The Avenging Wrath of Yahweh. Yahweh is a jealous and vengeful God sensitive to the honour of Himself and His people who marcheth through whirlwind and storm to save them from the enemy. Before His presence sea and rivers dry up, Bashan, Carmel, and Lebanon wither, the mountains quake and the earth itself is upheaved. How then can mortal man face the glow of His anger? To such as trust in Him He is a stronghold in the day of trouble; but His adversaries He thrusteth into darkness, taking not vengeance twice, but making a full end of them and all their devices. Though for a time He may remain silent, He is storing up wrath against them; and all of them shall be mown down like thorns, or burnt in the fire as stubble.
Nahum 1:2 b (the N stanza) ought clearly to follow Nahum 1:9 a, while Nahum 1:3 a is an interpolation (from Exodus 34:6 f.) modifying the severity of the opening words. The B stanza is found in Nahum 1:3 b, the description of Yahweh's march through storm and tempest.
Nahum 1:4. Bashan, Carmel, and Lebanon were proverbial for fertility and foliage.
Nahum 1:6. are broken asunder: rather, are kindled (transposing the middle letters).
Nahum 1:7 f. Using suggestions from the Versions, render somewhat as follows: Yahweh is good unto those that wait for Him a stronghold in the day of trouble. He knoweth such as take refuge in Him, and in the overflowing flood He delivereth them. A full end doth He make of them that rise up against Him, and His enemies He driveth into darkness.
Nahum 1:9. Transposing the clauses (as the alphabetical scheme demands) read, He taketh not vengeance twice on His foes (LXX), but an utter end He doth make (of them). What then do ye devise against Yahweh?
Nahum 1:10. The text here is hopelessly tangled and corrupt, but with certain changes and omissions of letters (noted in Kittel's text) the following sense may be extracted: Like thorns cut down are they all, As dry stubble they are burnt in the fire (cf. Isaiah 33:12).