Only the lord can know when grace can no longer be granted, and the time for. The prophesy occurred about 100 years after jonah preached in the same city. Nahum practically mocked the people of nineveh, cheering them on to do the best they could in light of the coming judgment. For the lord hath turned away the excellency of jacob jacob and israel stood in a nearer relation to god than nineveh. About 150 years earlier, god had sent jonah to deliver his warning to nineveh.
The book contains judgment and promise, immanent destruction for nineveh and future peace for the people of god, for this purpose it was written. Dec 03, 20 nahum is written during this time and it is a word regarding the judgment of nineveh and certainly was a book of comfort to judah knowing that nineveh would not succeed in carrying out her threats against judah. They should not see those outside the community of faith as their. He is sent, prominently, to pronounce on nineveh its doom when its day of grace should be over, and. Nineveh is compared to thebes, the egyptian city that assyria itself had destroyed in 663 bc.
Along with nahum s writings about the destruction of nineveh, there is also a message of hope shines through. This is why the apostle paul could say, all scripture is inspired by god and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for. The book of the vision as prophets were of old called seers, so their prophecies were called visions. By the excellency of jacob, the wealth, the strength, the valiant men, all that jacob gloried in is here meant. Leupold introduces the new rx1400i tbrw rangefinderthe. Very little is known about nahum himself and his name only occurs here in the entire old. Nicholas reid on teaching nahum the gospel coalition. The name nineveh, of course, brings memories of the book of jonah.
The lord told jonah to go to the foreign city of nineveh and call its people to. The lord has given a command concerning you, nineveh. God frustrates the plots of his enemies the bible church. The book of nahum mentions the recent fall of thebes, which occurred in 663 bc nah.
The book of nahum was, according to this view, a collection of writings of various literary types that an editor compiled to magnify yahwehs greatness by reflecting on nineveh s destruction. The burden of nineveh while the book of jonah records ninevehs reprieve, nahum predicts its destruction. In the prophets, a burden is a heavy message of weighty importance, heavy in the sense that it produces sorrow or grief. Nineveh stands for the warfare of man against his fellow human beings. To understand the prophets exultant outburst of joy over the impending destruction it is necessary to recall the savage cruelty of assyria, which had made it the scourge of the ancient near east for almost three centuries.
In those days of trouble god sent nahum with a divine message of judgment for nineveh. Why did god judge nineveh so harshly in the book of nahum. Nahum is a collection of poems announcing the downfall of one of israels worst oppressors, the ancient empire of assyria, and its capital city of nineveh. Yet behind the opening pronouncement and subsequent shifting scenes of nineveh s doom, lies a deeper, double truth.
A casual reading of the prophecy reveals that nahum deals with the destruction of nineveh. Canonically, nahum is the thirtyfourth book of the holy bible 1, the thirtyfourth book of the old testament 2 and the seventh of twelve minor prophets 3 books. But every portion of scripture is indispensable, each has its own contribution to make. Nahum portrays the downfall of nineveh and assyria as an image of how god will. Second, the main subject of the prophecy is the fall of the assyrian city of nineveh, but that event has not yet taken place nineveh fell in 612 b.
Thats because verse 1 pretty much gives us all we do know. They were given another chance to repent but did not and the nation was destroyed. Nov 17, 2020 nahum s singular focus on the impending judgment of nineveh offers a continuation of the story that began in jonah. Gods anger was withheld from the city and he spared it, because from the king on down to the lowest citizen, they turned to god and repented of their sins. The lord takes vengeance on his adversaries, and rages against his enemies. Box on selected books grays concise commentary kretzmanns. When the city repented, god held back his hand of judgment. An oracle of judgment is a means of grace to the listening believer heb. The book of nahum is a poem prophesying the downfall of nineveh, the capital of assyria, in 612bc. The bible journey introduction to the book of nahum. The book of nahum mentions the recent fall of noamon, or thebes, which occurred. Jul 31, 2016 the prophet nahum prophesied the future destruction of the city of nineveh, the capital of the assyrian empire. While scholars have proposed a number of theories about nahum s hometown, elkosh, the best option identifies it with a city in southern judah that later came to be known as elcesi, near where the prophet micah lived.
