Nahum 3:14-19 - Homiletics

The fall of Nineveh.

I. PREPARATIONS FOR A SIEGE . ( Nahum 3:14 .) In anticipation of the impending attack upon their capital, the inhabitants of Nineveh are exhorted by Nahum (ironically) to provide for their safety.

1 . For their sustenance. This they should do by laying up within their city a plentiful supply of water for drinking, so as to enable them to withstand a prolonged siege. "Draw thee water for the siege." This, in a land like Assyria, would be likely to give way earlier than bread. It is only in seasons of exceptional scarcity arising from long continued drought, or from such calamities as occur in war, that men come to estimate correctly the value of water.

2 . For their defence. This, on the other hand, they should do by strengthening their fortresses; for which again they would need an abundant store of bricks. Hence the prophet's exhortation, still satirical in its tone, "Strengthen thy fortresses; go into the clay, and tread the mortar, make strong the brick kiln." The Assyrians, like the Egyptians, as the monuments attest, prepared their bricks with clay, which they mixed with straw, and sometimes burnt, at other times merely drying them in the sun (Layard, 'Nineveh,' 2:252); and quantities of these would be required, when the evil day arrived, to repair the breaches that might be made in the walls, or to construct an inner line of defence when the outer should be taken.

II. RESULTS OF THE SIEGE . (Verse 15.)

1 . The burning of the city. "There," in the midst of thy fortifications, "the fire shall devour thee." That Nineveh perished by fire is attested equally by ancient writers and by the state of the ruins.

2 . The slaughter of its inhabitants. "The sword shall cut thee off, it shall devour thee like the cankerworm." The thought is that, even should the people of Nineveh be as numerous as a swarm of locusts, yet should they be swept away as completely as every green blade is swept away by the "cankerworm," or "licker," i.e. by the locust ( Joel 1:4 ; Joel 2:3 ).

3 . The plundering of its treasures. "Thou hast multiplied thy merchants above the stars of heaven: the cankerworm or ['licker,' i.e. the army of the enemy] spoileth, and fleeth away." "As soon as the soldiers entered a captured city they began to plunder, and then hurried away the spoil. They led off the horses, carried forth on their shoulders furniture, and vessels of gold, silver, and other metals; and made prisoners of the inhabitants, who probably became the property of those who seized them" (Layard's 'Nineveh,' 2:377). That Nineveh was a rich city may be inferred from the spoils She had taken from surrounding nations during her career of conquest, as well as from her favourable position for commerce. The costly produce of India was conveyed through Nineveh and Babylon towards the West (Layard, 'Nineveh,' 2:414). That Nineveh, who had so often despoiled others, should be herself despoiled was an instance of just retribution.

4 . The annihilation of its army. "Thy crowned are as the locusts, and thy marshals [or, 'scribes '] as the swarms of grasshoppers which camp in the hedges in the cold day," etc. (verse 17). Whether the "crowned" ones should be understood as signifying the princes of Nineveh (Calvin, Gesenius, Fausset), or the warriors in general, whom it represents as "levied," "selected," "picked" (Keil); and whether the "marshals" here spoken of should be regarded as "military leaders," and thus as practically, synonymous with the "crowned" ones, or as common soldiers, though of a special excellence (Keil);—it is probable that the destruction of the army of Assyria is that which the language is designed to set forth. Though the war force of Nineveh should be as numerous as the locusts, or as swarms of grasshoppers, which pitch their camps in the walls at nights and in cold weather, yet they would as completely vanish as do these insects when the sun ariseth.

5 . The destruction of its nobility. "Thy shepherds slumber, O King of Assyria: thy worthies are at rest." Assyria's princes and great men, her "royal counsellors, deputies, and generals" (Keil), should be slain and lie in still death. With grim satire the prophet represents them as having sunk into peaceful slumber after the labours of a long and busy day. Perhaps he intended to recall the scene which had once been witnessed before Jerusalem, when the stout-hearted (of Sennacherib's army) were spoiled, when they "slept their sleep," and "none of the men of might found their hands," when at the rebuke of Jacob's God" both the chariot and horse were cast into a deep sleep" ( Psalms 76:5 , Psalms 76:6 ).

6 . The dispersion of its people; i.e. of such of them as had escaped the sword. "Thy people are scattered upon the mountains, and there is none to gather them" (verse 18). Compare the language of Micaiah to Ahab with reference to the result of the battle of Ramoth-Gilead ( 1 Kings 22:17 ).

7 . The exultation of the nations. "All that hear the bruit of thee clap the hands over thee" (verse 19). Wherever the report of Nineveh's overthrow should penetrate, it would awaken no compassion. As all nations had suffered from her wickedness, so would they rejoice in her humiliation. None would seek to help her or raise her up. Hence her downfall would be final; there would be no assuaging of her hurt; her wound would be grievous, would be dangerously bad, would be incurable.

Learn:

1 . That the day of doom can be averted as little by ungodly men as by wicked nations.

2 . That the resources of civilization—commerce and gun powder—are powerless defences against Heaven's artillery.

3 . That nothing and no one can upraise what God has overthrown.

4 . That God's righteousness in judging the wicked—whether individuals or nations—will ultimately vindicate itself in the eyes of all.