despair, burnt himself and household in his own palace.

Calvin: Nah 3:12 - -- The Prophet here declares that the strongholds of the Assyrians would avail them nothing; whether they trusted in the number of their men, or in thei...

The Prophet here declares that the strongholds of the Assyrians would avail them nothing; whether they trusted in the number of their men, or in their walls, or in other defenses, they would be disappointed; for all things, he says, will of themselves fall, even without being much assailed. And he employs a very apposite similitude, “Thy fortifications,” he says, “which thou thinkest to be very strong, shall be like figs; for when the fruit is ripe, and any comes to the tree, as soon as he touches it or any of the branches, the figs will fall off themselves.” We indeed know that there is not much firmness in that fruit; when it is ripe, it immediately falls to the ground, or if it hangs on the branches, a very little shaking will bring it down. We now see the design of the Prophet.

And hence an useful doctrine may be deduced: whatever strength men may seek for themselves from different quarters, it will wholly vanish away; for neither forts, nor towers, nor ramparts, nor troops of men, nor any kind of contrivances, will avail any thing; and were there no one to rise against them, they would yet fall of themselves. It afterwards follows —

TSK: Nah 3:12 - -- Hab 1:10; Rev 6:13

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Nah 3:12 - -- All thy strong-holds shall be like fig trees, with the first ripe figs - Hanging from them; eagerly sought after , to be consumed. Being ripe, ...

All thy strong-holds shall be like fig trees, with the first ripe figs - Hanging from them; eagerly sought after , to be consumed. Being ripe, they are ready to fall at once; "if they be shaken;"it needs but the tremulous motion, as when trees wave in the wind, "they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater,"not costing even the slight pains of picking them from the ground . So easy is their destruction on the part of God, though it cost more pains to the Babylonians. At the end of the world it shall be yet more fulfilled Rev 6:13, for then God will use no human instrument, but put forth only His own Almightiness; and all strong-holds of man’ s pride, moral or spiritual, shall, of themselves, melt away.

Poole: Nah 3:12 - -- All thy strong holds castles and fortified places, not one or two, but all of them, shall be like fig trees easily shaken, with the first-ripe fig...

All thy strong holds castles and fortified places, not one or two, but all of them,

shall be like fig trees easily shaken,

with the first-ripe figs whose weight and ripeness will bring them quickly to the ground.

If they be shaken if but very lightly touched. they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater; into the hand of devouring and hungry ones.

Gill: Nah 3:12 - -- All thy strong holds shall be like fig trees with the first ripe figs,.... Upon them, or like them: "and the first ripe figs"; which are easily shook...

All thy strong holds shall be like fig trees with the first ripe figs,.... Upon them, or like them: "and the first ripe figs"; which are easily shook and gathered; and so easily should the fortresses and towers of Nineveh, in which they trusted for safety, be taken by the enemy, not only one, but all of them:

if they be shaken, they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater; as such ripe fruit is very desirable, and the mouth of a man is open and ready for them; so if he gives the tree but the least shake, they will fall into his mouth, or about him in great plenty: in like manner, as the fortresses of Nineveh, being of importance, were desirable by the Chaldeans and Medes, and for which they were gaping; so upon the least assault they would fall into their hands; see Rev 6:13.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Nah 3:12 This is appropriate imagery and highly ironic. After defeating their enemies, the Assyrian kings often encouraged their troops to consume the fruit of...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Nah 3:1-19 - --1 The miserable ruin of Nineveh.

MHCC: Nah 3:8-19 - --Strong-holds, even the strongest, are no defence against the judgments of God. They shall be unable to do any thing for themselves. The Chaldeans and ...

Matthew Henry: Nah 3:8-19 - -- Nineveh has been told that God is against her, and then none can be for her, to stand her in any stead; yet she sets God himself at defiance, and hi...

Keil-Delitzsch: Nah 3:11-13 - -- The same, or rather a worse fate than No-amon suffered, is now awaiting Nineveh. Nah 3:11. "Thou also wilt be drunken, shalt be hidden; thou also w...

Constable: Nah 1:15--Hab 1:1 - --III. Nineveh's destruction described 1:15--3:19 This second major part of Nahum contains another introduction an...

Constable: Nah 2:3--Hab 1:1 - --B. Four descriptions of Nineveh's fall 2:3-3:19 The rest of the book contains four descriptions of Ninev...

Constable: Nah 3:8-19 - --4. The fourth description of Nineveh's fall 3:8-19 This section, evidently another message that Nahum delivered concerning Nineveh's fall, begins by c...

Guzik: Nah 3:1-19 - --Nahum 3 - Nineveh, the Wicked City A. The sin within Nineveh. 1. (1-4) The violence and immorality in Nineveh. Woe to the bloody city! It is all f...

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Introduction / Outline

JFB: Nahum (Book Introduction) NAHUM means "consolation" and "vengeance"; symbolizing the "consolation" in the book for God's people, and the "vengeance" coming on their enemies. In...

JFB: Nahum (Outline) JEHOVAH'S ATTRIBUTES AS A JEALOUS JUDGE OF SIN, YET MERCIFUL TO HIS TRUSTING PEOPLE, SHOULD INSPIRE THEM WITH CONFIDENCE. HE WILL NOT ALLOW THE ASSYR...

TSK: Nahum 3 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Nah 3:1, The miserable ruin of Nineveh.

Poole: Nahum (Book Introduction) THE ARGUMENT THE prophet Nahum is one of those prophets whose family and country are concealed, and it would be more labour than profit to spend ti...

Poole: Nahum 3 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 3 The miserable ruin of Nineveh.

MHCC: Nahum (Book Introduction) This prophet denounces the certain and approaching destruction of the Assyrian empire, particularly of Nineveh, which is described very minutely. Toge...

MHCC: Nahum 3 (Chapter Introduction) (Nah 3:1-7) The sins and judgments of Nineveh. (Nah 3:8-19) Its utter destruction.

Matthew Henry: Nahum (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Prophecy of Nahum The name of this prophet signifies a comforter; for it was a charge given to al...

Matthew Henry: Nahum 3 (Chapter Introduction) This chapter goes on with the burden of Nineveh, and concludes it. I. The sins of that great city are charged upon it, murder (Nah 3:1), whoredom ...

Constable: Nahum (Book Introduction) Introduction Title and Writer The title of the book comes from the name of its writer....

Constable: Nahum (Outline) Outline I. Heading 1:1 II. Nineveh's destruction declared 1:2-14 A. The ...

Constable: Nahum Nahum Bibliography Armerding, Carl E. "Nahum." In Daniel-Minor Prophets. Vol. 7 of The Expositor's Bible Commen...

Haydock: Nahum (Book Introduction) THE PROPHECY OF NAHUM. INTRODUCTION. Nahum, whose name signifies a comforter, was a native of Elcese, or Elcesai, supposed to be a little to...

Gill: Nahum (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO NAHUM This book is called, in the Vulgate Latin version, "the Prophecy of Nahum"; and in the Syriac and Arabic versions, "the Proph...

Gill: Nahum 3 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO NAHUM 3 In this chapter is contained the prophecy of the destruction of Nineveh, and with it the whole Assyrian empire; the causes ...

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