Naum 1
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Naum 1
NJB (MT versing) God Is Awesome Title 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1 God's Wrath On His Enemies The Coming of the Avenging Lord The Lord's Anger Against Nineveh Psalm, the Wrath of Yahweh 1:2-8 (2-8) 1:2-3c (2-3c) 1:2-11 (2-11) 1:2-3c (2-3c) 1:2-8 (2-8) 1:3d-5 (3d-5) 1:3d-10 (3d-10) 1:6 (6) 1:7-8 (7-8) Prophetic Judgment on Judah and Assyria 1:9-13 (9-13) 1:9-11 (9-11) 1:9-10 (9-10) To Assyria 1:11-13 1:11 (11) To Judah 1:12a 1:12-13 (12-13) 1:12-13 (12-13) 1:12b-13 (12b-13) To the King of Nineveh 1:14 (14) 1:14 (14) 1:14 (14) 1:14 1:14 (14) The Sack of Nineveh (1:15-3:19) To Judah 1:15 (15) 1:15 (15) 1:15 (15) 1:15 2:1 (1) Etc.
Naum 1:1
1:1 NASB, NRSV, REB "oracle" "burden" "message" "charge" "issue" "wound" The MT has "oracle" (BDB 672 III). The same root also means "Lord," "burden," or "tribute" (BDB 672 II). But in this context, "oracle" fits best (cf. 2 Kgs. 9:25; 2 Chr. 24:27; Isa. 13:1; 14:28; 15:1; Jer. 23:33,34,36,38; Ezek. 12:10; Hab. 1:1; Zech. 9:1; 12:1; Mal. 1:1). For a fuller discussion, see notes at Isa. 13:1 and Jer. 23:33. ▣ "book" Probably better translated "scroll" (BDB 706, cf. Jer. 25:13; 30:2; 36:2; Dan. 12:4). ▣ "vision" This is the only OT Prophecy that has a double introduction. This term (BDB 302, #4) is a title (cf. 2 Chr. 32:32; Isa. 1:1; Obad. 1). It is related to the title of a prophet, "seer," BDB 302. This message was not the invention or fabrication of a person, but a revelatory message from YHWH (cf. Nah. 1:12a) in visual scenes of the fall of Nineveh. SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHECY (OT) ▣ "Nahum" This name (BDB 637) means "comfort." It is related to the name "Nehemiah" (BDB 637, i.e., YHWH comforts). ▣ "the Elkoshite" See Introduction, IV. B.
Naum 1:2-8
1:2 "A jealous and avenging God is the Lord" "jealous" ‒ BDB 888, KB 1110, ADJECTIVE denoting zeal (i.e. Ezek. 39:25; Joel 2:18) jealousy (BDB 888, only here and Jos. 24:9) the sense of anger (i.e. Deut. 32:16-22) Here it denotes a covenant of love and fidelity but that love when violated turns to zealous judgment. "avenging" ‒ BDB 667, KB 721, Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE; it is used three times in this verse in an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and IMPERFECT VERB (emphatic form) in verse 3 YHWH used Assyria to judge His faithless people (cf. Isa. 7:17; 8:7; 10:5), but they went too far and now they will be judged (cf. Exod. 20:5; 34:14; Deut. 32:21,35,41,43). "God" ‒ This is the general term for God in the ANE, El. See SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, A. "Lord" ‒ This is the covenant name for Deity, first revealed in Gen. 2:4; see SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D. For a good brief discussion of "a jealous God" see Hard Sayings of the Bible, pp. 338-339. ▣ "wrath" Literally "wrathful" (BDB 404). This is anthropomorphic language (cf. Deut. 4:24). SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PROBLEMS AND LIMITATIONS OF HUMAN LANGUAGE ▣ "His adversaries. . .His enemies" These could be any human beings who opposed His will. In some contexts it can refer to faithless Israel but here it refers to Assyria. YHWH, in His covenant with Israel, promised to defeat her enemies (cf. Deut. 32:34-43). YHWH is a God of justice and holiness. When His own people violated His covenant they also experienced His judgement (cf. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28; 30:1,15,19). 1:3 "The Lord is slow to anger" This is a key phrase in the description of YHWH's character, found first in Exod. 34:6-7, and it became a liturgical description of YHWH. What a contrast occurs between the description of Deity in Nah. 1:3 compared to 1:2. SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD (OT) ▣ "and great in power" Notice that the expected phrase found in Exod. 34:6-7 ("abundant in lovingkindness") is modified in this judgment against Assyria. YHWH's power, not His mercy, is center stage (cf. Num. 14:17,18). This very word for "power" (BDB 470) is used of the King of Assyria as he exiled Israel (cf. Isa. 10:12-14) but the real power in the universe is YHWH (cf. 2 Chr. 14:11-12; Ps. 