Nahum 2
Nahum 2 is a vivid prophecy describing the fall of Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire, due to its wickedness. This chapter portrays the siege, invasion, and eventual destruction of the city. Assyria was known for its cruelty and oppression, and God’s judgment upon Nineveh serves as a message of hope for Judah, who suffered under Assyrian oppression. The imagery is graphic and dramatic, highlighting the intensity of God’s retribution against those who defy His justice.
Nahum 2:1 (NKJV)
1 He who scatters has come up before your face. Man the fort! Watch the road! Strengthen your flanks! Fortify your power mightily.
The prophecy opens with a call to Nineveh to prepare for an attack. "He who scatters" refers to the invading forces coming to destroy the city. Despite the exhortation to fortify defenses, the underlying tone suggests the futility of resistance against God’s impending judgment. This verse serves as a warning and highlights the inevitability of Nineveh’s fall despite any preparations they might attempt.
Nahum 2:2 (NKJV)
2 For the Lord will restore the excellence of Jacob like the excellence of Israel, for the emptiers have emptied them out and ruined their vine branches.
This verse contrasts the fate of Nineveh with the future of Israel and Judah. While Nineveh faces destruction, God promises to restore His people, who have suffered due to oppression. Assyria, having "emptied" and ravaged Israel, will face divine retribution. The image of "vine branches" symbolizes Israel’s life and prosperity, which will be renewed as God’s people are freed from foreign domination.
Nahum 2:3-4 (NKJV)
3 The shields of his mighty men are made red, the valiant men are in scarlet. The chariots come with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the spears are brandished.
4 The chariots rage in the streets, they jostle one another in the broad roads; they seem like torches, they run like lightning.
These verses depict the intense scene of battle as the invaders approach Nineveh. The “red” shields and “scarlet” attire may signify bloodshed or the fiery nature of the assault. Chariots, a symbol of military strength, speed through the city streets, emphasizing the chaos and ferocity of the attack. This imagery reflects the swiftness and destructive power of the forces executing God’s judgment on Nineveh.
Nahum 2:5-6 (NKJV)
5 He remembers his nobles; they stumble in their walk; they make haste to her walls, and the defense is prepared.
6 The gates of the rivers are opened, and the palace is dissolved.
Nineveh’s leaders, though valiant, are disoriented and desperate in their attempts to defend the city. The mention of “gates of the rivers” alludes to the Tigris River, which ran through Nineveh and may have been a factor in its downfall. The image of the “palace dissolved” suggests the city’s internal collapse, signaling that even its strongest points will fail under divine judgment.
Nahum 2:7-8 (NKJV)
7 It is decreed: She shall be led away captive, she shall be brought up; and her maidservants shall lead her as with the voice of doves, beating their breasts.
8 Though Nineveh of old was like a pool of water, now they flee away. “Halt! Halt!” they cry; but no one turns back.
The prophecy declares Nineveh’s fate, symbolizing it as a woman taken captive. The “voice of doves” and “beating of breasts” depict sorrow and mourning as the city faces inevitable defeat. Once abundant like “a pool of water,” Nineveh’s resources and people scatter in desperation. This conveys the helplessness of a once-great empire brought low.
Nahum 2:9-10 (NKJV)
9 Take spoil of silver! Take spoil of gold! There is no end of treasure, or wealth of every desirable prize.
10 She is empty, desolate, and waste! The heart melts, and the knees shake; much pain is in every side, and all their faces are drained of color.
The invaders are invited to seize Nineveh’s immense wealth, accumulated through conquest and oppression. However, the treasures cannot save the city from its desolation. The emptiness of Nineveh, coupled with the fear and terror experienced by its inhabitants, reflects the totality of its downfall. This vivid portrayal emphasizes the completeness of God’s judgment.
Nahum 2:11-13 (NKJV)
11 Where is the dwelling of the lions, and the feeding place of the young lions, where the lion walked, the lioness and lion’s cub, and no one made them afraid?
12 The lion tore in pieces enough for his cubs, killed for his lionesses, filled his caves with prey, and his dens with flesh.
13 “Behold, I am against you,” says the Lord of hosts, “I will burn your chariots in smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions; I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall be heard no more.”
The final verses use the metaphor of a lion’s den to describe Nineveh. Assyria, like a fierce lion, once terrorized and plundered other nations, feeding on the lives and wealth of its neighbors. God declares that He is against Nineveh, promising to destroy its power, wealth, and even its descendants. This ultimate condemnation underscores God’s sovereignty and the inevitability of justice against oppressive powers.