Nahum Simplified

Title & Author

The Book is Named After the Author, Nahum of Elkosh

Nahum = Comfort

The Message Given to Him By God Brings Comfort to Judah

The Location of Elkosh is Unknown

Date

This Prophecy Took Place Somewhere Between 663-612 B.C.

Nahum 3:8-10 Refers to the Fall of the City of Thebes Which Happened in 663 B.C.

But the Entire Book of Nahum Refers to a Future Time When Nineveh, Assyria Will Fall

Nineveh Would Fall in 612 B.C.

Nahum Prophesied After the Fall of Northern Israel to Assyria…

But Before the Fall of Assyria to Babylon

Judah was Still Under the Control of Assyria at the Time of Nahum’s Prophesying

Purpose

Nahum was Sent By God to Announce the Fall of Nineveh and the Complete Overthrow of Assyria

The Book of Nahum is a Sequel to and Dramatic Contrast With the Book of Jonah

Jonah’s Mission was to Warn Nineveh of Their Coming Judgement

But They Repented and God Showed Mercy

Obviously Their Repentance Didn’t Last Very Long

Because In Nahum, God’s Judgement is Coming Upon Nineveh Again

But This Time God’s Wrath Will Not Be Averted

Assyria Will Be Erased From History

Key Words

“All” is Used 12 Times in Nahum

Signifies the “Complete” and “Total” Destruction of Nineveh, Assyria

“Eat/Consume” is Used 6 Times in Nahum

Nineveh, Assyria Will Be Consumed/Devoured

Key Themes

Overall Theme:

Nineveh, the Capital of Assyria Will Be Destroyed

Sub-Themes:

God is Slow to Anger, But Will Not Leave the Guilty Unpunished

God is Powerful, and No One Can Withstand Him

God is Good to Those Who Trust in Him

God Once Used Assyria to Punish Israel, But Now Assyria Will Receive Their Well-Deserved Punishment

Assyria was Idolatrous, Violent, Lustful, and Greedy

Outline

Nineveh’s Judge (1)

Nineveh’s Judgement (2-3)

Nahum in the New Testament

There is One Verse that is Very Similar to a Prophecy in Isaiah that is Quoted in Romans

Isaiah 52:7 (NASB95)

How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Nahum 1:15 (NASB95)

Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace! Celebrate your feasts, O Judah; Pay your vows. For never again will the wicked one pass through you; He is cut off completely.

The Good News that is Being Brought…

The Announcement of Peace…

Is That Assyrian Oppression is Coming to an End

God is Coming to Destroy Our Enemies and Bring Us Peace and Prosperity

This Good News Judah was Looking Forward to is a Foreshadowing of the Gospel of Christ

Romans 10:11–15 (NASB95)

For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”

The Gospel of King Jesus is of Future Deliverance From Our Enemies and Peace and Prosperity to Us

Nahum = Comfort

The Prophecy of Nahum Brought Comfort to an Oppressed Grieving People

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