Title: Nineveh's Destruction / Nahum Chapter 2
Description Nineveh's destruction (Nahum 2)
The invasion of Nineveh and related events are discussed. The account here is similar to the events after the death of the great Assyrian king, Ashurbanabal, in 626 BC (vv. 1-6). The tragedy in the city (vv. 7-10) and the despair of Assyria (vv. 11-13) are vividly described here.
1. There is a siege of Nineveh
“The destroyer has come up against you” (verse 1). “He that destroys is the Media.” They settled in the region between the Caspian Sea and Assyria, and under the leadership of their king, Cyaxares, would invade the old Sam people. They are expanding their forces and are heading towards the city of Nineveh.
The Prophet Nahum, conscious of this, exhorts “the destroyer has come up against you” (v. 1), ① guard the fortress, ② watch the way, ③ tie your waist, prepare for battle, and ④ increase your strength (v. 1). . The red shields of the invading soldiers and the red robes of the warriors (verse 3) describe the Medes well.
(1) Their attacks are swift. - “The iron of the chariots flashes, and the cypress spears move” (verse 3). “The chariot runs madly in the streets” (v. 4), suggesting that the soldiers are running swiftly in the streets.
(2) There is a degree of destruction. - “The floodgates of the rivers are opened” (verse 6), and the city is captured and ravaged. Here, “river” has a literal meaning, but also has a symbolic meaning, meaning a city street. In a symbolic sense, we experience the tragedy of the opening of the “street gate” and the disappearance of the “royal palace”.
2. There is a ravage in the city
“As ordered, the queen is taken naked, and all her maidens beat her breast and weep like doves” (verse 7).
"Queen", the Hebrew word for Queen Futchab or goddess, can be seen as an expression, but the general view is that it is a queen In the wake of the fall of the country, the figure of the queen is taken captive. ① she is dragged naked ② the maids beat her breast ③ cries like doves (v. 7). Some scholars regard this queen's appearance as the desperate state of Nineveh.
(1) The former state of the city of Nineveh appears. - “It has been like a pool of water from ancient times” (verse 8), and just as the streams of several towns gathered in one place, people from different regions gathered here to enjoy the wealth that Assyria had achieved.
(2) The present state exists. - “Now they all fled” (v. 8). There is no more hope here. People who have gathered are leaving. This is a state in which the casket bursts and the water flows down. After a while there is no water there.
(3) Loss of control. - “Stand, stand, and there is no one to look after” (verse 8). The citizens do not listen to the officials (Jeremiah 36:5, 48:39).
(4) The castle was looted. - “Place silver, plunder gold” (v. 9). The castle's treasures were looted.
(5) There is the expression of the inhabitants. “The inhabitant is discouraged, and his knees stumble against one another, and every loin hurts, and every day loses its light” (verse 10). It is the expression of the few survivors. This expression shows the state of the castle well.
① The inhabitants are discouraged.
② The inhabitants have no hope.
The loss of light in all faces is an expression of hopelessness.
3. The Fall of Nineveh
“Now where is the lion's den?” (verse 11). The reality of the inhabitants of the castle, which formerly commanded the whole world, was symbolized by “lions”.
The cave where the lions dwelt collapsed This shows Nineveh's personal status. In the past, lions enjoyed a leisurely life, but now the situation is different.
(1) Jehovah is their enemy.
(2) The Lord buys their chariots.
(3) The lions destroy with words.
(4) He cuts off the spoil from the earth.
(5) The voice of the dispatcher is never heard again (verse 13).
Nahum prophesies that Nineveh will be overthrown by a stronger force. The “senders” are the ambassadors sent by Nineveh to the Conquest to oversee the tribute. Their voices are not heard again because their power has weakened.