Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nahum 2:9
Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold: for [there is] none end of the store [and] glory out of all the pleasant furniture.
9. All the wealth of the city is abandoned by the inhabitants, fleeing for their life, and the scene of plunder is pictured in the exclamations of the prophet, Spoil the silver!
and glory furniture ] and wealth of all precious vessels, but the term vessels means virtually “articles.” Jewels, rich apparel, costly vessels and whatever men think precious would be found in the rich capital in abundance (Zec 14:14). The enormous riches of Nineveh are frequently alluded to in the inscriptions; the treasures brought home by Assurbanipal’s army after the capture of Thebes or No (ch. Nah 3:8) were fabulous.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold – Nineveh had not hearkened of old to the voice of the prophet, but had turned back to sin; it cannot hearken now, for fear. He turns to the spoiler to whom Gods judgments assigned her, and who is too ready to hear. The gold and silver, which the last Assyrian King had gathered into the palace which he fired, was mostly removed (the story says, treacherously) to Babylon. Arbaces is said to have borne this and to have removed the residue, to the amount of many talents, to Agbatana, the Median capital . For there is none end of the store. Nineveh had stored up from her foundation until then, but at last for the spoiler. When thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled Isa 33:1. Many perish and leave their wealth to others Psa 49:10. The wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just Pro 13:22. And glory out of all the pleasant furniture, (literally as in the margin, glory out of all vessels of desire) i. e., however large the spoil, it would be but a portion only; yet all their wealth, though more than enough for the enemy and for them, could not save them. Her glory, was but a weight to weigh her down, that she should not rise again Zec 5:8; Exo 15:10. Their wealth brought on the day of calamity, availed not therein, although it could not be drawn dry even by the spoiler. Jerome: They could not spoil so much as she supplied to be spoiled.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 9. Take ye the spoil] Though the king burnt his treasures, vestments, c., he could not totally destroy the silver and the gold. Nor did he burn the riches of the city these fell a prey to the conquerors; and there was no end of the store of glorious garments, and the most costly vessels and furniture.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Take: God speaks by his prophet, commanding that it be done, and foretelling that it certainly shall be done; and Scythians, Medes, and Chaldeans, or whoever else did associate in the war, and sacking of Nineveh, may be supposed to encourage one another in the plundering of the city.
Ye, conquering soldiers, you that come together in hope of this booty.
For here is enough for you all; Nineveh hath been long gathering, and hath gathered much treasure, it is uncountable; therefore take all you can lay hands on: possibly it may be the foretelling of the chief commander, his giving his soldiers leave to take what they could, forasmuch as after all they would leave enough, a great treasure for him.
Store of all sorts, both for use and luxury, both for necessity and superfluity.
Glory; splendid and rich furniture in their temples, palaces, public edifices, and private houses; their rich vessels, costly hangings, and gaudy apparel in their wardrobes, in their closets, and in their shops; all delightful to the eye, and rich in the real value.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
9. silver . . . goldTheconquerors are summoned to plunder the city. Nineveh’s riches arosefrom the annual tribute paid by so many subject states, as well asfrom its extensive merchandise (Nah 3:16;Eze 27:23; Eze 27:24).
storeaccumulated bythe plunder of subject nations. It is remarkable, that while smallarticles of value (bronze inlaid with gold, gems, seals, andalabaster vases) are found in the ruins of Nineveh, there areis none of gold and silver. These, as here foretold,were “taken for spoil” before the palaces were set on fire.
glory out of all the pleasantfurnitureor, “there is abundance of precious vessels ofevery kind” [MAURER].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold,…. Of which there was a great quantity in this rich and populous city: these are the words of the prophet, or of the Lord by the prophet, to the Medes and Chaldeans, to seize the spoil of the city, now fallen into their hands; suggesting that this was by the order and will of God, though they saw it not: or of the generals of the army of the Medes and Babylonians, giving leave to the common soldiers to take part of the plunder, there being enough for them all, officers and private men:
for [there is] none end of the store [and] glory out of all the pleasant furniture: no end of the wealth which had been hoarded up, and of their household goods and rich apparel, which their coffers, houses, and wardrobes, were full of, the value of which could not be told. The king of Assyria, perceiving that he, his family, and his wealth, were like to fall into the hands of the enemy, caused a pile of wood to be raised, and in it heaped his gold, silver, and royal apparel, and, enclosing himself, his eunuchs, and concubines in it, set fire to it, and destroyed himself and them. It is said n there were no less in this pile than a thousand myriads of talents of gold, which are about fourteen hundred millions sterling, and ten times as many talents of silver, together with apparel and furniture unspeakable; and yet, after all this, the princes of the Babylonians and Medes carried off vast quantities. The Babylonian prince loaded several ships with the ashes of the pile, and a large quantity of gold and silver, discovered to him by an eunuch, a deserter; and the Median prince, what of the gold and silver left out of the pile, which were many talents, that fell into his hands, he sent to Ecbatana, the royal city of Media o.
n Athenaeus apud Rollin’s Ancient History, &c. vol. 2. p. 31, 32. See the Universal History, vol. 4. p. 306. o Diodor. Sicul. l. 2. p. 114, 115.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Here the Prophet, as it were, by the command and authority of God, gives up Nineveh to the will of its enemies, that they might spoil and plunder it. Some think that this address is made in the name of a general encouraging his soldiers; but we know that the Prophets assume the person of God, when they thus command any thing with authority; and it is a very emphatical mode of speaking. It is adopted, that we may know that the Prophets pour not forth an empty sound when they speak, but really testify what God here determined to do, and what he in due time will execute. As then we know, that this manner of speaking is common to the Prophets there is no reason to apply this to the person of Nebuchadnezzar or of any other. God then shows here that Nineveh was given up to ruin; and therefore he delivered it into the hands of enemies.