147:5)! I am so glad YHWH's power is clothed in mercy and forgiveness (i.e. Isa. 50:2; 59:1; Jer. 32:17-21). SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD (OT) ▣ "the Lord will by no means leave the guilty unpunished" This is an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and an IMPERFECT VERB of the same root (BDB 667, KB 720) for emphasis. YHWH's gracious character should not be seen as "soft" on sin and rebellion. He is patient but there is a day of reckoning, Exod. 34:7; Num. 14:18). The imagery that follows is from a violent storm (cf. Isa. 29:60). ▣ "clouds" See NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 465. SPECIAL TOPIC: COMING ON THE CLOUDS 1:4-5 "In whirlwind and storm is His way" Often in the Psalms YHWH is depicted as the immanent Creator who is present in natural weather events (cf. Ps. 18:7-15; 77:16-19; 97:1-5; 104:3-4; Mic. 1:3-4). Weather awed the ancient world! Notice the parallelism of Nah. 1:4, where the first two lines have different VERBS for "dry" (BDB 386, KB 384 and BDB 351, KB 349) and the next two lines repeat the VERB (BDB 51, KB 63, Pulal) "feeble," here translated "wither." 1:4 One way the Bible shows God's power is His control of water. in creation dividing the waters in crossing the Red Sea, Jordan River in rain/drought Nineveh will be made vulnerable by water. SPECIAL TOPIC: WATERS ▣ "Bashan and Carmel wither" These were very fertile, well known sites in Palestine, but now are drought stricken (cf. Isa. 33:9). 1:5 YHWH's visitation (for blessing or judgment) is accompanied by convulsions in nature (i.e. Ps. 98:7-9). Notice the universal, worldwide language appropriate for the one Creator God (Nah. 1:5d). Both nature and humans tremble before their Creator! earth ‒ BDB 75 world ‒ BDB 385 ▣ "and the hills dissolve" This is imagery describing a theophany (cf. Ps. 46:6; 97:5; Mic. 1:4). Nature convulses at the presence of her creator! ▣ "upheaved" NKJV, NRSV, JPSOA "heaves" "shakes" "collapses" "is in tumult" Targum "burns" "was removed" "trembles" The MT has "lifts" (BDB 669, KB 724, Qal IMPERFECT with waw), which the UBS Text Project gives a "B" rating (some doubt). It has three suggestions. אשׂתו ‒ "lifted up" (UBS Text Project suggests "lifts up its voice") אשׁתו ‒ "was laid waste" (Peshitta, Vulgate, BDB 980 I, cf. Isa. 6:11; 17:12-13) השׂתו ‒ "it broke down" 1:6 Notice the repeated words for YHWH's judgment. indignation (BDB 276, cf. Isa. 10:5; Jer. 10:10) burning of His anger (BDB 354 CONSTRUCT BDB 601, cf. Exod. 15:7; 32:12) wrath is poured out like fire (VERB often used of YHWH's anger, cf. Jer. 7:70; 42:18; 44:6; note Isa 51:17-20) rocks broken up by Him The rhetorical question emphasizes the transcendence of YHWH's holiness (cf. Ps. 24:3; Mal. 3:2). 1:7 This verse is in contrast to Nah. 1:6 and 7. His positive qualities are extolled (cf. Nah. 1:3a). He is good (cf. 1 Chr. 16:34; 2 Chr. 5:13; Ps. 25:7-8; 31:19; 69:16; 86:5; 100:5; 106:1; 107:1; 118:1,29; 135:1; 136:1; 145:7,8,9; Jer. 33:11) He is protection (cf. Isa. 25:4; Jer. 16:19a-b) He is a refuge YHWH knows those who trust (cf. Isa. 26:3-4) in Him (LXX)! SPECIAL TOPIC: REFUGE (OT) SPECIAL TOPIC: KNOW 1:8 This verse reflects the Neo-Babylonian use of the Tigris River to destroy a large portion of the city of Nineveh's walls. See Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, 2.26-27; and Zenophon, Anabasis III. 4:7,12. The flood imagery is used in a figurative way in Isa. 43:2;66:12; Dan. 9:26. ▣ "He will make a complete end" When YHWH judged His people, there was always hope of forgiveness and restoration, but for Israel's enemies, when YHWH judged them, it was to extinction (cf. Jer. 30:11; 46:28; Mal. 1:2-5). ▣ "its site" "its place" "adversaries" "her place" LXX, NJB "those who rise" "place of his adversaries" The UBS Text Project, vol. 5, p. 339, gives "her place" a "C" rating (considerable doubt). It suggests that "her" refers to Nineveh, which has not yet been named. Some scholars suggest an emendation to parallel "enemies" (cf. Deut. 28:7; Mic. 7:6). MT ‒ מקומה, her place (i.e. Neneveh) LXX, Targums, Peshitta ‒ מקומיו, his adversaries See NET Bible, p. 1634, #5. ▣ ""darkness" This is imagery for death/Sheol. Although in this context of an invasion by night, it could be literal. SPECIAL TOPIC: SHEOL
