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.