THE MISERABLE RUIN OF NINEVEH.
Jehovah now shows that the cause of Nineveh's destruction is its
wickedness, and that for this reason the city is bound to submit to
the sentence which has been pronounced upon her.... [ Continue Reading ]
Woe to the bloody city, or, "O city of blood, of blood-guiltiness!".
IT IS ALL FULL OF LIES AND ROBBERY, so that deceit, violence, and
extortion were the order of the day; THE PREY DEPARTETH NOT, robbery
goes on without ceasing;... [ Continue Reading ]
the noise of a whip, its sharp crack heard as the horses are urged
forward in battle, AND THE NOISE OF THE RATTLING OF THE WHEELS AND OF
THE PRANCING HORSES AND OF THE JUMPING CHARIOTS, bounding along over
the ground, as the horses broke into a gallop.... [ Continue Reading ]
The horseman lifteth up, rather, "horsemen rearing," as they directed
their mounts to charge, BOTH THE BRIGHT SWORD AND THE GLITTERING
SPEAR, or, "the name of the sword and the lightning of the lance"; AND
THERE IS A MULTITUDE OF SLAIN, or of wounded, AND A GREAT NUMBER OF
CARCASSES, a wall of corps... [ Continue Reading ]
because of the multitude of the whoredoms, the acts of idolatry and
wickedness, OF THE WELL-FAVORED HARLOT, THE MISTRESS OF WITCHCRAFTS,
idolatry and witchcraft being the special marks of the heathen
character, THAT SELLETH NATIONS THROUGH HER WHOREDOMS, with her
hypocritical friendship and feigned... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, I am against thee, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will
discover thy skirts upon thy face, uncover them and throw them up so
high that they would reach over her face, AND I WILL SHOW THE NATIONS
THY NAKEDNESS, as that of a lewd woman, AND THE KINGDOMS THY SHAME, in
bringing the utmost disgrac... [ Continue Reading ]
And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, as an expression of the
utmost disgust and loathing, AND MAKE THEE VILE, an object of
disgrace, AND WILL SET THEE AS A GAZING-STOCK, upon which men would
look with contempt and derision.... [ Continue Reading ]
And it shall come to pass that all they that look upon thee shall flee
from thee, with a feeling of deepest revulsion, AND SAY, NINEVEH IS
LAID WASTE; WHO WILL BEMOAN HER? WHENCE SHALL I SEEK COMFORTERS FOR
THEE? so the prophet interjects his question. No one would have the
slightest sympathy with t... [ Continue Reading ]
Art thou better than populous No, that is, No-Amon, Thebes, the
capital of Upper Egypt, THAT WAS SITUATE AMONG THE RIVERS, THAT HAD
THE WATERS ROUND ABOUT IT, namely, in the great irrigation canals,
WHOSE RAMPART WAS THE SEA, AND HER WALL WAS FROM THE SEA? the great
expanse of the Nile.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ethiopia and Egypt, the countries along the Nile, WERE HER STRENGTH,
AND IT WAS INFINITE; PUT AND LUBIM, the countries to the west, along
the Mediterranean Sea, WERE THY HELPERS, Thebes itself being addressed
in the excitement of the orator.... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet, in spite of all her own power and the strength of her allies, WAS
SHE CARRIED AWAY, SHE WENT INTO CAPTIVITY, after a conquest by Sargon,
Esar-haddon, or Tir-haqua; HER YOUNG CHILDREN ALSO WERE DASHED IN
PIECES AT THE TOP, that is, at the corners, OF ALL THE STREETS; AND
THEY CAST LOTS FOR HER H... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou also, namely, Nineveh, SHALT BE DRUNKEN, upon receiving the cup
of God's fury in judgment; THOU SHALL BE HID, covered over, as though
she had never existed; THOU ALSO SHALT SEEK STRENGTH BECAUSE OF THE
ENEMY, protection or refuge before the advancing enemy, without being
able to find it.... [ Continue Reading ]
All thy strongholds, the fortresses and castles of the Assyrian
country, SHALL BE LIKE FIG-TREES WITH THE FIRST-RIPE FIGS, considered
a special delicacy; IF THEY BE SHAKEN, THEY SHALL EVEN FALL INTO THE
MOUTH OF THE EATER, they would readily be taken by the invading enemy.... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, thy people in the midst of thee are women, without strength
and courage for the battle; THE GATES OF THY LAND SHALL BE SET WIDE
OPEN, the Lord making the land easy of access to the invaders, UNTO
THINE ENEMIES; THE FIRE SHALL DEVOUR THY BARS, those which held the
great gates of the city shut... [ Continue Reading ]
Draw thee waters for the siege, that needed for a long period of siege
of the enemies; FORTIFY THY STRONGHOLDS, strengthening the forts; GO
INTO CLAY, for making bricks, AND TREAD THE MORTAR, in order to
fashion bricks for the bulwarks; MAKE STRONG THE BRICK-KILN, in order
to burn the bricks.... [ Continue Reading ]
There shall the fire devour thee, in the very midst of these
preparations; THE SWORD SHALL CUT THEE OFF, IT SHALL EAT THEE UP LIKE
THE CANKER-WORM, as locusts destroy; MAKE THYSELF MANY AS THE
CANKER-WORM, like devouring insects; MAKE THYSELF MANY AS THE LOCUSTS.
The thought is this: The fire and th... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou hast multiplied thy merchants above the stars of heaven, the
number of its people engaged in commercial pursuits of every kind
being very great; THE CANKER-WORM SPOILETH, literally, "the licking
locusts enter to plunder,". AND FLEETH AWAY, the military might of
Assyria being powerless before th... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy crowned, the vassal princes, ARE AS THE LOCUSTS, AND THY CAPTAINS,
the commanders of her armies, AS THE GREAT GRASSHOPPERS, WHICH CAMP IN
THE HEDGES IN THE COLD DAY, too chilled to use their wings; BUT WHEN
THE SUN ARISETH, THEY FLEE AWAY, AND THEIR PLACE IS NOT KNOWN WHERE
THEY ARE. In a simila... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria, that is, the mighty ones,
the leaders of the people, were resting in a false security; THY
NOBLES SHALL DWELL IN THE DUST, rather, "thy powerful ones are lying
still," not making a move to defend their country; THY PEOPLE IS
SCATTERED UPON THE MOUNTAINS, AND... [ Continue Reading ]
There is no healing of thy bruise, of the fracture which the Lord had
inflicted; THY WOUND IS GRIEVOUS, the stroke or ruin being deadly; ALL
THAT HEAR THE BRUIT, the report, OF THEE SHALL CLAP THE HANDS OVER
THEE, in a gesture of joy over the downfall of the oppressor; FOR UPON
WHOM HATH NOT THY WIC... [ Continue Reading ]