Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.
Ver. 5. Her adversaries are the chief.] Heb, Are for the head. This was threatened. Deuteronomy 28:13,14 ; Deu 28:43-44 This, when it happens, is a great grief to the godly. Therefore the prophet Nahum, for the comfort of God's Israel, is wholly in setting forth the destruction of their enemies, the Assyrians.
Her enemies prosper.] See Jeremiah 12:1. They prevail, and do what they wish; so that there seemeth to be neither hope of better, nor place for worse.
For the Lord hath afflicted her.] Not so much her adversaries and enemies, or her oppressors and haters, as the words properly signify - that is, those that oppress them in action, and hate them in affection. a
Her children are gone into captivity.] Those that were able to go; for the rest were slain. Lam 4:9
Before the enemy.] Driven before them, as cattle.
a Cavet Scriptura ne haec potestas detur adversariis. - Oecolamp.