Nahum
Chapter 1
Oracle against Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.
Theophany and Judgment
The Lord is a jealous and vengeful God, the Lord enacts vengeance in his anger.
The Lord is slow to anger, despite his immense power. He does not overlook evil.In storm and whirlwind is his path;clouds are the dust of his feet.
He rebukes the sea and it dries up; he drains rivers of their water. Bashan and Carmel wither; The blossoms of Lebanon fade.
Before him, the mountains shake and the hills melt; the earth trembles and all the people shake.
Who can stand against his fury?Who can face his blazing anger?His wrath is poured out like fire,and the rocks are torn apart.
The Lord is good to those who hope in him; in times of trouble, he shelters them. He remembers those who trust in him
when the flood engulfs them. He utterly destroys his enemies and pursues his foes into darkness.
What are you plotting against him?The Lord will bring it to an end, oppression will not rise a second time.
They will become entangled,devoured like thorns,and consumed like dry stubble.
The Lord will remove Judah, his enemy, the one who plans evil.
Thus says the Lord to Judah: “Though they are strong and many, they will be destroyed. Though I have afflicted you, I will no longer do so.”
I will break their yoke from around your neck and tear off your shackles.
To the people of Nineveh,here is the Lord’s decree:“No descendants shall carry your name.I will remove from your templethe carved image and the molten idol.I will make your tomb a source of shame.”
Commentaries
Title of the Book.
Oracle concerning Nineveh, by Nahum. Two words help to introduce this book: a) oracle: here it refers to a threat from God, generally uttered against pagan nations (cf. Is 13); b) vision: indicates Nahum’s prophetic role as a mediator of divine revelation.
Theophany and Judgment.
This poem, whose verses start with the Hebrew alphabet in order, serves as a prelude to the condemnation of Nineveh in the next chapter. God does not overlook iniquity and cruelty (cf. Ex 34:7). If He “delays” in punishing, it is because He is patient and merciful, waiting for people to turn around (cf. Ex 34:6; cf. Rev 6:10-11). The unstoppable fury of certain natural events shows the power and relentless judgment of the Lord (3-6). When this Judgment arrives, those who trust in God will be protected (cf. Ps 46), and God’s enemies will be destroyed (6-7). All kinds of “wickedness” and “evil counsel” came from Nineveh (11). Although it is not named, it was from this city that the Assyrian king Sennacherib set out to lay siege to Jerusalem in 700 B.C.