Nahum 1: The LORD's Jealousy and Justice
The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.
The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.
The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.
The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.
What do ye imagine against the Lord? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.
For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.
There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the Lord, a wicked counsellor.
Thus saith the Lord; Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.
For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.
And the Lord hath given a commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.
Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.
Nahum 1 presents a powerful, albeit sobering, vision of God's character and his impending judgment on Nineveh. The book opens with a declaration of divine revelation to the prophet Nahum concerning Nineveh (Nahum 1:1). This wasn't the first time Nineveh had received a prophetic warning. Jonah's earlier message of impending doom led to repentance among the Ninevites. However, by Nahum's time, the city had reverted to its wicked ways, setting the stage for God's judgment.
The Jealous and Avenging God (Nahum 1:2-6)
A central theme of this chapter is God's wrath. Nahum describes the LORD as a "jealous and avenging God" (Nahum 1:2). It's important to understand that this jealousy isn't the petty, envious kind condemned in Romans 13:13, 2 Corinthians 12:20, and Galatians 5:20. Instead, it's the righteous jealousy of a husband fiercely protecting his wife, a parent defending their child. As Israel's covenant husband, God cannot tolerate rival gods or nations that oppress his people. While he is "slow to anger," he is also "great in power" and "will by no means clear the guilty" (Nahum 1:3). When God's anger is kindled, the natural world itself trembles. Rivers dry up, mountains quake, the earth trembles, and rocks are shattered (Nahum 1:4-6). This vivid imagery emphasizes the sheer force and magnitude of God's wrath against unrepentant evil.
A Refuge for Those Who Trust (Nahum 1:7-8)
Amidst this terrifying depiction of divine wrath, Nahum offers a crucial counterpoint: "The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him" (Nahum 1:7). This isn't a contradiction. God's goodness isn't weakness or apathy. Because God is good, he must address evil; he can't simply ignore it. But for those who align themselves with him, he is a stronghold and a refuge. While Nineveh will face complete destruction in an overwhelming flood (Nahum 1:8), those who trust in the Lord will find safety.
Futility of Plotting Against God (Nahum 1:9-11)
Nahum emphasizes the futility of plotting against the LORD: "Whatever you plot against the LORD, he will bring to an end; trouble will not come a second time" (Nahum 1:9). It may seem absurd to imagine anyone plotting against an all-knowing, all-powerful being. However, rejecting God's word and mistreating his people are, in effect, acts of defiance against him. Because the Assyrians had besieged Israel and Judah (see 2 Kings 17–19), they would face destruction like entangled thorns and those "parched from much wine" (Nahum 1:10).
Deliverance for Judah, Judgment for Assyria (Nahum 1:12-14)
The Lord promises to deliver Judah from Assyria's oppression. God had previously used Assyria as an instrument to discipline his people for their sins (see Isaiah 10:5-6), but now that purpose was fulfilled. He declares, "Although I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more" (Nahum 1:12). Instead, God will turn his judgment upon Assyria (Nahum 1:13). The imagery of being "mowed down" emphasizes the completeness of their destruction (Nahum 1:12). The Lord's threat against the Assyrian king reveals his ultimate powerlessness. The king will have no descendants to carry on his line, and the Lord himself will prepare his grave (Nahum 1:14).
The Herald of Peace (Nahum 1:15)
The chapter concludes with a message of hope for Judah: "Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one bringing good news, proclaiming peace! Celebrate your festivals, Judah, and fulfill your vows, for never again will the wicked invade you; they will be completely destroyed" (Nahum 1:15). This verse echoes the sentiments found in Isaiah 40:9 and 52:7, which are quoted in Romans 10:15. The arrival of the messenger announcing victory signals a time for celebration and renewed commitment to God. The people of Judah are called to fulfill the vows they made to God during their time of distress, demonstrating their gratitude for his deliverance.
The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.
The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.
The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.
The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.
What do ye imagine against the Lord? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.
For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.
There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the Lord, a wicked counsellor.
Thus saith the Lord; Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.
For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.
And the Lord hath given a commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.
Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.
Nahum 1 presents a powerful, albeit sobering, vision of God's character and his impending judgment on Nineveh. The book opens with a declaration of divine revelation to the prophet Nahum concerning Nineveh (Nahum 1:1). This wasn't the first time Nineveh had received a prophetic warning. Jonah's earlier message of impending doom led to repentance among the Ninevites. However, by Nahum's time, the city had reverted to its wicked ways, setting the stage for God's judgment.
The Jealous and Avenging God (Nahum 1:2-6)
A central theme of this chapter is God's wrath. Nahum describes the LORD as a "jealous and avenging God" (Nahum 1:2). It's important to understand that this jealousy isn't the petty, envious kind condemned in Romans 13:13, 2 Corinthians 12:20, and Galatians 5:20. Instead, it's the righteous jealousy of a husband fiercely protecting his wife, a parent defending their child. As Israel's covenant husband, God cannot tolerate rival gods or nations that oppress his people. While he is "slow to anger," he is also "great in power" and "will by no means clear the guilty" (Nahum 1:3). When God's anger is kindled, the natural world itself trembles. Rivers dry up, mountains quake, the earth trembles, and rocks are shattered (Nahum 1:4-6). This vivid imagery emphasizes the sheer force and magnitude of God's wrath against unrepentant evil.
A Refuge for Those Who Trust (Nahum 1:7-8)
Amidst this terrifying depiction of divine wrath, Nahum offers a crucial counterpoint: "The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him" (Nahum 1:7). This isn't a contradiction. God's goodness isn't weakness or apathy. Because God is good, he must address evil; he can't simply ignore it. But for those who align themselves with him, he is a stronghold and a refuge. While Nineveh will face complete destruction in an overwhelming flood (Nahum 1:8), those who trust in the Lord will find safety.
Futility of Plotting Against God (Nahum 1:9-11)
Nahum emphasizes the futility of plotting against the LORD: "Whatever you plot against the LORD, he will bring to an end; trouble will not come a second time" (Nahum 1:9). It may seem absurd to imagine anyone plotting against an all-knowing, all-powerful being. However, rejecting God's word and mistreating his people are, in effect, acts of defiance against him. Because the Assyrians had besieged Israel and Judah (see 2 Kings 17–19), they would face destruction like entangled thorns and those "parched from much wine" (Nahum 1:10).
Deliverance for Judah, Judgment for Assyria (Nahum 1:12-14)
The Lord promises to deliver Judah from Assyria's oppression. God had previously used Assyria as an instrument to discipline his people for their sins (see Isaiah 10:5-6), but now that purpose was fulfilled. He declares, "Although I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more" (Nahum 1:12). Instead, God will turn his judgment upon Assyria (Nahum 1:13). The imagery of being "mowed down" emphasizes the completeness of their destruction (Nahum 1:12). The Lord's threat against the Assyrian king reveals his ultimate powerlessness. The king will have no descendants to carry on his line, and the Lord himself will prepare his grave (Nahum 1:14).
The Herald of Peace (Nahum 1:15)
The chapter concludes with a message of hope for Judah: "Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one bringing good news, proclaiming peace! Celebrate your festivals, Judah, and fulfill your vows, for never again will the wicked invade you; they will be completely destroyed" (Nahum 1:15). This verse echoes the sentiments found in Isaiah 40:9 and 52:7, which are quoted in Romans 10:15. The arrival of the messenger announcing victory signals a time for celebration and renewed commitment to God. The people of Judah are called to fulfill the vows they made to God during their time of distress, demonstrating their gratitude for his deliverance.