Nahum prophesied about the imminent destruction of Nineveh and, by extension, the Assyrian Empire, though he did not prophesy directly to them. Instead, he brought his message to an audience in Judah that gained much hope from the news that Nineveh was about to fall. The Kingdom of Judah suffered much under Assyrian oppression and saw how their brothers in the Kingdom of Israel had been taken into exile by the Assyrians about a century before.
Book of Nahum: Authorship and Date
The opening verse of Nahum indicates that the book deals with visions Nahum received about Nineveh. By extension, these visions apply to the Assyrian Empire as a whole. The Bible, however, never mentions Nahum, son of Elkosh, anywhere else. Elkosh is most likely the name of the town Nahum was from, though no such place has been identified by archaeologists yet. Like several other Minor Prophets, Nahum is an enigma. The lack of information about Nahum’s identity does not indicate that he was not a historical figure.
Tradition holds that Nahum authored the book, and scholars tend to agree, though they believe scribes compiled and edited the book at a later date. Nahum seems to have been aware of the geopolitics of his day and the threat Assyria posed to Judah. Nahum 3:16-18 refers to the fall of Thebes, an event historians have dated to 663 BCE. From Nahum’s vision, it is evident that Nineveh had not fallen yet. It is, therefore, reasonable to assume the accounts that the book details date to sometime between 663 and 612 BCE when Nineveh fell. Nahum referred to the imminent destruction of Nineveh, which makes a date in the second half of the 7th Century more likely.
Historical Context
The Assyrian Empire reached its cultural and intellectual peak under the reign of Ashurbanipal from 668-627 BCE. Before that time, it had expanded its territory significantly and had sent the people of the Kingdom of Israel into exile in 722 BCE. Assyria posed a significant threat to the Kingdom of Judah as well. Judah suffered under Assyrian oppression, and the words of Nahum would bring hope to the people of Judah.
The Assyrians were notorious for torturing many of their captives before executing them. Their cruelty made them the most feared nation of their time. That reputation caused many of their enemies to lose their resolve and choose to avoid or flee the battle rather than risk being captured and mutilated. Those who could not escape the Assyrian occupation had no other option but to rise up against Assyrian oppression.
The successful Babylonian revolt of 626 BCE marked the beginning of the end of the Assyrian Empire. It would have served as an early sign that Assyrian oppression was ending for the region of Judah. Due to internal power struggles and economic difficulties, the Assyrian Empire weakened after Ashurbanipal’s death.
During that time, the Babylonian and Median kingdoms gained significant power, and Josiah reigned in Judah, arguably one of the best kings Judah ever had. Josiah reigned from 640-609 BCE, and during his reign, Hilkiah the High Priest rediscovered the Book of the Law (possibly Deuteronomy). It was a time of political stability and spiritual revival for the Kingdom of Judah. Josiah destroyed many pagan altars in Judah before he died in battle when King Necho went to assist the Assyrians in their struggle against Babylon. In those circumstances, news that Assyria was about to fall would have been welcomed by all in Judah.
Structure
Nahum’s structure follows the contemporary chapter division of the book.
Nineveh judged
God pronounced judgment against Nineveh, the capital and symbol of the Assyrian Empire. The text declares that God, who is slow to anger, is full of wrath at Nineveh, indicating the severity and duration of Assyria’s evil. God assured Judah of the fall of Nineveh, though they may have still seemed strong at that time. It is likely that Judah saw the rise of the Babylonians and the Medes as a positive sign, not realizing that they would be captives of the former and the latter in the coming century.
Nineveh’s judgment
Chapter two describes the siege of Nineveh, the panic of its people, and its impending desolation. It describes the looting and plunder that would happen after its fall. Nahum 2:11-13 mentions what Nineveh had and would lose when it fell.
Nineveh’s woes
Nahum closes by describing the destruction that would soon come over Nineveh because God had found the city guilty of violence, deceit, and oppression. They deserved their coming punishment.
Main Themes
Judgment
The primary theme of Nahum is the judgment of Nineveh for her oppression, cruelty, idolatry, and wickedness. Actions have consequences, and God called Nineveh to account for wickedness, cruelty, and oppression.
Sovereignty of God
Nahum shows God is sovereign and can call all nations to account for their actions and the evil they have done. He was patient and gave Nineveh an opportunity to repent when Jonah ministered to them more than a century before. After repenting, they fell back into their old, wicked ways. Now, the time of God’s grace to them has ended, and Nineveh would finally experience the results of having rejected God’s grace.
Hope
Nahum’s message was about Nineveh, but he addressed it to Judah to show them that God had not forgotten about them or their suffering. His message brought hope for those who have felt the oppression by the Assyrians for generations.
God is omniscient
God is aware of everything that happens. The mistreatment of other nations, especially Israel and Judah, did not escape God. He may not have acted immediately, but when he did, the judgment was severe because the offending party, Assyria, had rejected the opportunities for repentance and reform. God saw the arrogance of the mighty and powerful and brought them to a fall.
Key Passages
Nahum 1:3
“The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.”
The Assyrians had been a menace to the Kingdom of Judah for a century or more by the time Nahum prophesied. Their violence and cruelty earned them a reputation among other nations. Yet, God did not immediately act against them. He had sent Jonah to minister to them, and they repented, but they later returned to their wicked ways, which meant the time of their reckoning had come. God would judge them, and their destruction was just.
Nahum 1:15
“Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace! Keep your feasts, O Judah; fulfill your vows, for never again shall the worthless pass through you; he is utterly cut off.”
Romans 10:15 quotes Nahum 1:15 but in a context different to, yet drawing from, the original. In Romans 10:15, Paul speaks of those who preach the gospel or good news. The reader can see a parallel between the message of the downfall of Assyria as an oppressive power and the gospel as a message of freedom from oppression by sin.
Nahum 2:2
“For the LORD is restoring the majesty of Jacob as the majesty of Israel, for plunderers have plundered them and ruined their branches.”
The plundering of Israel was the result of their unfaithfulness to God. In his great mercy, God promises the restoration of his people. The people were never taken into exile by Assyria like the Kingdom of Israel was, though the Assyrians did oppress them. Nevertheless, their suffering was enough for God to intervene.
Nahum 3:19
“There is no easing your hurt; your wound is grievous. All who hear the news about you clap their hands over you. For upon whom has not come your unceasing evil?”
The impending destruction of the Assyrians was a righteous act because they had inflicted severe cruelty on their enemies and mercilessly tortured many before executing them. Those nations that suffered the wrath of the Assyrians or even just their oppression, like the Kingdom of Judah, rejoiced at the news that God would avenge their hateful conduct.
Contemporary Relevance
Like ancient Assyria, many nations today also oppress and mistreat others. From Nahum, the contemporary reader will learn that God is not oblivious to the injustices that occur in the world. He will judge all nations and call them to account for how they have (mis)treated others. He is sovereign, and there is no nation that will escape his judgment. The cycle of injustice may supersede a lifetime, and it may seem like justice will not prevail, but God will, in his time, restore the righteous, destroy evil, and renew the world.
