Nahum 2:1

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nahum 2:1-10

Here is, I. An alarm of war sent to Nineveh, Nah. 2:1. The prophet speaks of it as just at hand, for it is neither doubtful nor far distant: ?Look about thee, and see, he that dashes in pieces has come up before thy face. Nebuchadnezzar, who is noted, and will be yet more so, for dashing nations in pieces, begins with thee, and will dissipate and disperse thee;? so some render the word. Babylon is called the hammer of the whole earth, Jer. 50:23. The attempt of Nebuchadnezzar upon Nineveh is... read more

John Gill

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

He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face ,.... O Nineveh, or land of Assyria; for this is not to be understood of Sennacherib's coming up against Jerusalem, as Kimchi; but of Nebuchadnezzar against Nineveh, as Aben Ezra; not Nebuchadnezzar the great, who, the Jewish chronologers say F3 Seder Olam Rabba, c. 24. p. 69. , took Nineveh in the first year of his reign; but his father, Nebuchadnezzar the first, called Nabopolassar, who, with Cyaxares or Ahasuerus the Mede, joined... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nahum 2:1

He that dasheth in pieces - Or scattereth. The Chaldeans and Medes. Keep the munition - Guard the fenced places. From this to the end of the fifth verse, the preparations made at Nineveh to repel their enemies are described. The description is exceedingly picturesque. Watch the way - By which the enemy is most likely to approach. Make thy loins strong - Take courage. Fortify thy power - Muster thy troops; call in all thy allies. read more

John Calvin

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

Verse 1 The waster spoken of here by the Prophet, some consider him to have been Sennacherib, and others, Nebuchodonosor. The verb עלה, ole, is also variously explained: it is often taken metaphorically in Hebrew for vanishing, as we say in French,Il s’en va en fumee ; for smoke ascends, and this is the reason for the metaphor. They then elicit this meaning, — that a destroyer had ascended before the face of the chosen people, that is, openly; so that it was evidently the work of God, that the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nahum 2:1

Nahum addresses Nineveh, and forewarns her of the siege she was about to undergo (see Introduction, § I.). He that dasheth in pieces; the disperser; qui dispergat (Vulgate); ἐμφυσῶν , "panting". The mixed army that invested Nineveh is so called from its effect on the inhabitants of the neighbouring lands. Others translate it, "the maul," or "hammer"—an appellation of Cyaxares, which reminds one of Charles Martel and Judas Maccabaeus. Is come up before thy face. Placing his forces in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nahum 2:1-2

God the Vindicator of the oppressed. I. THE OPPRESSION OF THE CHOSEN PEOPLE BY THE ASSYRIANS . 1 . This is expressed figuratively. "The emptiers have emptied them out" ( Nahum 2:2 ), had exhausted their resources, as the contents of a vessel poured out until every drain had been withdrawn, so had both Israel and Judah been impoverished by the Assyrians, "And marred their vine branches." Ancient Israel was often described as God's vineyard ( Isaiah 5:1 ; Psalms... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nahum 2:1-8

§ 1. Nineveh shall be besieged, because God is about to exalt his people by taking vengeance on the enemy, whose defence, howsoever formidable, is of no avail. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nahum 2:1-10

A predicted invasion. I. THE ENEMY DESCRIBED . 1 . His violence. Nahum calls him "a dasher in pieces" (verse 1), and represents his warriors as "mighty" and "valiant" (verse 3)—epithets which apply with fitness and force to the Merdo-Babylonian army under Cyaxares and Nabopolassar. 2 . His boldness. He comes up against Nineveh, not stealthily and under cover of darkness, but openly, pitching his tent opposite the city gates. His fearless attitude was a proof that God was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nahum 2:1-13

Part II . THE EXECUTION OF THE DECREE ; THE DESTRUCTION OF NINEVEH DESCRIBED . read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Nahum 2:1

He that dasheth in pieces - Rather, “the Disperser,” the instrument of God, whereby he should “break her in pieces like a potter’s vessel, or should scatter” her in all lands, is come up against thy face, O Nineveh, i. e., either, over against thee” , confronting her as it were, face to face, or directed against thee . From the description of the peace of Judah, the prophet turns suddenly to her oppressor, to whom, not to Judah, the rest of the prophecy is directed. Jacob and Israel are spoken... read more

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