Nahum Background
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(7) Minor Prophets, jrg Nahum Background As I go over Nahum there is one question I want to think about as this will be a point of discussion. How does Nahum’s message apply to us in today’s world? Nahum - this Hebrew name translates to “counselor” or “comforter”. Little is known about Nahum. He is identified as an Elkoshite. The where about’s of “Elkosh” are not known. Scholars speculate on various ancient middle east locations but there is no consensus. One mentioned in several sources was Capernaum, which means “the village of Nahum” on the Sea of Galilee. Nahum was an exceptional writer using a poetic structure, eloquence, and dramatic, descriptive language in powerful ways to convey a hopeful message to Judah and the wrath of God upon Nineveh/Assyria. Among the twelve minor prophets he is dubbed the Poet Prophet. Historical Context: When was this written? Scholars estimate Nahum was written between 663 and 612 BC. This 40 year window was derived from statements in the book of Nahum. He mentions Thebes (No Amon) in Egypt falling to the Assyrians (663 BC) in the past tense, so it had already happened. The future destruction of Nineveh is described as coming. Nineveh was destroyed in 612 BC. Nahum most likely was living in Jerusalem and may have witnessed Sennacherib, King of Assyria attempt to destroy Jerusalem in (701 BC). His prophecy had to be before 612 BC. The Oppressors - Assyrians. They were the first ancient middle east super power. Assyrian kings were brutal to the people they conquered. This is well documented in history by many sources. More on that later. But I thought Nineveh had turned back to God … A 150 years after Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah, she returned to idolatry, violence, and arrogance (3:1-4). Assyria was at the height of her power, having recovered from Sennacherib’s defeat (701 BC), at Jerusalem (Isa. 37:36-38). Her borders extended all the way into Egypt. King Esarhaddon had recently transplanted conquered peoples into Samaria and Galilee (in 670 BC; 2 Kings 17:24; Ezra 4:2), leaving Syria and Palestine very weak. "1 (7) Minor Prophets, jrg Nahum Historically who took Nineveh down? Babylon’s king Nabopolassar and his son, Nebuchadnezzar (612 BC). The Medes (pre-Persian empire) had a hand in their defeat as well. Assyria’s demise turned out just as Naham had prophesied. ! Timelines & Location of Empires " ! "2 (7) Minor Prophets, jrg Nahum " ! Theological Themes: ! Nahum presents Yahweh as the sovereign warrior God who takes just vengeance on his enemies, yet in his goodness saves those who take refuge in him. He is sovereign over all things, people, nations, and history itself. While slow to anger, he will not tolerant sin forever. A major theme throughout the Bible.! Nahum, as God’s voice for this period, states his case against Nineveh/Assyria. The tone is severe with judgement, calling calamity/curses on Nineveh as an enemy to God. This direct merciless style is found in some of the Psalms.! The people of Nineveh had forgotten Jonah’s message and warning from 150 years earlier. They had returned to gross sin, vicious cruelty, and bloodshed. They had no regard for people as many of the records of the statements of Sennarcherib and Erarhadddon, and Ashurbanipal and other kings make clear. God had enough of their sin and Nahum was his instrument to declare judgment. It gives God no pleasure to judge, but he delights in salvation. History reveals people and nations who want nothing to do with God and who must therefore su#er just retribution. People are not autonomous beings. Made in the image of God and with God’s design for relationship they are responsible to him. For all humankind will be judged. New Testament references on God’s judgement.! "3 (7) Minor Prophets, jrg Nahum Romans 14: 10-12 (NIV) % 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV). You, then, why do you judge your brother For we must all appear before the or sister? Or why do you treat them with judgment seat of Christ, so that each of contempt? For we will all stand before us may receive what is due us for the God’s judgment seat. It is written:! things done while in the body, whether good or bad. “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’” ! So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. About Nineveh The people of Nineveh were proud of their well fortified city, with her walls reaching 100 feet high and with a moat 150 feet wide and 60 feet deep. Formidable. It was a major hub of commerce and contained much of the wealth taken from