From the Greek Septuagint text as used
by First Century Christians.
This book was written sometime during the
mid-7th Century BCE, and it is a proclamation against the Assyrians (the world empire
of that period).
Because Nahum refers to himself as an Elkoshite; this appears to
be a reference to the City of Alqosh
in Assyria,
where the Bible tells us that the ‘lost’
10 tribes of IsraEl had been relocated by the Assyrians in the 8th Century
BCE. For this is where his tomb is located.
It is interesting to note that
this is the area where people known as the ‘Kurds’
(‘Tent Dwellers’), whom according to DNA
are the closest relatives to the Jews, live today.
Is it poetry or isn’t it poetry?
Something that only a Bible translator would notice is that whenever God or His
spokesperson are quoted, the words were in the form of Hebrew poetry,
since
there is a definite cadence that can be noted in the original language.
Therefore, because this is the chosen style of God, we have rendered it as it
should be, in poetic verse.
Why did God and His spokesperson communicate through poetry?
Because poetic words provide memory aids that can be easily recalled to mind,
so that the messages could be spread throughout the population via the most
common medium of communication at the time, song.
Chapter 1
1 The concern over Nineveh. This is the scroll of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
2 Because He
is very zealous,
Jehovah will not fail to punish.
In His rage, Jehovah will punish
All those that are standing against Him…
He’ll destroy all those who oppose Him.
3 Jehovah is
patient and mighty,
And the [guilty], [He] will not acquit.
For His ways are rumbling and final.
4
There are clouds of dust under His feet,
And He can squeeze the seas and cause them to dry.
He also desolates rivers,
Which is how He weakened BaShan and CarMel,
And it’s why Lebanon’s blossoms have failed.
5 Before
Him, the mountains have shaken,
And [before Him], the hills have all trembled.
They rise at His presence throughout the whole earth,
As do all [the peoples] who dwell there.
6 Before His
rage, who can stand…
Yes, who can withstand His anger?
For, sovereign rulers melt at His rage,
And even the rocks split apart.
7
Yet He’s kind to those who [put faith] in Him
In their day of affliction…
And He knows all those who respect Him.
8 Like a
downpour, He wipes away and consumes
All those who’ve been roused [to oppose Him],
And He chases His enemies into the dark.
9 So
against Jehovah, what plans can you make,
For He can wipe you away.
But He will not punish you twice,
Or punish you for the same [errors].
10 His enemy’s
[cities], He will lay bare
To their very foundations.
Like twisted yews, they will be burned…
As though they are very dry stubble.
11 Yet,
against Jehovah, you have made plans…
Against Him, you’ve made wicked plans.
12 So Jehovah (who rules all
the waters) says this:
‘I will send them away
And they’ll not be heard from again.
13 For I’ll lift their whips
from [your backs],
And I will remove all their shackles.’
14 It was
concerning [the Assyrians], that Jehovah said this:
‘Your name won’t be mentioned again;
For, I will destroy all your idols
(Those that you molded and carved),
Then a time will be set for your funeral,
Which will arrive very soon.
15 ‘Look!
Upon the mountains, he’s coming…
The feet of the one announcing good news
And the one with reports about peace!
‘So in Judah, declare a holiday [feast],
And you must get ready to pay all your vows,
So that never again will they enter [your gates],
Nor again, should they see your corruption.’
Chapter 2
1 Now He’s
finished [His work] and He has consumed…
This One that came and breathed in your face…
This One that [brought] you affliction!
So, watch the roads and [wrap up] your loins…
Be very manly and strong!
2 For Jehovah has taken away
The haughtiness of Jacob’s [tribes],
As well as IsraEl’s insolent ways.
And now, He is ready to shake off
Those that have been shaking you,
And He’ll bring their branches to ruin.
3 For under Him, there are men that
have weapons,
And laugh at fire, because of their might.
Their chariots have now been prepared,
And their horsemen will make many wail.
4 Their chariots will wreak
havoc along all the roads,
And thereafter, they’ll meet in [Assyria’s] squares.
The sight of them is like burning lamps,
And lightning [is found in their wake].
5 So all of [Assyria’s]
mighty men
Should stop and think about this…
For in the daytime, they’ll flee.
And as they leave, they’ll be feeble,
Then between their walls, they will run
From the troops in the lead that arrive.
