Nahum 1 - Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

burden. Compare Isaiah 13:1 Isaiah 27:13. See the Structure, p. 930), and Habakkuk.. A prophetic oracle: or, the prophetic doom of Nineveh, written about ninety (603-514. B.C.) years before Nineveh's doom; and while the Assyrian Empire was at its height. The doom of Nineveh came therefore 176 years after Jonah's mission. The prophecy was addressed to Nahum's own People, but as. menace to Nineveh.

Nineveh. This heading is not "undoubtedly by. later hand", as alleged. The words "the place thereof" (Nahum 1:8) would be unintelligible without it. Nineveh is not mentioned again until Nahum 2:8. and is only hinted at elsewhere (Nahum 3:1; Nahum 3:18). The Structure below is the best commentary.

vision. Like Isaiah, always one whole. Not written before or separately from, its deliverance.

Nahum. the compassionate, or consoler. The name refers back to Jehovah's compassion connected with Jonah's mission eighty-seven years before. Nothing is known of Nahum beyond his book.

Elkoshite. Hebrew. 'Elkoshi.. village of this name exists to-day, twentyfour miles north of Nineveh (now Konyunjik). See Layard's Nineveh and its Remains, i. p. 233.

GOD. Hebrew El. App-4.

jealous. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 20:5-7; Deuteronomy 4:24). App-92. See the Structure (book comments for Nahum), and note the subjects of "A" and "A"; "B" and "B"; "C" and "C".

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4. Note the Figure of speech Epizeuxis (App-6), for great emphasis.

revengeth. avengeth.

is furious. a possessor of wrath. Hebrew "lord of wrath".

take vengeance on. be an Avenger to.

wrath. Figure of speech Ellipsis (Absolute). App-6.

for. against.

slow to anger. long-suffering. Reference to Pentateuch (Ex. Nah 34:6, Nah 34:7). App-92. Hebrew "Long of anger". The opposite of Proverbs 14:17. Compare Jonah 4:2.

great. Compare Job 9:4. and see the Structure "-3-5", above.

will not, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 34:7; Numbers 14:18).

acquit. clear, or hold guiltless.

He rebuketh the sea. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 14.) Compare Psalms 106:9.

and drieth up, &c. Compare Joshua 4:23.Psalms 74:15.

The mountains quake, &c. Compare Micah 1:3; Micah 1:4.

burned. upheaved.

world. Hebrew. tebel. the world as inhabited.

abide. stand up. Compare Jeremiah 10:10; Malachi 3:2.

good. See the Structure "7", above. Compare 1 Chronicles 16:34.Psalms 100:5.Jeremiah 33:11.Lamentations 3:25.

strong hold. a place of safety.

He knoweth, &c. Compare Psalms 1:6; 2 Timothy 2:12.

trust in. flee for refuge to. Hebrew. hasah. App-69.

But, &c. Note the transition in Nahum 1:8, which is explained by the Structure "8", above.

the place thereof. Hebrew her place: i.e. Nineveh's. See note on title above (Nahum 1:1).

imagine. devise. Compare Psalms 2:1.

affliction. distress, or trouble; Hebrew. zarar, as in Nahum 1:7, i.e. the trouble that now threatens Nineveh.

the second time. Referring to the rising up after Jonah's proclamation. Compare "rise", Jeremiah 51:64. Same word as "abide", Nahum 1:6, above.

folden. entangled.

thorns. The emblem of hostile armies (Isaiah 10:17; Isaiah 27:4).

of. Genitive of Origin. App-17.

thee: i.e. Nineveh (feminine)

evil. Hebrew. ra'a. App-44.

a wicked counsellor. a counselor of Belial. The counsellor probably. Rabshakeh; and Belial. Sennacherib. See note on p. 1261.

quiet. secure.

cut down. cut down (like dry stubble).

when he, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 12:12). Compare Isaiah 8:8; Daniel 11:10.

-12 Though, &c. = And [now,. Judah], &c. Through not seeing the Structure and the change of subject at "-12-14", modern critics say "the first part of this verse is certainly more or less corrupt"; and they alter the Hebrew text to make it agree with the last clause, the subject changing there to the removal of evil from Judah.

thee: i.e. Judah (Nahum 1:13).

will. break, &c. Reference to Pant. (Genesis 27:40). App-92.

his yoke. Some codices read "his rod".

no more of thy name, &c.: i.e. the dynasty of Nineveh should end.

make. make [it]: i.e. "the house of thy gods".

grave. sepulchre. Hebrew. keber. See note on Genesis 23:4. App-35.

vile. despicable. Compare Isaiah 37:37; Isaiah 37:38.

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos (App-6), for emphasis, calling attention to the reference to Isaiah 52:7, the the hypotheticalsecond Isaiah, 100 years before he is supposed by modern critics to have lived.

keep thy solemn feasts. Figure of speech. Polyptoton. App-6. Hebrew "feast thy solemn feasts": used for great emphasis. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 16:16, &c.; Nah 23:21, &c). App-92.

the wicked. Hebrew [the man of] Belial. See note on Nahum 1:11.