Bible Commentary

There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off, it shall eat thee up like the cankerworm: make thyself many as the cankerworm, make thyself many as the locusts. 15. There ] amidst her brick moulds, shall the fire devour her, the sword cut her off. The “fire” is said of the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nahum 3:15”

Draw thee waters for the siege, fortify thy strongholds: go into clay, and tread the mortar, make strong the brickkiln. 14. All the defences of the country up to the capital are fallen before the enemy. Nineveh must prepare for the siege. fortify thy strong holds ] i.e. make strong thy defence works. The “strongholds” … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nahum 3:14”

Behold, thy people in the midst of thee [are] women: the gates of thy land shall be set wide open unto thine enemies: the fire shall devour thy bars. 13. Dismay and paralysis seize the Assyrians before the enemy. The comparison to “women” is common, Isa 19:16; Jer 49:22; Jer 50:37; Jer 51:30; also in … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nahum 3:13”

All thy strongholds [shall be like] fig trees with the firstripe figs: if they be shaken, they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater. 12 15. Her outer defences fallen, Nineveh must prepare for the siege 12. thy strong holds shall be] are. The strongholds here are the fortresses in the country, meant … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nahum 3:12”

Thou also shalt be drunken: thou shalt be hid, thou also shalt seek strength because of the enemy. 11. shalt be drunken ] Drunkenness is a figure for the stupefaction caused by calamity. Isa 51:17-23, “Awake Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of his fury, thou hast drunken of … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nahum 3:11”

Yet [was] she carried away, she went into captivity: her young children also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the streets: and they cast lots for her honorable men, and all her great men were bound in chains. 10. children were dashed in pieces ] A barbarous practice in ancient warfare; the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nahum 3:10”

Ethiopia and Egypt [were] her strength, and [it was] infinite; Put and Lubim were thy helpers. 9. Ethiopia and Egypt ] Heb. Cush and Egypt. At this time Egypt and Cush, the country south of Upper Egypt, were virtually one, as the 25th or Ethiopian dynasty were on the throne (from 728 662), with No … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nahum 3:9”

Art thou better than populous No, that was situate among the rivers, [that had] the waters round about it, whose rampart [was] the sea, [and] her wall [was] from the sea? 8 11. Should Nineveh expect a happier fate than No Amon? 8. Art thou better ] Most naturally: shall it be (go) better with … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nahum 3:8”

And it shall come to pass, [that] all they that look upon thee shall flee from thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste: who will bemoan her? whence shall I seek comforters for thee? 7. flee from thee ] In terror at her judgment. Whence shall I seek comforters ] The words imply that none … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nahum 3:7”

And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazingstock. 6. make thee vile ] Jer 14:21 disgrace not the throne of thy glory! Deu 32:15; Mic 7:6. The idea that the word originally meant to cast corpses upon, seems baseless. a gazing-stock ] Eze 28:17-18; … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nahum 3:6”