Nahum 1 - Introduction
_THE MAJESTY OF GOD, IN GOODNESS TO HIS PEOPLE, AND SEVERITY AGAINST HIS ENEMIES._ _Before Christ about 713._... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE MAJESTY OF GOD, IN GOODNESS TO HIS PEOPLE, AND SEVERITY AGAINST HIS ENEMIES._ _Before Christ about 713._... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BURDEN OF NINEVEH— _The sentence upon Nineveh._ See the Argument, and Isaiah 13:1. Bishop Newton observes, that if there be some difficulty in discovering the persons by whom Nineveh was taken, there is more in ascertaining the king of Assyria in whose name it was taken; and more still in fixing... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD IS JEALOUS, &C.— This and the following verses, to the eighth, are a preamble, like that of many others in the Prophets, to prepare the mind of the reader, and to impress upon him sentiments of respect and fear. As God is very jealous of his honour, so will he not fail to execute his judgments o... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EARTH IS BURNED, &C.— _Is made desolate._ Houb.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD IS GOOD, &C.— _The Lord is good to him who trusts in him in the day of trouble: he careth for those who confide in him._ This is said very appositely by the prophet, prophesying against Nineveh, after the overthrow of the army of Sennacherib, and the mercies vouchsafed to Hezekiah, who had... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WITH AN OVER-RUNNING FLOOD, &C.— The passage may be rendered, _But in the overflowing of wrath he will make an end, that there shall be no rising up more; but utter darkness shall pursue his enemies._ Houbigant renders it, _But, as an overflowing flood, he passes through to make an utter end of... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT DO YE IMAGINE— _Why do ye take counsel?_ &c. The prophet says this to the Ninevites, who seemed willing to repair the loss of Senacherib's army, and to invade Judaea; and it is most likely, says Houbigant, that Nahum, when he delivered this prediction, was a captive in Nineveh, as was Tobias, o... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHILE THEY BE FOLDEN, &C.— _For they who sit round their cups, and are drunken as drunkards, shall be,_ &c. Houbigant. Diodorus relates, that while all the Assyrian army were feasting for their former victories, those about Arbaces, being informed by some deserters of the negligence and drunkenn... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS ONE COME OUT, &C.— _Wherefore comes there out from thee him who meditated evil against the Lord, and used wicked counsels?_ Pointing out Sennacherib, who reproached the living God in the epistle which he sent to Hezekiah. See Houbigant.... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS SAITH THE LORD, &C.— _Thus saith the Lord to those who rule over many waters: as the waters are many, so shall they be carried away, and passed through. I will so afflict thee, as to afflict thee no more._ The prophet calls the people _waters,_ as is usual in the prophetic style, and because th... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR NOW WILL I BREAK HIS YOKE, &C.— _I am about to break the yoke which thou didst impose, and to burst the bonds which thou didst bind._ The prophet addresses himself to the king of the Assyrians, as is plain from what goes before, and what follows. Houbigant.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD HATH GIVEN, &C.— _And this is the decree of the Lord concerning thee: there shall hereafter be no seed of thy name. I will take away the graven image from the house of thy god, and I will make a little cottage thy sepulchre, because thou art vile._ Nahum denounces against king Sennacher... [ Continue Reading ]