Nahum 1:9-13

THE UTTER ANNIHILATION OF NINEVEH!

Nahum 1:9-13

RV. What do ye devise against Jehovah? he will make a full end; affliction shall not rise up the second time. For entangled like thorns, and drunken as with their drink, they are consumed utterly as dry stubble. There is one gone forth out of thee that deviseth evil against Jehovah, that counseleth wickedness. Thus saith Jehovah: and likewise many, even so shall they be cut down, and he shall pass away. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more. And now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.
LXX. What do ye devise against the Lord? he will make a complete end: he will not take vengeance by affliction twice at the same time. For the enemy shall be laid bare even to the foundation, and shall be devoured as twisted yew, and as stubble fully dry. Out of thee shall proceed a device against the Lord, counselling evil things hostile to him. Thus saith the Lord who rules Over many waters, Even thus shall they be sent away, and the report of thee shall not be heard any more. And now will I break his rod from off thee, and will burst thy bonds.

COMMENTS

Durant records that two hundred years after the fall of Nineveh, Xenophon's Ten Thousand marched across the site of the city and never suspected that these (mounds) were the site of the ancient metropolis that had ruled half the world. This utter annihilation is here foresworn by Nahum, as his poetic prophecy moves on.

WHAT DO YE DEVISE?. Nahum 1:9

There is no defense against Jehovah's wrath, once it has been incurred. The armies of Assyria, led by the great king-general Sennacherib, fell like ten-pins before the walls of Jerusalem in the days of Hezekiah. (Cf. 2 Kings 18:13 to 2 Kings 19:36, 2 Chronicles 32:1-22) Nahum envisions Nineveh doing likewise a century later. In both cases the defeat of the Assyrians is attributed to divine intervention.

The destruction would be so final that Nineveh, the affliction, shall not rise up the second time.

... DRUNKEN WITH THEIR DRINK. Nahum 1:10

As Babylon would later fall (c. 539 B.C.) with her playboy king in a drunken stupor, so Nineveh fell before Babylon (c. 612 B.C.) with her leaders drunk and entangled like thorns. They could no more resist the conquering army than can dry stubble resist the spread of a prairie fire.

ONE GONE FORTH OUT OF THEE. Nahum 1:11

Nahum sees Sennacherib's attempts against Judah as the beginning of her own ruin. He is the one gone forth. that deviseth evil against Jehovah. It was Sennacherib who implemented the designs of Nineveh against God and His people. (cf. 2 Kings 19:22-23)

Sennacherib and his spokesman, Rabshakeh, framed an evil letter and an evil speech, not only against Hezekiah, but against God Himself. He insinuated God was level with the idols of Assyria and unable to protect His people. In this way, the Assyrian sought to dissuade Jehovah's people from confidence in Him, and urged them rather to cast their lot for protection with the great king of Assyria, namely himself.
No one has ever more daringly and blasphemously affronted the Lord than Sennacherib. Nahum therefore counts him a wicked counsellor who has outwitted himself. The great destruction which God will bring against Nineveh because of this wickedness was deferred for a time, but it was the beginning of the end.

(Nahum 1:12-13) In one fatal stroke, when the measure of Nineveh's iniquity was full, the Assyrian empire will be cut down and he shall pass away.

The contrast here between they and his on the one hand and thee on the other delineates between, they, the Assyrians, and thee, Judah. Their punishment was final and utter destruction. Judah's was the chastizing by the Lord of His people. It would therefore be temporary. (cp. Isaiah 40:1-2; Isaiah 52:1-2)

God had used the Assyrians as a yoke on His people, chastening them in the attempt (futile as it proved to be) to call them back to His covenant. But the yoke had been exceedingly wicked and must now be burst asunder. Assyria would burden God's people no more, after the destruction of Nineveh.

Chapter XIIQuestions

Introduction

1.

Jonah prophesied to Nineveh about __________ years before Nahum.

2.

How do you explain God's destruction of Nineveh in view of her repentance at Jonah's preaching?

3.

What two phrases in Nahum 1:1 establish the work as inspired Scripture?

4.

God assures His faithful and loyal people of His __________ and at the same time He pronounces His wrath against Nineveh.

5.

What had been Nineveh's past dealing with Israel?

6.

Comment on the idea that God is a jealous God.

7.

Explain Jehovah is full of wrath!-'

8.

In light of Nahum 1:3(b)-7 discuss the power of God.

9.

What is meant by the overrunning flood in Nahim Nahum 1:8?

10.

Show how Nineveh's attempts at self-defense were to prove futile.

11.

What sort of person was Sennacherib?

12.

What was to become of the gods Nineveh worshipped?

13.

Discuss (Nahum 1:15) Behold upon the mountain.

14.

Discuss (Nahum 1:15) keep thy feasts. perform thy vows.