Nahum 2:3

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 with splendour, his warriors shine in purple: the chariots, as they stand prepared, glitter with fire: the fir-tree spears or lances are terribly shaken;—and so on, in the present tense, which gives great force to the description. He renders the fifth verse, His nobles walk proudly: they march on with indignation; they hasten to the walls, where their tent is prepared.