Nahum 2:12

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Nahum 2:1-13

2:1-3:19 THE DESTRUCTION OF NINEVEHDestroyed because of cruelty (2:1-13)Chapters 2 and 3 consist of two separate poems on the same subject, the destruction of Nineveh and the reasons for it. Nahum begins his graphic description of the attack on Nineveh by calling upon the watchman on the city wall to alert the city that the enemy is approaching. God is now going to destroy those who destroyed Israel and oppressed Judah (2:1-2).The prophet pictures the brightly uniformed soldiers, the gleaming... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Nahum 2:12

did tear = was tearing. Nineveh again personified in verses: Nahum 2:11 , Nahum 2:12 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Nahum 2:12

"The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lioness, and filled his caves with prey, and his dens with ravin."Due to the remains of animals killed for prey, with leftovers decaying as new prey is brought in, a lion's den is positively the foulest and most detestable place on earth, an apt figure indeed of the Assyrian capitol.Another view of the persons intended by this metaphor was that of Ironside, which seems preferable: "The lion is the king, and the lions and... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Nahum 2:11-12

Nahum 2:11-12. Where is the dwelling, &c.— Where is the dwelling of the lioness? And the same was the nursery of the young lions: that is, "What has become of the stately palaces of the king and princes of Nineveh; who, like so many lions, cruel and violent, knew no other law than their pride and ambition; preying both upon their own people and the neighbouring countries, and enriching themselves with the spoil which they kept from them." read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Nahum 2:12

12. prey . . . ravin—different kinds of prey. Compare Isaiah 3:1, "the stay and the staff." read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Nahum 2:3-19

B. Four descriptions of Nineveh’s fall 2:3-3:19The rest of the book contains four descriptions of Nineveh’s fall that were evidently messages that Nahum delivered at various times in Judah. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Nahum 2:8-13

2. The second description of Nineveh’s fall 2:8-13The second description of Nineveh’s fall is more philosophical than the first one and ends with a statement by Yahweh that gives the reason for its fall (Nahum 2:13). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Nahum 2:12

Lions normally kill only what they need to eat, but the Assyrians killed many enemies not just to sustain their own needs but for the joy of conquest. They were unusually vicious toward their enemies and notorious in the ancient world as cruel. [Note: See Pritchard, ed., p. 285; idem, ed., The Ancient Near East in Pictures, p. 373; Feinberg, p. 141; Hobart E. Freeman, Nahum Zephaniah Habakkuk, pp. 36-38; and Maier, pp. 281-83.] Yet lions, while vicious, are not known for being excessively so. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Nahum 2:1-13

Attack and Conquest of Nineveh1. Description of the attack begins, and Nineveh is called upon to face the invader.’He that breaketh in pieces is come up against thee; Guard the watch, look out upon the way, Gird up the loins, gather together thy strength.’ Nahum 2:2 seems misplaced, as it interrupts the sense. It should perhaps come after Nahum 1:15.3-10. Poetic picture of the sack of the city. It dwells upon, (1) The approach of the hostile army in brilliant, terrible splendour, with flashing... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Nahum 2:11-13

(11-13) The figure of the lion appears so frequently on the Assyrian monuments that we may perhaps suppose it to have been a national scutcheon. The metaphor of the ravening beast is well illustrated by the Assyrian records, wherein the most frequent theme is the levying of gold, silver, brass, oxen, &c., from tributary cities. The “messengers” of Nahum 2:13 are royal heralds and delegates, subordinate agents in this business of extortion. read more

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