It is indeed certain, that the Babylonians, in plundering the city, did not obey God’s command; but yet it is true, that they punished the Assyrians through the secret influence of God: for it was his purpose to visit the Ninevites for the cruelty and avarice for which they had been long notorious, and especially for having exercised unexampled barbarity toward the Jews. This is the reason why God now gives them up to the Babylonians and exposes them to plunder. But as I have spoken at large elsewhere of the secret judgments of God, I shall only briefly observe here, — that God does not command the Babylonians and Chaldeans in order to render them excusable, but shows by his Prophet, that Nineveh was to be destroyed by her enemies, not by chance, but that it was his will to avenge the wrongs done to his people. At the same time, we must bear in mind what we have said elsewhere, — that the Prophets thus speak when the execution is already prepared; for God does not in vain or without reason terrify men, but he afterwards makes it manifest by the effect: as he created the world from nothing by his word, so also by his word he executes and fulfill his judgments. It is then no wonder, that the Prophet does here, as though he ruled the Chaldeans according to his will, thus address them, Take ye away, take ye away But this must be viewed as having a reference to the faithful; for the Babylonians, in plundering the city Nineveh, did not think that they obeyed God, nor did they give to God the praise due for the victory; but the faithful were thus reminded, that all this was done through the secret providence of God, and that it was also a clear, and, as it were, a visible evidence of God’s paternal love towards his Church, when he thus deigned to undertake the cause of his distressed people.
It then follows, There is no end of preparations: Some render תכונה, techune, treasure, or hidden wealth, and derive it from כון, cun, which is to prepare; but תכונה, tacune, is almost always taken for a measure. תכנות, tacanut, from תכון, tacun means a sum, for תכש, tacan, is to number or to count; and this meaning suits the passage. (232) But there is no need of laboring much about this word; if we take it simply for place, the meaning would be, that there was no plot of ground in that city which was not as it were a gulf filled up; for it had amassed all the wealth of the nations: and this sense would harmonize well with the subject of the Prophet, — that the soldiers were to plunder until they were satiated; for the place was, as it were, a deep abyss.
He afterwards adds, There is glory from every desirable vessel. Those who think מ, mem, a particle of comparison in this place are much mistaken, and misapply the meaning of the Prophet; their rendering is, In comparison with every desirable vessel; but this, as all must see, is very frigid. The Prophet, I have no doubt, declares that the wealth of Nineveh consisted of every desirable vessel; for they had for a long time heaped together immense wealth, and that of every kind. The Hebrews call what is precious a desirable thing; and their vessels we include under the term furniture. We now then perceive what the Prophet means. Some take כבד, cabed, as a participle, and give this version, It is burdened, or adorned, (for it means both,) with every desirable vessel. But the simpler mode of speaking is what we have explained, — that its glory was from every desirable vessel.
And here the Prophet condemns what the Assyrians had done in heaping together so much wealth from all quarters; for they had committed indiscriminate plunder, and gathered for themselves all the riches of the nations. They had indeed plundered all their neighbors, yea, and wholly stripped them. The Prophet now shows, in order to expose them to ridicule, that other robbers would be made rich, whom the Lord would raise up against them. The same is said by Isaiah,
‘
O thou plunderer, shalt not thou also be exposed to plunder?’ (Isa 33:0.)
So also the Prophet shows in this passage, that men foolishly burn with so much avidity for money, and with so much anxiety heap together great wealth; for God will find out some who in their turn will plunder those who have plundered. It follows—
(232) Buxtorf derives the word from כון, to prepare, and Parkhurst from תכן, to regulate, to measure. It is rendered “store” by Newcome and Henderson. What is meant is evidently the vast treasure amassed by the Assyrians. The next words are more variously rendered. Newcome connects the word כבד with “store,” and renders the two lines thus, —
And there is no end of the glorious store, Because of all kinds of pleasant vessels.
But more consistent with the character of the language, and agreeably to what Dr. Wheeler suggests, is this, —
And there is no end to her store, It is more precious than all desirable vessels.
The preposition מ, after כבד, may be viewed as the comparative degree. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(9) And glory.Better, there is abundance of all precious vessels.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
9, 10. The sack of the city. The prophet summons the victors to plunder.
Silver, gold Immense quantities of these were carried to Nineveh by the Assyrian kings.
