Bible Commentaries

The prophet preceded the announcement of a verdict of vengeance by a section dealing wholly with Jehovah Himself. As to His character, He is a God of vengeance, and yet the central fact of His nature is that He is slow to anger.

Under the figure of a storm the prophet set forth the overwhelming majesty of Jehovah. The description of the storm moves in two sections: a hurricane on the sea, a simoon over the land.

He finally described the method of God: toward His friends He is "good, a stronghold"; for His foes, "He will make a full end."

Addressing himself to Nineveh, the prophet inquired, 'What do ye imagine against the Lord?" This hints at the deepest sin of Nineveh, namely, that she had set herself up wilfully against the power of God. In answer to his own question, Nahum affirmed the irresistible nature of the judgment which must fall on the city, and finally made his central charge against her, "There is one gone forth out of thee, that imagineth evil against the Lord, that counselleth wickedness." This charge, in all probability, referred to the blasphemous boasts of Sennacherib, chronicled in Isaiah 36:18-20; Isaiah 37:10-13. As other prophets had summoned the nations to attend to God's controversy with Israel, Nahum addressed himself to the chosen people, declaring that the yoke of Assyria would be broken.

The last word in this first section was addressed to Judah. The verdict of vengeance on Nineveh was an evangel to Judah.