other nations.! Illustration recreating Nineveh at the height of its grandeur.! "4 (7) Minor Prophets, jrg Nahum " ! Assyrian Arrogance, Cruelty, & Military Might Here are only two quotes taken to give an example of Assyrian arrogance.! “As for the King of Judah, Hezekiah, who had not submitted to my authority, I besieged and captured forty-six of his fortified cities, along with many smaller towns, take-in battle with my batter rams, … As for Hezekiah, I shut him up like a caged bird in his royal city of Jerusalem. I then constructed a series of fortresses around him, and did not allow anyone to come out of the city gates.” % - King Sennacherib (805-681 BC) “ I am powerful, I am omnipotent, I am a hero, I am gigantic, I am colossal!” % - King Esarshaddon (680-669 BC) "5 (7) Minor Prophets, jrg Nahum The Assyrian cruelty to those they defeated were extraordinary. These reliefs are artifacts found in excavated palaces in Iraq. They capture some of the cruelty showing Assyrians dismembering conquered tribes/peoples, skinning them alive, and using their heads on pyramids. These were psychologic tools to generate extreme fear from rebels or other nations. Their military sophistication with weapons and tactics were remarkable for their times. They were one of the first to make use of iron, mass produce weapons, create battering rams inside rolling towers, and use an archery buddy system to protect archers while reloading. They created an air sack to allow warriors to swim underwater undetected.! Assyrian victors would send those conquered to other regions of their empire. Dispersing people. ! " " " ! "6 (7) Minor Prophets, jrg Nahum Literary Structure Nahum uses an elegant literary structure. Chiastic or ‘ring’ pattern. For example, the structure ABBA refers to two ideas (A and B) repeated in reverse order (B and A). Often, a chiasm includes another idea in the middle of the repetition: ABXBA. Chapter 1 uses a partial acrostic of the Hebrew alphabet. Chiastic pattern below is taken from The Message of the Twelve (Hearing the Voice of the Minor Prophets), Book of Nahum! By Al Fuhr, Gary Yates! • Call to celebrate ( 1:15)! • The Prophets Vision (2:1-10)! • The Prophets Taunt (2:11-12)! • Declaration of Yahweh (2:13)! • Woe Oracle (3:1-4)! • Declaration of Yahweh (3:5-7)! • The Prophet’s Taunt (3:8-13)! • The Prophet’s Vision (3:14-17)! • Call to Celebrate (3:18-19)! Nahum uses similes and metaphors extensively. In the Hebrew there is a staccato tempo in his word choices and sentences. A merciless tone is directed to Nineveh.! Nahum 1: 1-16 Chapter one is a broader statement of God’s character, his stance against evil, his desire to protect his people, and ultimately deal with those nations who are evil. 1 A prophecy concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite. 2 The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;! Call to Celebrate the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath.! Nahum 1:2-15! The Lord takes vengeance on his foes! - a sovereign God in verses 2-5 and vents his wrath against his enemies. 3 The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; God’s character and might the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm,! and clouds are the dust of his feet. "7 (7) Minor Prophets, jrg Nahum 4 He rebukes the sea and dries it up;! God’s power he makes all the rivers run dry.! Bashan and Carmel wither! and the blossoms of Lebanon fade. 5 The mountains quake before him! God’s power and the hills melt away.! The earth trembles at his presence,! the world and all who live in it. 6 Who can withstand his indignation?! God’s righteousness Who can endure his fierce anger?! His wrath is poured out like fire;! the rocks are shattered before him. 7 The Lord is good, God cares for his followers a refuge in times of trouble. and provides refuge. He cares for those who trust in him, 8 but with an overwhelming flood Historic fact: it happened he will make an end of Nineveh;! when the Tigris River overflowed to destroy he will pursue his foes into the realm of darkness. enough of the walls to let the Babylonians through. 9 Whatever they plot against the Lord! he will bring to an end;! trouble will not come a second time. 10 They will be entangled among thorns! and drunk from their wine;! they will be consumed like dry stubble. 11 From you, Nineveh, has one come forth! who plots evil against the Lord! and devises wicked plans. 12 This is what the Lord says:% God’s lovingkindness “Although they have allies and are numerous,% they will be destroyed and pass away.% Although I have a'icted you, Judah,% I will a'ict you no more.