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Nahum 2 (ESV)

The Destruction of Nineveh

1 The scatterer has come up against you.
Man the ramparts;
watch the road;
dress for battle;
collect all your strength.

2 For the Lord is restoring the majesty of Jacob
as the majesty of Israel,
for plunderers have plundered them
and ruined their branches.

3 The shield of his mighty men is red;
his soldiers are clothed in scarlet.
The chariots come with flashing metal
on the day he musters them;
the cypress spears are brandished.
4 The chariots race madly through the streets;
they rush to and fro through the squares;
they gleam like torches;
they dart like lightning.
5 He remembers his officers;
they stumble as they go,
they hasten to the wall;
the siege tower is set up.
6 The river gates are opened;
the palace melts away;
7 its mistress is stripped; she is carried off,
her slave girls lamenting,
moaning like doves
and beating their breasts.

REFLECTION:

• What is prophesied here is the Babylonian kingdom of Chaldea, and they seem to particularly like the red colour (3). Babylon will destroy Assyria and become the overlord of the nations. Assyria will suffer the same sufferings she imposed on other nations in the past—hurried guards, frightened soldiers (5), the country is ruined (6), the mistress is stripped, carried off and looted, lamenting and moaning everywhere (7). God’s judgment is fair, what you do to others will ultimately come back to you. Those who do evil must take a deep warning. These prophecies were fulfilled in 612 BC, when the coalition forces of Babylon and Medean captured this seemingly strong Nineveh.
• The defeat of Nineveh brought about the restoration of Israel. The Lord will restore the majesty of Jacob, as the majesty of Israel (2). Jacob is Israel, and both are synonymous; but sometimes Jacob refers specifically to Judah (Isaiah 43:1, 44:1, 46:3; Obad. 18). There should be a difference between Jacob and Israel here and could be such a distinction. The northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah were repeatedly invaded and plundered by foreigners. The destroyers plundered them and ruined their branches (2). If this branch is “majesty” that majesty has long been lost. Now that the destroyer is destroyed, Judah will be revived, and their freedom and honour will be restored.

PRAYER:

Lord, please help me understand that You are the master of history and that the destiny of all nations is in Your hands. Anyone who are arrogant and disrespectful to God will receive the punishment they deserve. Pray that You will touch the hearts of the people of the world to turn to the true God, and accept the gospel, so that no more serious punishment will be imposed on them.

HYMN:

Lord Have Mercy on Us; Come and Heal Our Land – youtu.be/5Lf9EmQocjk