Nahum Introduction

Starter Quote

The ESV Study Bible History of Salvation Summary

Although God had used the Assyrians to chasten the wayward southern kingdom, he did not allow Judah to be annihilated. God’s plan, that the Messiah would come from the line of David, would not be thwarted. The religious feasts of Judah, which God encouraged them to keep (1:15), would have reminded them of the future Savior.

Background Information

Author

Nahum of Elkosh

Compassion or comfort

Date

Approximately 660-612 BC

Audience

Judahites

Nahum was written in Hebrew, not Akkadian

Assyria was used by God to discipline Judah due to their disobedience to Yahweh

The opening hymn splits Judah into two camps:

Those who trust Yahweh even in the midst of divine punishment

Those who have no interest in following Yahweh

Assyria via Nineveh

Nineveh was an incredibly evil city and a prominent enemy of Israel

The Assyrians would be judged by Yahweh through battle with Him

The Judeans knew the Assyrian’s future, but Assyria was unaware

The Judeans should patiently wait for Yahweh’s intervention

Nineveh ultimately destroyed by the Babylonians in 612 BC

Genre

Prophetic

This letter is an oracle of judgment against Nineveh, the capital of Assyria

Battle Story

God, the Divine Warrior, wars against Assyria, wins the battle, and offers no redemption afterwards

Outline of Book

Nahum 1 - God’s Righteous Anger

Nahum 1:1 - Title and Author

Nahum 1:2-8 - Announcing Assyria’s Destruction and Judah’s Salvation

Nahum 2:1-3:19 - Nineveh’s Fall

Nahum 2:1-13 - Nineveh and Assyria will be Destroyed

Nahum 3:1-7 - Woe!

Nahum 3:8-19 - Song of Taunting

Purpose of Nahum

The purpose of Nahum is to reveal Yahweh as the great Divine Warrior who issues judgment against the Assyrians and rescues His people and the Messianic seed

Theology

Theocentric

Yahweh as the Divine Warrior

Quotes on the book of Nahum

Daniel–Malachi Preaching from Nahum

Preaching from Nahum depends, first of all, on understanding the differences between the eschatological context of 1:2–8 and the historically specific nature of the fall of Assyria predicted in the rest of the book. The two parts of the book are clearly linked, but the opening hymn presents an ultimate judgment that includes all of humanity and that is rendered exclusively in accordance with the individual’s relationship to God. Each person is either God’s enemy or one who trusts in him for deliverance from his wrath against sin, and one’s nationality plays no role whatsoever in this final judgment.

Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah: An Introduction and Commentary (Snyman) 3. An Outline of the Theological Message of Nahum

The book of Nahum thus reveals God to us in a unique way. He is at the same time the good God as well as the God who takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. His wrath is a manifestation of his righteousness. He is the mighty God of nature as well as the mighty God of world events, and therefore his people may put their trust in him and, in so doing, keep on hoping for a future of peace.

Purpose of Nahum

The purpose of Nahum is to reveal Yahweh as the great Divine Warrior who issues judgment against the Assyrians and rescues His people and the Messianic seed