Nahum 1:1-15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nahum 1:1

This title directs us to consider, 1. The great city against which the word of the Lord is here delivered; it is the burden of Nineveh, not only a prophecy, and a weighty one, but a burdensome prophecy, a dead weight to Nineveh, a mill-stone hanged about its neck. Nineveh was the place concerned, and the Assyrian monarchy, which that was the royal seat of. About 100 years before this Jonah had, in God's name, foretold the speedy overthrow of this great city; but then the Ninevites repented and... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nahum 1:2-8

Nineveh knows not God, that God that contends with her, and therefore is here told what a God he is; and it is good for us all to mix faith with that which is here said concerning him, which speaks a great deal of terror to the wicked and comfort to good people; for this glorious description of the Sovereign of the world, like the pillar of cloud and fire, has a bright side towards Israel and a dark side towards the Egyptians. Let each take his portion from it; let sinners read it and tremble;... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nahum 1:9-15

These verses seem to point at the destruction of the army of the Assyrians under Sennacherib, which may well be reckoned a part of the burden of Nineveh, the head city of the Assyrian empire, and a pledge of the destruction of Nineveh itself about 100 years after; and this was an event which Isaiah, with whom probably this prophet was contemporary, spoke much of. Now observe here, I. The great provocation which the Assyrians gave to God, the just and jealous God, for which, though slow to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nahum 1:1

The burden of Nineveh ,.... Of the city of Nineveh, and the greatness of it; see Gill on Jonah 1:2 ; See Gill on Jonah 3:3 ; Jonah was sent to this city to threaten it with ruin for its sins; at that time the king and all his people humbled themselves and repented, and the threatened destruction was averted; but they relapsing to their former iniquities, this prophet foretells what would be their certain fate; very rightly therefore the Targum, and some other Jewish writings F13 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nahum 1:2

God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth ,.... He is jealous of his own honour and glory, and for his own worship and ordinances; and will not give his glory to another, nor his praise to graven images; and therefore will punish all idolaters, and particularly the idolatrous Assyrians: he is jealous for his people, and cannot bear to see them injured; and will avenge the affronts that are offered, and the indignities done unto them: the Lord revengeth, and is furious ; or, is "master... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nahum 1:3

The Lord is slow to anger ,.... He is not in haste to execute it; he takes time for it, and gives men space for repentance. Nineveh had had a proof of this when it repented at the preaching of Jonah, upon which the Lord deferred the execution of his wrath; but lest they should presume upon this, and conclude the Lord would always bear with them, though they had returned to their former impieties; they are let to know, that this his forbearance was not owing to want of power or will in him... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nahum 1:4

He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry ,.... As he did the Red sea, when the children of Israel passed through it as on dry land; which shows his power and sovereignty over it; that it is at his command, as a servant at his master's; and since the wind and sea obey him, what is it he cannot do? see Isaiah 50:2 ; and drieth up all the rivers ; that is, he can do it if he will; he divided the waters of Jordan, through the midst of which the Israelites passed on dry ground; and will dry... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nahum 1:5

The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt ,.... As Sinai of old did, when the Lord descended on it, Exodus 19:18 . Mountains figuratively signify kings and princes; and hills large countries, as Jarchi and Abarbinel observe, and the inhabitants of them; particularly the kingdoms and nations belonging to the Assyrian empire, which would tremble and quake, and their hearts melt with fear, when they should hear of the destruction of Nineveh their chief city; and of the devastation made... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nahum 1:6

Who can stand before his indignation ?.... No creature whatever; no man nor body of men; not Nineveh, and the inhabitants of it; nor the whole Assyrian empire: and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger ? not the great men of the earth; not kings or generals of armies; not kingdoms and nations, ever so numerous and powerful; but all must be consumed by him, who is a consuming fire; see Jeremiah 10:10 ; his fury is poured out like fire ; or like metal that is melted by fire,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nahum 1:7

The Lord is good ,.... To Israel, as the Targum adds; to Hezekiah and his, people, that betook themselves to him, and put their trust in him; whom he defended and preserved from the king of Assyria, to whom he was dreadful and terrible, destroying his army in one night by an angel; and so delivered the king of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from that terror that had seized them, and that danger they were exposed unto; and so the Lord is good in himself, in the perfections of his... read more

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