Nahum 3:13

""Behold thy people in the midst of thee are women; the gates of thy land are set wide open unto thine enemies; the fire hath devoured thy bars. Draw thee water for the siege; strengthen thy fortresses; go into the clay, and tread the mortar; make strong the brickkiln."

These verses are a taunting announcement of doom.

"Thy people ... are women ..." What was meant is that the strongest and most valiant of their soldiers would be as ineffective against the foe coming upon them, as a company of untrained women, frightened and fleeing from the enemy.

"Draw water ... go into clay ... tread the mortar ... etc." has the thought that, "All your frenzied preparations are useless, the doom of the city is already sealed." All of this was bitter irony, for it was far too late to make preparations. "Such terror will be upon the defenders of Nineveh that they will be unable to act the part of men."[34]