Nahum 3:3-4

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Nahum 3:4

"Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the well-favored harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts.""Whoredoms" is primarily the word for pagan idolatry, a kind of "code word" focused upon the shameful and licentious "worship" (as they called it) of idol gods. It identified idolatry by its principal and distinguishing characteristic. The term was usually applied as "harlotry" to the defection and apostasy of God's... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Nahum 3:1-3

Nahum 3:1-3. Woe to the bloody city! &c.— Woe to the bloody city, which is wholly perfidious and full of cruelty; whence rapines depart not.—Ver. 2. Lo! the sound of the whip is at hand, the sound of the rattling wheel, &c.—Ver. 3. The horseman approacheth, and the glittering sword, and shining spear, &c. Houbigant. Others render the passage thus, Woe to the bloody city, all over deceit, full of robbery and incessant ravening.—Ver. 2. The cracking of the whip, and the rattling noise... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Nahum 3:4

Nahum 3:4. That selleth nations— That hath deceived the nations. As the violence and injustice of the Ninevites had been represented under the emblem of a lion, the prophet here paints their irregularities, their idolatry and corruption, under the idea of a prostitute. See Houbigant and Calmet. Those who understand the passage according to our translation, suppose, that by selling the nations, the prophet means subduing them, or transferring the right of government to others; or, selling them... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Nahum 3:3

3. horseman—distinct from "the horses" (in the chariots, :-). lifteth up—denoting readiness for fight [EWALD]. GESENIUS translates, "lifteth up (literally, 'makes to ascend') his horse." Similarly MAURER, "makes his horse to rise up on his hind feet." Vulgate translates, "ascending," that is, making his horse to advance up to the assault. This last is perhaps better than English Version. the bright sword and the glittering spear—literally, "the glitter of the sword and the flash of the spear!"... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Nahum 3:4

4. Because of the multitude of the whoredoms—This assigns the reason for Nineveh's destruction. of the well-favoured harlot—As Assyria was not a worshipper of the true God, "whoredoms" cannot mean, as in the case of Israel, apostasy to the worship of false gods; but, her harlot-like artifices whereby she allured neighboring states so as to subject them to herself. As the unwary are allured by the "well-favored harlot's" looks, so Israel, Judah (for example, under Ahaz, who, calling to his aid... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Nahum 3:1-7

3. The third description of Nineveh’s fall 3:1-7This description explains further the "why" for Nineveh’s fall whereas the first two descriptions in the previous chapter gave more of the actual events, the "what" of it. There is much similarity between the descriptions of the siege in Nahum 2:3-4 and Nahum 3:2-3, however. This section has been called a woe oracle because it pronounces doom on Nineveh in typical woe oracle fashion (cf. Isaiah 5:18-19; Amos 5:18-20; Amos 6:1-7; Micah 2:1-4).... read more

Thomas Constable

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

Again the prophet described the sounds and sights that would accompany the battle in which Nineveh would fall (cf. Nahum 2:3-4). Whips could be heard as soldiers urged their horses forward. Nahum heard the sound of chariot wheels and the hoofs of horses bearing cavalry soldiers clattering on the pavement. Horsemen were charging, swords were flashing, and spears were gleaming in the light. The large number of corpses on the scene of battle impressed Nahum. They seemed to be countless, so many... read more

Thomas Constable

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

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 3:4

This devastation was coming on Nineveh because of her wickedness. She had played the harlot often by luring unsuspecting nations and then harming them. For example, King Ahaz had been attracted to Assyria and had appealed for her to come help Judah (2 Kings 16:7-18), but when she did, years later, she came to destroy rather than assist (cf. Isaiah 36:16-17). The Ninevites were also practitioners of sorcery; they appealed to the spirit world for power to determine and control their destiny and... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Nahum 3:1-19

The Doom of Nineveh1-7. Another threat against Nineveh, showing that disaster has come upon her on account of her sins. The keynote of the whole chapter is the fierce cry, Woe to the bloody city! it is all full of lies, etc. In ancient states the capital was virtually the kingdom, and to Nineveh are here ascribed all the characteristics of the Assyrian monarchy. The cruelties perpetrated by the Assyrians were shocking. Captive princes who had offered resistance in defence of their country were... read more

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