THE PROPHET NAHUM
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
NAHUM is placed as the seventh of the twelve minor Prophets, in his prophecy or vision, as his writings are called, and as it stands in the sacred canon. His name in the original signifies consolation; from Nachah to guide. He is called the Elkoshite; probably a native of Elkoshai in Galilee; though some have thought that his father's name was Elkoshai. The particular period of his ministry is not exactly ascertained; though in the margin of our Bibles the translators have made it about seven hundred and thirteen years before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The burden of his prophecy seems to be principally directed to Nineveh; but in reality the great design of his labour was intended for the spiritual consolation of the Church. I do not think it necessary to detain the Reader with an account gathered from early writers concerning this man. For the most part, these things are merely conjectural. And as God the Holy Ghost, while condescending to make use of his ministry, hath thought proper to observe silence concerning the man, it should seem to be our wisdom to do the same. Many of the
Lord's faithful servants which are hidden from our knowledge, who have served the Church in their day and generation, will be brought forward at the great day of the Lord, in their sphere of glory in Jesus; though while upon earth they flourished as the flower of the mountain, which shed its fragrancy, and is but little known or noticed of men. Reader let us enter upon this sacred Book, as we have all the other inspired writings, with prayer and supplication; that all the blessings intended from it to the Church may be in our enjoyment, and that it may prove an engrafted word, which in and through the Lord Jesus, is able to save our souls!