6 Then their
city gates will be opened wide,
And all their great homes will be ruined…
7 Yes, all their supports will
lie bare.
Then their [women] will appear with their servants,
And as meek as doves, they’ll be led away
To the flutter of their own beating hearts.
8 For, Nineveh is
a pool amidst waters,
And her men won’t resist, they’ll just flee
When no one is paying attention.
9 So their
silver and gold will be looted…
There are no limits to all that they’ll take.
And those looters will then be weighed down
With [the city’s] most desirable things.
10 There’ll
be thrusting, shaking, and tumult…
Hearts will be breaking and knees will be weak…
Loins will all become loose,
And their faces will look like burned pots!
11 So, where
is this great lion’s den…
Yes, where is the pasture [where she hides] her cubs…
Where has the [great] lion gone?
She’s gone away to be with her cubs
Who ran when there was nothing to fear.
12 She is
the same lion that once snatched away
All that her cubs had required.
And for her, the cubs strangled their prey,
Until their den became filled with game…
Their home was filled with the things she had seized.
13 ‘But
look!
I’m the One that is coming against you,’
Says Jehovah, the Almighty,
‘And all of your army, I’ll burn into smoke.
‘I’ll devour your lions with the broadsword,
And I’ll take all the game from your land,
So that none of the things you’ve accomplished
Will ever be mentioned again.
Chapter 3
1 ‘O you
city of blood
And of all that is false and unrighteous;
You’ll no longer be in charge of your game.
2 For the sounds of whips, [you
will hear],
Along with the rumble of [chariot] wheels…
The hot pursuits upon horses,
And the dust that they’ll raise with their wheels…
3 The attacks of men riding
steeds…
The shine of their swords and the flashing of shields.
‘Great multitudes will be slaughtered;
For a downfall is coming to you.
Unnumbered nations will come there,
And from [looting and rape], they will tire.
4 ‘You’re a
whore who once satisfied men,
And in the making of potions, you took the lead.
Then you sold your whoring to the nations,
And your potions, you sold to their tribes.
5 ‘So look…
I’m the One that’s against you,’
Says Jehovah the Almighty!
‘I will uncover your backside,
And show all the nations your shame…
Other kingdoms will see your dishonor!
6 ‘Because
of all your uncleanness,
I’ll bring what’s disgusting upon you…
I’ll use you as an example.
7 ‘Then, all
who see you will leave you and say,
O Nineveh, you great wretched one;
Who will now mourn over you,
And where can they search to send comfort?
8 ‘So, tune
up the strings of your lyres,
And prepare your potions for Amun
([Your god] who inhabits the rivers);
For your walls are surrounded by water,
From which you have ruled all the way to the sea.
9 ‘Though
Ethiopia and Egypt have served as your strength,
They’ll [be no help] when you’re taken away…
There’ll just be Libya and the Sudan
That will come to your aid.
10 ‘Your
[people] will be captured and taken to exile,
And your infant’s [heads] will be dashed on the walls.
For your honorable things, they’ll cast lots,
As your great men are tethered and bound.
11 ‘So, you’ll
be provoked and get drunk,
As from your enemies, you seek shelter.
12 But what will happen to
those in your forts,
Is the same as what will happen to you.
‘For, you will then be the fruit…
And when they start shaking the [tree],
You will fall into the mouths
Of those that have come to consume you.
13 ‘{Look!}
Your enemies will view you as women,
So they’ll burn the bars off your gates
And open all doors throughout your land!
14 ‘Then you’ll
have to draw water from your rivers
To rescue all of your burning forts!
So, you should tread mortar and mix it with straw…
Then make it stronger with bricks!
15 For fire and the sword will
destroy you…
They will consume you like locusts,
And by grasshoppers, you’ll be oppressed.
16 ‘Though
you once grew your trade higher
Than all the stars in the skies;
Grasshoppers are coming to spread [over you]…
17 Small locusts will leap and
consume,
And cover your fences like frost.
Then, as the sun rises, they’ll just hop away…
And woe, because you won’t know where they’ve gone!
18 ‘And you,
O Assyria’s king;
All of your shepherds have fallen asleep
And all of your mighty are resting.
Your people [have fled] to the mountains,
And no one is searching for them.
19 Thus there’ll be no one to
heal your destruction,
And your wounds will soon be inflamed.
‘Yet, those hearing this message about you
Are all now clapping their hands…
For to them, you have done evil things.’