Nahum

Introduction 1:1 The oracle against Nineveh; the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite: God Takes Vengeance against His Enemies 1:2 The LORD is a zealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and very angry. The LORD takes vengeance against his foes; he sustains his rage against his enemies. 1:3 The LORD is slow to anger but great in power; the LORD will certainly not allow the wicked to go unpunished. The Divine Warrior Destroys His Enemies but Protects His People He marches out in the whirlwind and the raging storm; dark storm clouds billow like dust under his feet. 1:4 He shouts a battle cry against the sea and makes it dry up; he makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither; the blossom of Lebanon withers. 1:5 The mountains tremble before him, the hills convulse; the earth is

Proclamation of the Destruction of Nineveh 2:1 (2:2) The watchmen of Nineveh shout: “An enemy who will scatter you is marching out to attack you!” “Guard the rampart! Watch the road! Prepare yourselves for battle! Muster your mighty strength!” 2:2 For the LORD will restore the majesty of Jacob, as well as the majesty of Israel, though their enemies have plundered them and have destroyed their fields. Prophetic Vision of the Fall of Nineveh 2:3 The shields of his warriors are dyed red; the mighty soldiers are dressed in scarlet garments. The metal fittings of the chariots shine like fire on the day of battle; the soldiers brandish their spears. 2:4 The chariots race madly through the streets, they rush back and forth in the broad plazas; they look like lightning bolts, they dash here and there like flashes of lightning. 2:5 The commander orders his

Reason for Judgment: Sins of Nineveh 3:1 Woe to the city guilty of bloodshed! She is full of lies; she is filled with plunder; she has hoarded her spoil! Portrayal of the Destruction of Nineveh 3:2 The chariot drivers will crack their whips; the chariot wheels will shake the ground; the chariot horses will gallop; the war chariots will bolt forward! 3:3 The charioteers will charge ahead; their swords will flash and their spears will glimmer! There will be many people slain; there will be piles of the dead, and countless casualties – so many that people will stumble over the corpses. Taunt against the Harlot City 3:4 “Because you have acted like a wanton prostitute – a seductive mistress who practices sorcery, who enslaves nations by her harlotry, and entices peoples by her sorcery – 3:5 I am against you,” declares the LORD who commands armies. “I