He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face: keep the munition, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily.
For the Lord hath turned away the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel: for the emptiers have emptied them out, and marred their vine branches.
The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken.
The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings.
He shall recount his worthies: they shall stumble in their walk; they shall make haste to the wall thereof, and the defence shall be prepared.
The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved.
And Huzzab shall be led away captive, she shall be brought up, and her maids shall lead her as with the voice of doves, tabering upon their breasts.
But Nineveh is of old like a pool of water: yet they shall flee away. Stand, stand, shall they cry; but none shall look back.
Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold: for there is none end of the store and glory out of all the pleasant furniture.
She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain is in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness.
Where is the dwelling of the lions, and the feedingplace of the young lions, where the lion, even the old lion, walked, and the lion’s whelp, and none made them afraid?
The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled his holes with prey, and his dens with ravin.
Behold, I am against thee, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions: and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.
Nahum 2 unveils a vivid and devastating prophecy against Nineveh, the capital of Assyria. This chapter is a powerful reminder that even the most formidable empires are subject to God's justice. It blends taunts, descriptions of impending destruction, and theological truths about God's sovereignty and restoration. Nahum 2 resonates with both a warning and a hope: a warning to those who trust in worldly power and a hope for those who trust in the Lord.
Preparing for the Inevitable (Nahum 2:1-6)
Nahum 2:1-6 is laced with sarcasm and irony. The prophet mocks Nineveh, mimicking the way Assyria used to taunt other nations (compare 2 Kings 18:30-35). He cries, "Man the fortifications! Watch the road! Brace yourself! Summon all your strength!" (Nahum 2:1). It's as if Nahum is goading Nineveh, knowing full well that all their efforts will be in vain. The image is akin to a David facing a Goliath, but without the divine favor. They can prepare their chariots and fortify their walls (Nahum 2:3-5), but their actions will be utterly futile against the coming judgment. This section highlights the futility of relying on military might and human ingenuity when God's judgment is at hand.
The Lord is not indifferent to the suffering of His people. "For the LORD will restore the majesty of Jacob, yes, the majesty of Israel" (Nahum 2:2). In the midst of this prophecy of doom, a glimmer of hope shines through. God remembers His covenant with Israel and will restore them. This restoration is not just a political recovery, but a restoration of God's glory and purpose in their lives. Israel has a champion, and He has no equal.
The Spoils of War and the Silence of Messengers (Nahum 2:7-13)
Nahum 2:7-13 paints a grim picture of Nineveh's downfall. Assyria, once the "big kid on the block," the empire before which nations trembled, will be utterly stripped bare (Nahum 2:7). All the beauty and opulence of Nineveh, its silver and gold, will be plundered (Nahum 2:9). Desolation, decimation, and devastation will be all that remain (Nahum 2:10). The city, once a symbol of power and prosperity, will become a wasteland.
The contrast is stark. While Judah's messenger would announce good news (Nahum 1:15), Assyria's messengers would never be heard again (Nahum 2:13). The silence of Assyria's messengers symbolizes the end of their reign of terror and the cessation of their boasting. This section emphasizes the completeness of God's judgment and the reversal of fortunes. The oppressor will be oppressed, and the proud will be humbled.
Nahum 2 is a powerful reminder that pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). It is a call to humility and a warning against placing our trust in worldly power. However, it also carries a message of hope for those who trust in the Lord. He is a God of justice, who will ultimately vindicate His people and restore His glory. Nahum 2 teaches us to find our security not in earthly kingdoms, but in the unshakable kingdom of God.
He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face: keep the munition, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily.
For the Lord hath turned away the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel: for the emptiers have emptied them out, and marred their vine branches.
The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken.
The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings.
He shall recount his worthies: they shall stumble in their walk; they shall make haste to the wall thereof, and the defence shall be prepared.
The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved.
And Huzzab shall be led away captive, she shall be brought up, and her maids shall lead her as with the voice of doves, tabering upon their breasts.
But Nineveh is of old like a pool of water: yet they shall flee away. Stand, stand, shall they cry; but none shall look back.
Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold: for there is none end of the store and glory out of all the pleasant furniture.
She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain is in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness.
Where is the dwelling of the lions, and the feedingplace of the young lions, where the lion, even the old lion, walked, and the lion’s whelp, and none made them afraid?
The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled his holes with prey, and his dens with ravin.
Behold, I am against thee, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions: and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.
Nahum 2 unveils a vivid and devastating prophecy against Nineveh, the capital of Assyria. This chapter is a powerful reminder that even the most formidable empires are subject to God's justice. It blends taunts, descriptions of impending destruction, and theological truths about God's sovereignty and restoration. Nahum 2 resonates with both a warning and a hope: a warning to those who trust in worldly power and a hope for those who trust in the Lord.
Preparing for the Inevitable (Nahum 2:1-6)
Nahum 2:1-6 is laced with sarcasm and irony. The prophet mocks Nineveh, mimicking the way Assyria used to taunt other nations (compare 2 Kings 18:30-35). He cries, "Man the fortifications! Watch the road! Brace yourself! Summon all your strength!" (Nahum 2:1). It's as if Nahum is goading Nineveh, knowing full well that all their efforts will be in vain. The image is akin to a David facing a Goliath, but without the divine favor. They can prepare their chariots and fortify their walls (Nahum 2:3-5), but their actions will be utterly futile against the coming judgment. This section highlights the futility of relying on military might and human ingenuity when God's judgment is at hand.
The Lord is not indifferent to the suffering of His people. "For the LORD will restore the majesty of Jacob, yes, the majesty of Israel" (Nahum 2:2). In the midst of this prophecy of doom, a glimmer of hope shines through. God remembers His covenant with Israel and will restore them. This restoration is not just a political recovery, but a restoration of God's glory and purpose in their lives. Israel has a champion, and He has no equal.
The Spoils of War and the Silence of Messengers (Nahum 2:7-13)
Nahum 2:7-13 paints a grim picture of Nineveh's downfall. Assyria, once the "big kid on the block," the empire before which nations trembled, will be utterly stripped bare (Nahum 2:7). All the beauty and opulence of Nineveh, its silver and gold, will be plundered (Nahum 2:9). Desolation, decimation, and devastation will be all that remain (Nahum 2:10). The city, once a symbol of power and prosperity, will become a wasteland.
The contrast is stark. While Judah's messenger would announce good news (Nahum 1:15), Assyria's messengers would never be heard again (Nahum 2:13). The silence of Assyria's messengers symbolizes the end of their reign of terror and the cessation of their boasting. This section emphasizes the completeness of God's judgment and the reversal of fortunes. The oppressor will be oppressed, and the proud will be humbled.
Nahum 2 is a powerful reminder that pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). It is a call to humility and a warning against placing our trust in worldly power. However, it also carries a message of hope for those who trust in the Lord. He is a God of justice, who will ultimately vindicate His people and restore His glory. Nahum 2 teaches us to find our security not in earthly kingdoms, but in the unshakable kingdom of God.