CRITICAL NOTES.]
Nahum 3:5. Discover] Language suggested by preceding metaphor of an harlot; referring to the custom of stripping captives, male and female, and exposing them to nakedness and insult.
Nahum 3:6. Gazing-stock] A warning to others (Ezekiel 28:17).
Nahum 3:7.] She will be an object of disgust, none will pity the devastated city, for her doom is deserved.
HOMILETICS
RETRIBUTIVE PUNISHMENT.—Nahum 3:5-7
Nineveh is represented in her virgin splendour, and her punishment under the figure of that which is disgraceful to a woman (cf. Isaiah 47:3, and Habakkuk 2:10). God is against her, and her shame shall correspond to her conduct. As she uncovered others, so shall she be uncovered.
I. She will be exposed to nakedness and shame. “I will discover thy skirts upon thy face.” Her long flowing robes, which were part of her pomp and dignity, but which veiled her misdeeds and pride, shall be lifted up as high as possible (Jeremiah 13:22). She will be treated as a harlot, and stripped of her glory and defence. Her face shall blush in fear, and the consciousness of guilt will be read in her features. Nations shall see her nakedness, avoid and despise her. The same means will be taken to display her lewdness that she used to commit it. “I will even gather them round about against thee, will discover thy nakedness unto them, that they may see all thy nakedness.”
II. She will be disgraced and insulted. As infamous harlots will she be treated.
1. Made a gazing-stock to men. “I will set thee as a gazing-stock.” The city once feared and renowned shall become a warning to others, and exposed to public infamy. “I will cast thee to the ground; before kings will I give thee, for them to gaze upon thee.”
2. Treated with contempt by God himself. “I will cast abominable filth upon thee.” She had done abominable things before God (Jeremiah 13:27), which she had forgotten, but God will punish her with abominable things. Filth shall be cast upon her and she will be made vile.
III. She will be unpitied and forsaken. “It shall come to pass that all they that look upon thee shall flee from thee.” She would be set to be gazed at, and the effects on those who gaze are described.
1. Unpitied. “Who will bemoan her?” There will be none to comfort and relieve her. Unwept and unhonoured, she will fall into the grave. Human misery excites pity, but none pay Nineveh the tribute of sympathy. Those who show no pity to others will find none for themselves.
2. Forsaken. She had measured friendship by profit, and forsaken those who did not trust in her. Now she is repayed, and becomes a terror to all round about her. Such will be the portion of all who disregard God and live for self. They will be stripped of all adornments, bereft of all comfort, and thrown into eternal misery. “These two things are come unto thee; who shall be sorry for thee?—desolation and destruction, and the famine, and the sword; by whom shall I comfort thee?”