Nahum 2:1-13
1 He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face: keep the munition, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily.
2 For the LORD hath turned away the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel: for the emptiers have emptied them out, and marred their vine branches.
3 The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet:a the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken.
4 The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings.
5 He shall recount his worthies:b they shall stumble in their walk; they shall make haste to the wall thereof, and the defence shall be prepared.
6 The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved.c
7 And Huzzabd shall be led away captive, she shall be brought up, and her maids shall lead her as with the voice of doves, tabering upon their breasts.
8 But Nineveh is of olde like a pool of water: yet they shall flee away. Stand, stand, shall they cry; but none shall look back.
9 Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold: for there is none endf of the store and glory out of all the pleasant furniture.
10 She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain is in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness.
11 Where is the dwelling of the lions, and the feedingplace of the young lions, where the lion, even the old lion, walked, and the lion's whelp, and none made them afraid?
12 The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled his holes with prey, and his dens with ravin.
13 Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions: and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.
Having thus announced the verdict, the prophet described the process of vengeance. He declared that the "hammer" had come up against Nineveh, and ironically advised her to prepare. He then detailed the process of Nineveh's destruction.
The interpretations of this description greatly differ. I suggest that it falls into three clearly defined parts. First, the conflict (verses Nah 2:3-5); second, the conquest (verses Nah 2:6-9); finally, the consummation (verse Nah 2:10).
The picture of the conflict is graphic. We first see the attacking army outside the walls, then the defending host inside the city.
Next, the battle itself is described. The conquest of the city is secured by the act of God, "The gates of the rivers are opened." Continuing, Nahum described the city under the figure of a woman and her attendants. They flee, and the enemy captures the spoil.
Finally, the consummation of judgment is announced. Nineveh "is empty, and void, and waste." The utter collapse of the people was set forth in figurative language. The prophet then immediately broke forth into exultation. The den of the lions was gone, all the cruelty of Nineveh was at an end. Moreover, the prophet recognized this as the righteous act of God. It was His act of vengeance. He was against Nineveh, therefore the overthrow was complete.