Bible

Up next in the Bible room today, we are reading the summary of the three chapters of the book of Nahum.

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Nahum

Introduction to Nahum:

Writer: Nahum.

Scope: A contemporary of Jeremiah and Zephaniah, Nahum issues his prophecy during the reign of King Josiah, somewhere between 663 b.c. and 612 b.c. The only information available about Nahum is his hometown, Elkosh, a city which disappeared into history, leaving no trace of its location. In this book bearing his name, the prophet focuses entirely on the city of Nineveh, the capitol of Assyria. He is speaking/writing roughly a century after the Lord had spared Nineveh from destruction because of their repentance under the preaching of the prophet, Jonah.

Chapter 1. Vengeance

Nahum says the Lord will execute vengeance against His enemies:

• Nahum is from the town of Elkosh;
• He announces his prophecy is against the city of Nineveh;
• The Lord is slow to be angry, but He will punish the wicked;
• He can dry up rivers; He can move mountains with earthquakes;
• He can subdue any power with the force of His anger;
• But the Lord is good, and He will defend the good people;
• He knows where the serious wickedness is coming from;
• And He will protect His people from that wicked place;
• Judah should hold fast to their worship of the Lord;
• The wicked enemy will no longer be a threat to them.

Chapter 2. Against

The Lord declares that He will come against the evil city of Nineveh:

• The Lord will restore and protect Judah and Israel;
• They have suffered under the chariots of Nineveh;
• In times past, Nineveh was a thriving prosperous city;
• But now all the (good) people have left the city desolate;
• The Lord says He is against Nineveh, will burn her chariots;
• And that city will be cut off forever.

Chapter 3. Corpses

Nineveh is a violent city with blood spread everywhere, countless corpses:

• The city is known for its cruelty, evil, filthy practices, sorceries;
• Horsemen with swords and chariots, corpses to stumble over;
• The Lord says He will expose the wickedness of that city;
• People everywhere will despise even the name of Nineveh;
• All the men of the city will leave, only women will remain;
• They will be cut up by swords, eaten by locusts;
• Finally, everything left in the city will be set on fire;
• City walls will be torn down, gates will be burned;
• The leaders of Assyria have abandoned Nineveh;
• The wickedness of that place is well-known everywhere;
• All nations will applaud the fall and desolation of Nineveh.

End of the summary of the book of Nahum.