Nahum 2 - Introduction
_THE FEARFUL AND VICTORIOUS ARMIES OF GOD AGAINST NINEVEH._ _Before Christ about 713._... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE FEARFUL AND VICTORIOUS ARMIES OF GOD AGAINST NINEVEH._ _Before Christ about 713._... [ Continue Reading ]
BEFORE THY FACE— There can be no doubt that this should be read _before his face;_ namely, of that _Belial_ spoken of in the last verse, and whose _mighty men_ are mentioned in the third verse. It is plain from Nahum 2:2 that the desolator was come up, not against Judah, but against the Assyrians. H... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SHIELD—IS MADE RED— In this and the two following verses we have a most animated and picturesque description of the warlike preparations made against Nineveh; or of the preparations of the king of Nineveh against the besiegers. Houbigant reads this verse, _The shields of his mighty men blaze wit... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GATES OF THE RIVER SHALL BE OPENED— Diodorus informs us, that there was an old prophesy, that Nineveh should not be taken till the river became an enemy to the city; and in the third year of the siege the river, being swollen with continual rains, overflowed part of the city, and broke down the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HUZZAB SHALL BE LED AWAY, &C.— Houbigant renders this, _And the queen ascends into her upper chamber;_ [or the place where to see and lament the ruins of the city;] _and like the voice of doves, so do her maidens lament, beating their breasts._ Others suppose that _Huzzab_ signifies a _fortress,... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT NINEVEH IS OF OLD, &C.— _Nineveh is become as a pool of water. Its waters subvert it: they who fled stand still; they stand still, and know not whither to fly._ See Houbigant, and the note on Nahum 2:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE YE, &C.— _They have plundered the silver, they have plundered the gold: the weight of them is immense: it is more than all the precious furniture._ We are told by Diodorus, that the conqueror of Nineveh carried away a great many talents of gold and silver. See Houbigant and Bishop Newton.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHERE IS THE DWELLING, &C.— _Where is the dwelling of the lioness? And the same was the nursery of the young lions:_ that is, "What has become of the stately palaces of the king and princes of Nineveh; who, like so many lions, cruel and violent, knew no other law than their pride and ambition; preyi... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL BURN HER CHARIOTS— _I will burn thy habitation,_ &c. The simile taken from _lions_ is continued; and therefore _chariots_ is extremely improper. The word refers to the den or habitation of the lions, whom he threatens to suffocate with fire and smoke in their subterraneous caverns; thus keepi... [ Continue Reading ]