The coming defeat of assyria by the babylonians is seen by nahum as gods judgement on a wicked and godless nation who had conquered the northern kingdom of israels capital city of samaria in 722bc and had led ten of the twelve tribes of israel back to nineveh in slavery. The book s author is nahum, whose name means comfort. Since nahum was a jewish prophet, and evidently lived after the fall of. Nahum practically mocks the people of nineveh, cheering them on to do the best they can in light of the coming judgment. The historical fulfillment of that prophetic pronouncement testifies to the authenticity of the book.
The second part of the title of the book of nahum, the vision of nahum the elkcoshite, belongs to the fourth poem describing the fall of nineveh, while the first part, the utterance on nineveh. Therefore, the most plausible date for nahum s prophecy would be between 660 and 650 b. The book of international standard bible encyclopedia. The purpose of the book of nahum was to pronounce the possibility of nineveh avoiding destruction through repentance true false. Nineveh became the embodiment of human violence and conquest. Even though nahum does not explicitly call nineveh to repent, repentance is always in order even if hope is not explicit cf. It is a common term in the prophetic writings this oracle is a threatening message. While most of the book threatens nineveh with destruction, there are also words of comfort for the people of judah 1. While the book of jonah records nineveh s reprieve, nahum predicts its destruction.
It was used by god to punish the inhabitants of israel who had turned to idol worship and other evil practices. No one can stand before him in the day of judgment 1. The lords anger against nineveh the lord is a jealous and avenging god. The lord takes vengeance on his foes and vents his wrath against his enemies. Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who. Nahum means comfort or consolation and is a short form of nehemiah comfort of yahweh. This great metropolis is first mentioned in genesis 10. The book of jonah allows us to see the grace and mercy of god as the lord. The book is a oneminute radio program that features unusual stories and interesting facts about the bibleone of the bestselling books of all time. The text of nahum provides additional clues regarding gods anger with the ninevites. The name refers back to jehovahs compassion connected with jonahs mission eightyseven years before.
Asshur will be utterly destroyed by the enemy advancing against nineveh, for jehovah will re. The book of jonah allows us to see the grace and mercy of god as the lor. The prophet nahum was sent to minister to the southern kingdom of judah at the time of the. Sometime after the egyptian city of noamon thebes suffered humiliating defeat in the seventh century b. This is apropos because his message of the coming judgment on nineveh comforted judah after their suffering at assyrias hand. Final exam on book of nahum correct answer per question. God frustrates the plots of his enemies the bible church of. The book is an oracle which concerns nineveh, a vision which comes from nahum the elkoshite 1. Yet forty days, and nineveh shall be overthrown jonah 3. By nahums time, however, nineveh had again become extremely wicked. The book of nahum reveals that god will punish all evil empires. May 02, 2020 first, nahum mentions thebes no amon in egypt falling to the assyrians 663 b.
Throughout the book nahums prophecies deal with ninevehs doom. Nahum did not write this book as a warning or call to repentance for the people of nineveh. Search the worlds most comprehensive index of fulltext books. His prophecy consists of three chapters, which make up but one discourse, wherein he foretells the destruction of nineveh. The book of nahum comes some one hundred years after the prophecy of jonah. The only mention in scripture of nahum the elkoshite occurs in the first verse of his own book.
Title the book s title is taken from the prophet of gods oracle against nineveh, the capital of assyria. First, nahum mentions thebes no amon in egypt falling to the assyrians 663 b. The book s title is taken from the prophetofgods oracle against nineveh, the capital of assyria. Overview of the book of nahum third millennium ministries. A village of this name exists today, twentyfour miles north of nineveh now konyunjik. Nineveh was destroyed apparently by fire around 625 bc, and the assyrian empire came to an end, an event which changed. Chapters two and three describe the fall of nineveh, which later took place in 612 bc. For the emptiers have emptied them out this is spoken of the assyrians having.
Jonah recounts the remission of gods promised judgment toward. It was a weighty or burdensome kind of message to deliver. Nahum was a prophet to the northern kingdom of israel. Second, the remainder of nahums prophecies came true in 612 b.
