Nahum, The Book of The Prophet

[He. Nachum “Comfortable”]

Courtesy ofAlexander Scourby(Bible Audio)The Book of Nahum

Background: This prophet announces the destruction of Nineveh, capital of Assyria. In the opening verses Nahum speaks of God as “slow to anger” but also that he will not leave the guilty unpunished. It is for this reason that God must now punish Nineveh for extreme cruelty. Ch2,3 are poem about the siege of Nineveh. This took place in 612BC. 3chs

Author: Nahum

Date and Location: The Fall of Thebes (No-Amon, 3:8) which occurred in 663BC had already taken place by Nahum time. Assuming that Nineveh’s fall (focus of Nahum’s prophecy) was yet to come, Nahum’s ministry would be dated sometime between those 2 events. The zeal for feast and vows (1:15) may indicate a time after Josiah’s reforms reaches its end with the rediscovery of the law in 621

Recipients: For the Jews under the Assyria

Purpose:
*To announce Nineveh’s doom
*Affirm God’s control over history
*To assume Judah that God cares for his own

Unique Features:
*Good source of information about Assyria’s destruction. Others: Is (Assyria and Babylon), Jeremiah (Babylon), Obadiah (Edom), Zeph (Judah), Ez (Egypt), Da (Babylon and Persia)
*Na-Obad., were the only prophets pronouncing doom on pagan nation without mentioning Israel’s sin
*Na records Assyria’s cruelty, more ruthless by far than Israel’s other foes

Comparison:Is-Ro
*Deliverance from Assyria (1:5)
*Isa writes some 100yrs uses similar words (Is40:9; 52:7)
*Paul writing some 700yrs later uses similar words (Ro10:15)

Abbreviations: Nah./ Na./ Nh

MV:Face Like an Angel, Ac6:15

Bib1Yr: Ac17-20Escape