Tyndale Open Study NotesNahum 2

Even if Nineveh's defenders prepared with walls, roads, defenses, and forces, they were destined to fail (Nahum 1:1–14).

The vine represents God's blessing to his people (Isaiah 27:2–6), while the stripped vine shows God's earlier punishment of them (Isaiah 5:1–7). The children of Israel were in a sad state compared to the days of the great kings David and Solomon. However, God promised to restore the splendor of his people.

Chariots were almost impossible to stop in battle due to their speed and strength.

• The Assyrian king recovers from the surprise attack on Nineveh and calls out to his officers. He and the city are unprepared, so they hurry to the walls to stop the siege.

• the protective shield is set in place (literally the covering is prepared): The meaning of the Hebrew term here is unclear. Covering probably refers to something that attackers or defenders used for protection. It helped shield them from weapons thrown through the air.

• The rush to defend comes too late (Nahum 2:5). The defenses are already breached.

• Nineveh had a reservoir created by a double dam on the Khosr River, a tributary of the Tigris that flowed through the city. The reservoir was enhanced by a series of flood gates.

  The Greek historian Diodorus reported that a great amount of rain had already swollen the city’s river system. By first closing, then opening the flood gates, Nineveh’s attackers released the stored water as a battering ram against the city walls.

• Because God had decreed Nineveh’s exile, it would certainly happen.

• beat upon their breasts: This was a common sign of mourning. People did this to show sorrow and regret (see, for example, Luke 18:13).

The people would flee quickly, like water rushing from a broken reservoir (see study note on Nahum 2:6).

The great wealth from other nations came into the Assyrian capital through trade, tribute, and spoils, but it vanished quickly. Ruthless aggression and wickedness may succeed for a short time, but they will eventually face destruction (Proverbs 13:22; Obadiah 1:15; Luke 12:16–20).

emptied … desolate … laid waste: The Hebrew words here use alliteration (repeating similar sounds) to create a strong effect: buqah umbuqah umbullaqah. This sound pattern emphasizes how complete the destruction was. A similar effect in English would be “devastated, despoiled, and destroyed.”

After describing Nineveh’s fall (Nahum 2:1–10), Nahum includes the first of three taunt songs (see also 3:8–13, 14–19). Taunt songs were a common form of poetry in the ancient Near East.

In this song, Nahum uses sharp humor to compare Nineveh to a lion’s den. Sennacherib and other Assyrian kings often compared themselves to lions. They even decorated their palaces with images of lions and scenes of royal lion hunts.

However, because God had become Nineveh’s enemy, the city would no longer be a safe place for a powerful predator. Its strength and pride would not protect it.

Examples of the voices of Assyria’s proud messengers are in 2 Kings 18:19–19:13.