The book opens with a remarkable revelation of god who protects his people against their his. The burden of nineveh of nineveh, see note on jonah 3. Nahum s announcement was a comfort and a consolation to the inhabitants of judah, as it predicted the downfall of assyria, a savage and cruel enemy of israel and judah. The chaldee calls him nahum of bethkoshi, or of bethkitsi.
Jonah was commissioned to proclaim judgment upon nineveh. Nahum describes the siege and frenzied activity of nineveh s troops as they try in vain to halt the invaders. Nahum is the seventh chronologically of the minor prophets, and he ministered during the reign of hezekiah. Nahums singular focus on the impending judgment of nineveh offers a continuation of the story that began in jonah.
This is one manifestation of gods goodness to humanity. Nahum forms a sequel to the book of jonah, who prophesied over a century earlier. Few old testament books give us as much information on this subject as nahum. They can prepare as many provisions and people they please, but it will all come to nothing against the judgment of god.
After yahweh is introduced as a righteous, powerful, angry warrior against whom no one can stand, nahum asserts that he will protect those who trust in him and judge their enemy nineveh because it plotted against him 1. He and his family moved to portland in 1996 to start athey creek christian fellowship. It is called an oracle concerning nineveh and the book of the vision of nahum. Since the capture of the city is represented as still in the future, it seems evident that the prophecies were delivered some time before 607606 bc, the year in which the city was destroyed. The lords willingness to send nahum, whose name means comfort, into such a hopeless situation evidences his unrelenting and overwhelming grace. When jonah preached in nineveh, the city repented in sackcloth and ashes. Thus the latest possible date of nahum s activity is fixed. Nahums singular focus on the impending judgment of nineveh offer.
The book of habakkuk offers hope to people living in an evil world. The book is a straightforward prophetic announcement of judgment against assyria and her capital nineveh for cruel atrocities and idolatrous. Through the bible nahum athey creek christian fellowship. The setting for the book of nahum is nineveh the capital city of the assyrian empire. The book of nahum is one that is neglected because it is so obscure, and so small that it is seldom read and much less frequently understood. His words provide us with great understanding of gods judgment. Nahums singular focus on the impending judgment of nineveh offers a. Nineveh is located north of the tigris river, situated at the confluence of the tigris and khosr. Nahum 1 csb the pronouncement concerning nineveh the. The judgment of nineveh and the comfort of judah both reveal the sovereignty, righteousness, and grace of yahweh.
Nahum is not quoted in the new testament, although there may be an allusion to nahum 1. The book of nahum centers around the fall and destruction of nineveh. Donald grey barnhouse testified to the value of using scripture as a. The books of jonah and nahum are an example of the grace. The book of the vision of nahum the elkoshite nahum 1. Nineveh was a city of violence, known for its brutal treatment of those it conquered. While conservatives reject this low view of prophecy, it is obvious that the book does consist of several different types of literature, as do most of the. Nahum means comfort or consolation and is a short form of nehemiah comfort of yahwe. Study guide for nahum 1 by david guzik blue letter bible.
The key verse of the prophecy is, the lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked nahum 1. Its produced by museum of the bible and is heard on bible gateway and more than 800 radio outlets. Book of nahum overview insight for living ministries. As we look at the book of nahum this morning we will be looking at an oracle nahum 1. Sometime around 760 bc, god sent jonah to nineveh to preach repentance and hope to the assyrian people, a message they heard and adoptedat least for a time. We may date nahum s ministry with some degree of probability, therefore, between the years 663 b.
Because of its small size, the book of nahum is known as one of the. The particular circumstances of the life of nahum are altogether unknown. The book of nahum announces the destruction of assyria and reveals that god will. Like judah, nineveh had repented once and was saved but then forgot the lesson and slid back into wickedness. When the prophets were sent to denounce judgments against a nation, or city, their message, or prophecy, was usually called the burden of that people, or place. And since nahum s prophecy deals with the coming destruction of nineveh, we know it must have been written before 612 b. The book of nahum shortly before the fall of nineveh, the capital of assyria, in 612 b. Literary analysis of the unity of nahum gordon college. While the book of jonah records ninevehs reprieve, nahum predicts its destruction.
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