Naum 1:9-13
1:9 "you" This refers to Nineveh (Nah. 1:1) or her gods. ▣ "devise" Evil forces may plot and plan (BDB 362, KB 359, Piel IMPERFECT, cf. Nah. 1:11), but YHWH will defeat all comers. He is the One true God, the God of Israel. ▣ "distress" The MT (BDB 865 II) is given a "B" rating (some doubt) by the UBS Text Project, p. 339. The NRSV, NJB, JPSOA suggest an emendation from "distress" ‒ צרה, to "his adversaries" ‒ צריו (BDB 865 III), which seems a better fit with "will not rise up twice." 1:10 Notice the powerful images of YHWH's judgment. drunkenness fire From historical records of the fall of Nineveh, the soldiers were mostly drunk at night (see James M. Freeman, Manners and Customs of the Bible, p. 333, #614), and it was then that the Neo-Babylonian and Medians began their surprise attack. SPECIAL TOPIC: ALCOHOL ‒ ALCOHOLISM SPECIAL TOPIC: FIRE 1:11 "One who plotted evil against the Lord" This refers to the King of Assyria (cf. Nah. 1:9a). This VERB (BDB 362, KB 359, Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE) denotes a purposed plan against someone (cf. Gen. 50:20; 2 Sam. 14:13; Esther 8:3; Jer. 11:19; 18:11,18; Hos. 7:15). ▣ "A wicked counselor" This term "wicked" is literally belial (BDB 116), which means "worthless" or "good-for-nothing" (cf. Nah. 1:15e, where it refers to Assyria). It is used of Ashurbanipal's domination of Manasseh, cf. 2 Chr. 33:11-13 Sennacherib's attack on Jerusalem, cf. 2 Kgs. 18:13-19:37; Isaiah 36-37 the current king at the time of Nineveh's fall, Sin-Shar-Ishkun belial later became a title for Satan in Judaism, cf. 2 Cor. 6:15 SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF ASSYRIA SPECIAL TOPIC: SATAN 1:12-13 These verses address captive Judah, as does Nah. 1:15. 1:12 The Assyrians had powerful fortifications large, well armed, well trained army years of experience in war Nineveh will fall and be totally destroyed (cf. Nah. 1:14). YHWH used Assyria but no longer! He will forgive and restore His people (cf. Lam. 5:21). 1:13 "yoke bar. . .shackels" These were symbols of dominance of one nation over another (i.e. Lev. 26:13; Isa. 10:27; Jer. 30:8; Ezek. 34:27).
Naum 1:14
1:14 "you" This refers to the King of Assyria. ▣ "I will cut off idol and image From the house of your gods" It is known from Assyrian records that they loved to destroy the Temple of the conquered people and to carry the venerated idols off to the city of Nineveh and place them in the temples of their gods. The Assyrian pantheon is made up of the main gods: Ashur, Ishthar, Nabu, Sin, Shamash, Abad, Bel, Ninurta, Nergal, and Nusku. YHWH is the only true God. SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM ▣ "idol" An idol was usually carved from stone or wood. Often they were overlaid with gold or silver. ▣ "image" The images were made by pouring heated metal into a mold. ▣ "I will prepare your grave" See the prophecy of Ezek. 32:22-23. The VERB "prepare" (BDB 962, KB 1321, Qal IMPERFECT) is found in NASB, NRSV, TEV, JPSOA, but NJB emends יםשׂא to שמם (BDB 1030, KB 1563, Hiphil PERFECT), which means "to make desolate."
Naum 1:15
1:15 (MT 2:1) God allowed Assyria to take Israel captive (fall of Samaria, 722 B.C.), but He protected Judah from them. This may be an allusion to Isa. 52:7, which is quoted in Rom. 10:15. In this context it would be the messenger who brought news of the fall of Nineveh. ▣ "on the mountains" This could mean the messenger crossed many mountains to being the wonderful message the messenger came to "the" mountain of Judah (i.e. Jerusalem, the Temple), which was, in Jewish theology, the highest place on earth ▣ "peace" See SPECIAL TOPIC: PEACE (OT). Because of the fall of Nineveh (cf. Nah. 1:15e-f) some normalcy can return to Jerusalem. feasts restored (cf. Exodus 23; Leviticus 23) vows paid (cf. Deut. 23:21-23); here, probably vows in connection to a defeated Assyria Both #1 and #2 are IMPERATIVES. Restoration is not just declared forgiveness but the restoration of the cultus. Temple worship began again in all its fullness. ▣ "the wicked one" See note at Nah. 1:11. Assyria was one of the most vicious conquerors of the ANE. Their methods of exile and control were brutal.