Nahum 3:1-19

     In chapter three, Nahum addresses Nineveh as the “bloody city” that was built up through violence, lies, and whose prey never departs (Nah 3:1). However, the people who once destroyed and plundered others would now experience the same, as the prophet graphically describes the sights and sounds of the invading army of the Babylonians and Medes (Nah 3:2-3). God would bring this destruction upon the Assyrians because of their abuses of other nations. Nahum declares this was “All because of the many harlotries of the harlot, the charming one, the mistress of sorceries, who sells nations by her harlotries and families by her sorceries” (Nah 3:4). Nineveh’s leaders lured other nations by offering them peaceful alliances (cf. Isa 36:16-17), only to betray them afterwards. In their efforts to subjugate others, the Assyrians also practiced sorcery to predict the future, thus seeking a political and military advantage. But God governs His universe by moral laws, and Nineveh’s violence aroused the Judge of all the earth to judge them. The Lord said of Nineveh, “Behold, I am against you” (Nah 3:5a), and then renders judgment, exposing her “disgrace” and covering her with “filth” (Nah 3:5-6). Subsequently, there would be none to grieve its destruction (Nah 3:7). Thebes, like Nineveh, was a strong city surrounded by fortifications, both natural and manmade (Nah 3:8-9); however, the Assyrians brutally attacked and destroyed the city in 663 B.C., slaughtering children in the streets and humiliating the “honorable men” who were taken away in chains (Nah 3:10). Just as Thebes was helpless to stop the Assyrian destruction, so Nineveh would be helpless to the stop the invading army sent by God (Nah 3:11); and just as ripe figs easily fall from the fig tree, so Nineveh would fall to those who desired to consume it (Nah 3:12). The people of Nineveh are described as weak, as the strong gates of the city would be burned as the invading army enters (Nah 3:13). In sarcastic language, the Ninevites are told to strengthen themselves and their fortress for the attack (Nah 3:14), but this will not help, as the city would be destroyed by fire and sword (Nah 3:15a). Though the residents of the city are multiplied like a swarm of locusts (too many to count), they will quickly flee away when the attack comes (Nah 3:15b-17). The nation’s leaders (shepherds and nobles) are described as sleeping on the job, and the king of Assyria is helpless (Nah 3:18a). His people “are scattered on the mountains and there is no one to regather them” (Nah 3:18b). The king of Assyria is made to realize the consequences of his evil leadership, with the result, “There is no relief for your breakdown, your wound is incurable” (Nah 3:19a), and all who suffered under Nineveh’s oppression will rejoice at its destruction, for the city only offered evil continually (Nah 3:19b).

• "The reasons God brought Nineveh and the Assyrian Empire down are the same reasons He will humble any similar people. Any nation or city that lusts for conquest, practices violence and brutality to dominate others, abuses its power, oppresses the weak, worships anything but Yahweh, or seeks help from the demonic world shares Nineveh’s sins and can expect her fate." (Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible, Na 3:19)