Nahum 1:11

1:11 From you, O Nineveh, ¹  one has marched forth who plots evil against the Lord,

a wicked military strategist. ² 

Nahum 3:19

3:19 Your destruction is like an incurable wound; ³ 

your demise is like a fatal injury! ⁴ 

All who hear what has happened to you ⁵  will clap their hands for joy, ⁶ 

for no one ever escaped your endless cruelty! ⁷ 

[1:11]  ¹ tn The words “O Nineveh” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation for clarity. The preceding pronoun is feminine singular, indicating the personified city is in view. See 2:1 (2:2 HT).

[1:11]  ² tn Heb “a counselor of wickedness”; NASB “a wicked counselor”; NAB “the scoundrel planner.”

[3:19]  ³ tc The MT reads the hapax legomenon כֵּהָה (kehah, “relief, alleviation”). On the other hand, the LXX reads ἴασις (iasi", “healing”) which seems to reflect a reading of גֵּהָה (gehah, “cure, healing”). In the light of the LXX, the BHS editors suggest emending the MT to גֵּהָה (gehah) – which occurs only once elsewhere (Prov 17:22) – on the basis of orthographic and phonological confusion between Hebrew כ (kaf) and ג (gimel). This emendation would produce the common ancient Near Eastern treaty-curse: “there is no cure for your wound” (e.g., Hos 5:13); see HALOT 461 s.v. כֵּהָה; K. J. Cathcart, “Treaty-Curses and the Book of Nahum,” CBQ 35 (1973): 186; D. Hillers, Treaty-Curses and the Old Testament Prophets, 64-66.

[3:19]  ⁴ tn Heb “your injury is fatal.”

[3:19]  ⁵ tn Heb “the report of you.”

[3:19]  ⁶ tn Heb “will clap their hands over you.”

[3:19]  ⁷ tn Heb “For who ever escaped…?”