ARGUMENT.
NAHUM was a native of Elkoshai,
or Elkosh, a little village of
Galilee, the ruins of which
remained in the time of St.
Jerome. It appears, from Nahum
2:2, that he prophesied after
the captivity of the ten tribes,
which took place in the ninth
year of Hezekiah, and after the
war of Sennacherib in Egypt,
because he speaks of the taking
of No-ammon in that country as
of an event past, Nahum 3:8. But
it is probable that the first
chapter at least of this
prophecy was delivered before
the invasion of Judah by
Sennacherib, as in the latter
part of it, namely, from Micah
7:8-15, he seems to predict that
attempt, and the defeat thereof.
“And probably,” says Henry, “it
was delivered a little before
it, for the encouragement of
God’s people in that time of
treading down and perplexity.”
The other two chapters are
thought by some to have been
delivered some years after,
perhaps in the reign of
Manasseh; in which reign the
Jewish chronologers generally
place this prophet, somewhat
nearer the time when Nineveh was
conquered. He must have
prophesied, however, before the
captivity of the two tribes, as
he supposes them to be still in
their own country, and there
celebrating their festivals as
usual.
The subject of this prophecy is,
the destruction of Nineveh, and
the overthrow of the Assyrian
empire, which Nahum describes in
a manner so pathetic and
picturesque, and yet so plain,
as is not to be exceeded by the
greatest masters of oratory. And
all his predictions were exactly
verified in the siege and taking
of that city, by Nabopolassar
and Astyages, in the year of the
world 3378, about 100 years
after they were uttered. “The
conduct and imagery of this
prophetical poem,” says
Archbishop Newcome, “are truly
admirable. The exordium grandly
sets forth the justice and power
of God, tempered by lenity and
goodness, Nahum 1:2-8. A sudden
address to the Assyrians
follows; and a prediction of
their perplexity and overthrow,
as devisers of evil against the
true God, Micah 7:9-11. Jehovah
himself then proclaims freedom
to his people from the Assyrian
yoke, and the destruction of the
Assyrian idols; upon which the
prophet, in a most lively
manner, turns the attention of
Judah to the approach of the
messenger who brings such glad
tidings; and bids her celebrate
her festivals, and offer her
thank-offerings, without fear of
so powerful an adversary, Micah
7:12-15. In the next place,
Nineveh is called on to prepare
for the approach of her enemies,
as instruments in the hand of
Jehovah; and the military array
and muster of the Medes and
Babylonians, their rapid
approach to the city, the
process of the siege, the
capture of the place, the
captivity, lamentation, and
flight of the inhabitants, the
sacking of the wealthy city, and
the consequent desolation and
terror, are described in the
true spirit of eastern poetry,
and with many pathetic, vivid,
and sublime images, Nahum
2:1-10. A grand and animated
allegory succeeds this
description, and is explained
and applied to the city of
Nineveh, Micah 7:11-13. The
prophet then denounces a wo
against Nineveh for her perfidy
and violence; and strongly
places before our eyes the
number of her chariots and
cavalry, her burnished arms, and
the great and unrelenting
slaughter which she spread
around her, assigning her
idolatries as one cause of her
ignominious and unpitied fall,
Nahum 3:1-7.” To overthrow her
false confidence in her forces
and alliances, he reminds her of
the destruction of No-ammon, her
rival in populousness,
confederacies, and situation,
which had shared a fate like
that which awaited her;
beautifully illustrating the
ease with which her strong holds
should be taken, and her
pusillanimity during the siege,
Micah 7:8-13. “He pronounces
that all her preparations, her
numbers, her opulence, her
multitude of chief men, would be
of no avail, and that her
tributaries would all desert
her, Micah 7:14-18. He concludes
with a proper epiphonema; the
topics of which are, the
greatness and incurableness of
her wound, and the just triumph
of others over her, on account
of her extensive oppressions,
Micah 7:19.” To sum up all with
the decisive judgment of an
eminent critic: “None of the
minor prophets seem to equal
Nahum, in boldness, ardour, and
sublimity. His prophecy too
forms a regular and perfect
poem; the exordium is not merely
magnificent, it is truly
majestic; the preparation for
the destruction of Nineveh, and
the description of its downfall
and desolation, are expressed in
the most glowing colours, and
are bold and luminous in the
highest degree.” Præl. Hebr. 21.
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