A prophecy concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the
Elkoshite. Nahum 1:1
The
prophet Nahum spoke this prophecy against the city of Nineveh, the capitol of
Assyria. God had enough of Assyrian rule
and vowed to take the nation down. He used
Babylon to defeat Assyrian dominance at the battle of Carchemish in 605 BC. Nahum probably wrote this around the mid 600
BC (663-654 BC).
Assyria
wiped out the northern nation of Israel (ten tribes) and was closing in on the
southern nation (two tribes).
A century before, God sent Jonah to Nineveh to save the Assyrians. A century later the city forgot their pledges
to God and were more evil then ever. God
could not stand around and watch them any longer. Though Assyria had a powerful army (numerous like
locusts, with advanced chariots and military weaponry), God was not deterred.
“I am against you,”
declares the Lord Almighty.
“I will burn up your chariots in smoke,
and the sword will devour your young lions.
I will leave you no prey on the earth.
The voices of your messengers
will no longer be heard.” Nahum 2:13
declares the Lord Almighty.
“I will burn up your chariots in smoke,
and the sword will devour your young lions.
I will leave you no prey on the earth.
The voices of your messengers
will no longer be heard.” Nahum 2:13
The
Assyrians tried to ally with Egypt (mentioned in Nahum 3:9) but God allowed
Babylon to easily take them both down in the battle of Carchemish.
Nothing can heal you;
your wound is fatal.
All who hear the news about you
clap their hands at your fall,
for who has not felt
your endless cruelty? Nahum 3:19
your wound is fatal.
All who hear the news about you
clap their hands at your fall,
for who has not felt
your endless cruelty? Nahum 3:19
When God wants to annihilate a
nation, he can. Nothing stands in his way.