Introduction to Nahum

Authorship and Date of Nahum

The Assyrians destroyed the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 722 BC. They conquered Egyptian Thebes—now Luxor—(Nah. 3:8–10) in 664 BC and reached the height of their power in 640 BC.

Nahum was written in the middle of the seventh century BC, when Assyria was still in power, between 664 and 612 BC.

Outline of Nahum

1. Superscription (1:1)
2. God’s wrath against Nineveh (1:2–15)
3. The destruction of Nineveh (2:1–13)
4. Woe to Nineveh (3:1–19)

The Message of Nahum

The main message of the book is that God will punish the arrogant Assyrian Empire. Nahum predicts that the Babylonians will conquer Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrians—fulfilled in 612 BC.

Nahum’s message of judgment on Assyria is intended as a message of comfort to the remnant (1:12–13, 15; 2:2; cf. Isa. 10:24–25). The books of Nahum and Obadiah are the only two prophetic books that are entirely oracles against the nations.

Afflictions of Assyria Against Israel and Judah (ESV Study Bible)

Assyrian King	Reign	Affliction	Biblical References
Shalmaneser III	858–824 BC	Exacted tribute from Jehu	—
Adad-nirari III	811–783 BC	Exacted tribute from Jehoash	2 Kings 13:25
Tiglath-pileser III	745–727 BC	Invaded the land and exacted tribute	2 Kings 15:19–20, 29; 16:5–10
Shalmaneser IV	727–722 BC	Destruction of Northern Kingdom	2 Kings 17:3–6; 18:9–12
Sennacherib	705–681 BC	Invaded Judah	2 Kings 18:13–19:37
Esarhaddon	681–669 BC	Exacted tribute from Manasseh	2 Kings 19:37
Ashurbanipal	669–627 BC	Exacted tribute	—

Themes (ESV Study Bible, Modified)

1. God is jealous, avenging, wrathful, slow to anger, great in power, and good (1:2–3, 7).
2. God had used Assyria as his scourge on unfaithful Israel and Judah (see table above), but he in turn brought well-deserved judgment on Assyria (cf. Isa. 10:5–19).
3. Nineveh fell because it was a godless and idolatrous city—a city of violence, lust, and greed.
4. Key verse: “The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him” (1:7).
5. The book follows an alternating pattern of vengeance upon Assyria and comfort for God’s people (1:12–13, 15; 2:2).

How Can Nahum Be Reconciled with Jonah?

The Problem

• In Jonah, God had mercy on the Assyrians. He sent Jonah to preach that judgment was coming in order to give them a chance to repent and be spared.
• In Nahum, God’s attitude toward the Assyrians appears changed: now God is unrelenting.

Reconciliation

• It is not God who changed, but the Assyrians.
• God gave them a chance to repent.
• For a time, “they repented at the preaching of Jonah” (Matt. 12:41; Luke 11:32).
• But, like Pharaoh, the Assyrian people subsequently hardened their hearts and became arrogant and boastful (Isa. 10:13–15).
• Nahum 1:2–3 depicts God as both a God of mercy and wrath, echoing Exodus 34:6–7.

Assyria’s Sins

• Plotting against the LORD (1:9, 11)
• Vile idolatry and carved images (1:14)
• Excessive wealth at the expense of others (2:9; 3:16)
• Being a bloody city (3:1)
• Plundering others (3:1)
• Excessive killing and brutality (3:2–3)
• Enticing others to idolatry (3:4)
• Unceasing evil (3:19)

“Behold, I am against you, declares the LORD of hosts”
— twice: 2:13; 3:5

New Testament Allusions to Nahum

Nahum	New Testament
1:6	Rev. 6:17: “… for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”
1:15	Rom. 10:15 (Isa. 52:7): “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (cf. Eph. 6:15)
3:4	Rev. 17:2; 18:3: Babylon, the harlot who seduced the nations with her idolatry and immorality.

Nahum’s vision of the day of the LORD had an initial fulfillment in 612 BC, but it will have its ultimate fulfillment at the end, when Christ returns to judge all his and our enemies and vindicate his suffering people (the Book of Revelation).