None end of the store The truth of this statement is established by the inscriptions, which enumerate again and again the enormous treasures brought to Nineveh by her victorious armies (see pp.
429f.).
Glory out of all the pleasant furniture R.V., “the glory of all goodly furniture.” An obscure phrase, whose grammatical connection is not quite clear; perhaps it is to be understood as in apposition to the preceding “store.” If so, instead of “glory” we would better read with R.V. margin, “wealth.” “Furniture” also cannot be taken in the narrow sense of that term; it must include jewels, costly vessels, rich apparel in fact, everything that men consider precious; all these will be found in great abundance. The peculiarity of the present Hebrew text has led Marti to emend it so as to read, “Take for yourselves the abundance of all kinds of precious things.” Nah 2:10 concludes the description.
Empty, void, waste In the original a forceful play upon words, which cannot be reproduced in English (compare Zep 1:15; Isa 24:1). With these three words, similar in meaning and sound, the prophet depicts the utter desolation of Nineveh. The few who have remained behind are paralyzed with terror.
Heart melteth Their courage gives out completely.
The knees smite together Their whole body trembles as a result of terror.
Much pain R.V., “anguish.”
Is in all loins As in the case of a woman in childbirth (see on Mic 4:9; Isa 21:3).
The faces of them all gather blackness R.V., “are waxed pale” (see on Joe 2:6).
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Nah 2:9. Take ye, &c. They have plundered the silver, they have plundered the gold: the weight of them is immense: it is more than all the precious furniture. We are told by Diodorus, that the conqueror of Nineveh carried away a great many talents of gold and silver. See Houbigant and Bishop Newton.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Nah 2:9 Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold: for [there is] none end of the store [and] glory out of all the pleasant furniture.
Ver. 9. Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold ] This is the voice of God to the Chaldeans; encouraging them to fall on, since they are sure of good booty, plenty of plunder, which he here freely bestoweth upon them. In like sort Mahomet, the Great Turk, the better to encourage his soldiers to storm Constantinople, caused proclamation to be made through his camp the day before, that he would freely give all the spoil of the city for three days unto them if they could win it. And for confirmation thereof, he solemnly swore the Turk’s great oath, &c. Now the love of money is D , saith a Father, daring and desperate.
For there is none end of the store
And glory out of all the pleasant furniture
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
take the spoil. Note the Figure of speech Epizeuxis (App-6), for emphasis.
none end, &c. = [there are] treasures without end, [and] stores of all covetable vessels.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
ye: Isa 33:1, Isa 33:4, Jer 51:56
for there is none end of the store: or, and their infinite store, etc. Nah 2:12, Nah 2:13
pleasant furniture: Heb. vessels of desire, 2Ch 36:10, Jer 25:34, Eze 26:12, Dan 11:8, *marg.
Reciprocal: Isa 10:14 – And my Isa 16:14 – the glory Jer 51:34 – he hath made Dan 10:3 – pleasant bread Hos 13:15 – pleasant vessels Nah 3:7 – Nineveh
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Nah 2:9. Take ye the spoil is a form of prediction that the invader will take the valuables ot the city as a spoil of war. None end of the store denotes that there was much wealth in the ctty of Nineveh. Pleasant furniture means the vessels in which these precious metals were kept, including the gold or silver contained therein.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Nah 2:9-10. Take ye the spoil of silver, of gold Here the Babylonians are addressed as if they had just entered the city; and are bid to take the spoil of it, there being none to make any resistance. We read in Diodorus, that Arbaces carried many talents of gold and silver to Ecbatana, the royal city of the Medes. For there is none end of the store, &c. The Vulgate reads, There is no end of the riches, from all the desirable vessels. The sense of the Hebrew, however, is, The glory (namely, of their riches) is above all precious vessels; that is, beyond all that is generally esteemed precious; and greatly coveted. She is empty, and void, and waste She is spoiled of every thing. And the heart melteth The inhabitants have no heart, or courage, to defend themselves, but leave the city to be plundered and laid waste by the enemy. The knees smite together They are quite overcome with fear.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2:9 {h} Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold: for [there is] none end of the store [and] glory out of all the pleasant furniture.
(h) God commands the enemies to spoil Nineveh, and promises them infinite riches and treasures.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The prophet called the invading solders to plunder Nineveh, to take for themselves its vast wealth of silver, gold, and other valuable treasures. Nineveh had accumulated her wealth through centuries of conquests, taxation, and trading. [Note: See D. D. Luckenbill, ed., Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, 1:181, 211, 263; 2:20, 133, 205; and Pritchard, ed., 274-301. For brief histories of Mesopotamia in the seventh century B.C., see Longman, pp. 767-68; and E. von Voightlander, " A Survey of Neo-Babylonian History" (Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Michigan, 1963).] It was the richest city in the ancient Near East in the seventh century B.C. [Note: Armerding, p. 477.]
"According to historical records, the Medes were the first to breach the defenses of Nineveh. Later, the Babylonians successfully attacked it. The Medes, however, were not interested in a long-term occupation of the area, but in a quick profit." [Note: Longman, "Nahum," p. 807.]