Chapter 3

The miserable ruin of Nineveh.

1. Bloody city. That is, a place where blood was shed freely and apparently without any qualms of conscience (see Eze. 24:6, 9; Hab. 2:12). The Assyrian monuments abundantly depict how captives were flayed, decapitated, impaled alive, or hanged by hands and feet to die in slow torture. These and other inhuman practices reveal the cruelty of this nation. Their royal inscriptions continually exult over the number of enemies killed, captives carried off, cities razed and plundered, lands wasted, and fruit trees destroyed.

Robbery. Heb. pereq, “an act of violence,” denoting the violence of the Assyrians in dealing with conquered peoples. The closing clause of v. 1 indicates that this plundering of its victims by the rulers of Nineveh never ceased (see Isa. 33:1).

2. Noise. The prophet here describes the sounds of the advance of the besieging armies, even as he has already described their outward appearance (ch. 2:3, 4). He hears, as it were, the charioteers’ cracking of whips, the rumble of chariot wheels, the galloping horses, and the leaping forward of the chariots.

3. Multitude. So many were slain that the living warriors “stumble” over them, and are delayed in their progress.

4. Whoredoms. An expression used figuratively of idolatry (see Eze. 23:27; Hosea 1:2; 4:12, 13; Hosea 5:4). Idolatry was another reason for Assyria’s fall. Inasmuch as Assyrian idolatry was grossly immoral, to designate it as “whoredoms” was doubly fitting (see on 2 Kings 9:22).

5. Against thee. See on ch. 2:13.

Lord of hosts. See on Jer. 7:3.

Discover thy skirts. Literally, “uncover thy skirts” (see Isa. 3:17; 47:3; Eze. 16:37; see on Jer. 13:26). Because of Nineveh’s “whoredoms” (see Nahum 3:4) God will punish her most ignominiously, as a harlot.

6. Filth. Heb. shiqqus, “a detested thing,” generally used of something connected with idol worship.

A gazingstock. The LXX reads “a public example” (see Matt. 1:19). Continuing the figure of the “harlot” (Nahum 3:4), the prophet foretells that Nineveh would suffer the ignominy and ill-treatment that such a woman might receive from the rabble (see Eze. 16:37–40).

7. Shall flee. A figure indicating the extreme punishment to come upon Nineveh, for the terrible sight would cause the beholder to hasten away.

Who will bemoan her? A rhetorical question indicating that none will feel sorry for her inasmuch as she deserved to be punished (see Jer. 15:5, 6).

8. Populous No. Heb. NoХ ХAmon, the city of the Egyptian god Amen; that is, the city of Thebes in Upper Egypt (see Jer. 46:25; Eze. 30:14–16). This celebrated city, with its tombs of the kings, its colossi and sphinxes, its great temples of Karnak and Luxor with their massive columns and colonnades, was superbly situated on the Nile, as was Nineveh on the Tigris. Nahum here serves warning to Nineveh that, in the sight of Heaven, she is no better than Thebes and can as easily meet with the same fate. Thebes had been destroyed in 663 b.c. by Ashurbanipal, king of Assyria.

The sea. Here used to refer to the Nile River. In the OT large rivers were sometimes called “seas” (see Isa. 19:5; Jer. 51:36). The closing clause simply means that the Nile with its canals constituted the “wall,” or the defenses, of Thebes.

9. Ethiopia. Or, Cush, mainly the classical Nubia, or the modern Sudan (see on Gen. 10:6). The king who ruled over Egypt at the time of the destruction of Thebes was Tanutamon, the successor and nephew of Taharka, the Biblical Tirhakah. In the OT Tirhakah is called the “king of Ethiopia” (see on 2 Kings 19:9), because he belonged to the Twenty-fifth, or “Ethiopian,” Dynasty of Egypt (see Vol. II, pp. 52, 53).

Egypt. Egypt proper, whose people, joined with the Nubians, constituted a power that was “infinite,” or “without number,” so to speak (2 Chron. 12:3).

Put. Thought by many Egyptologists to refer to Punt, but by Assyriologists to be a part of Libya (see on Eze. 27:10).

Lubim. The Libyans (see on 2 Chron. 12:3).

10. Carried away. The strength of Thebes and her apparently unlimited resources, including the help of her confederates, did not save her from being captured (see on v. 8).

Dashed in pieces. Part of the usual cruel treatment often handed out to conquered cities in ancient times (see 2 Kings 8:12; Ps. 137:9; Isa. 13:16).

11. Thou also. The prophet returns to addressing Nineveh.

Be hid. The meaning here probably is that Nineveh would reveal no power to resist.

13. Women. The hitherto bold, brave Assyrian men would be as “women,” in the sense that they would not be able to resist and defeat the besieging armies (see on Hosea 10:5).

14. Fortify. That is, strengthen places in the fortifications that may be weak. The prophet, speaking with a touch of irony, bids Nineveh do everything possible to prepare for a long, hard siege.

Brickkiln. Literally, “brick mold.”

15. There. In spite of every care taken to strengthen these needful places in the fortifications, “fire” will “devour” the city. Archeology has clearly shown that this prophecy was literally fulfilled.

Cankerworm. Heb. yeleq, the creeping, unwinged stage of the locust (see Ps. 105:34; Jer. 51:14, 27; Joel 1:4; 2:25). Evidently the prophet used this figure here and in the following verse to show that the destruction of Nineveh would be as sudden and complete as that wrought on vegetation by these insects.

Make thyself many. Though the Assyrians should assemble armies as numerous as the hordes of cankerworms, or locusts, it would avail them nothing.

16. Thy merchants. Nineveh was advantageously situated to carry on an extensive commerce with other countries. But these trade relationships would be of no avail to her. The destruction effected by her enemies would be swift and complete.

17. Captains. Heb. taphsarim, “tablet writers,” or “scribes” (see on Jer. 51:27). The term here used signifies military officers of high rank. These officials are often pictured on the monuments. As locusts become inactive and inert in “cold” weather, so these Assyrian leaders and officials would become powerless in the city’s crisis. The only thing left for the Assyrian army was to “flee away,” that is, to perish and disappear.

18. Shepherds slumber. The leaders of the nation are here represented, either as being asleep to their responsibilities or as being actually killed in battle, “sleeping” the sleep of death.

Scattered. With their leaders gone, the people of Nineveh can no longer offer an effective resistance to their enemies.

19. No healing. Literally, “no lessening,” or “no relief.”

Bruit. Heb. shemaФ, “a report” (see Gen. 29:13; Ex. 23:1; Deut. 2:25; etc.). At the news of Nineveh’s downfall, the surrounding nations are pictured as clapping their hands in joy because it will mean the end of Assyria’s ceaseless “wickedness” and relentless oppression. The prophet ends his message on a note of certainty and finality. Assyria has received its day of grace; but now it is useless to offer mercy longer.

Ellen G. White comments

1    PK 265

1–5PK 363

19        PK 265