Nahum 3

Nahum 3
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Simplified plan of ancient Nineveh, showing city wall and location of gateways.
Book	Book of Nahum
Bible part	Old Testament
Order in the Bible part	34
Category	Nevi'im

Nahum 3 is the third and last chapter of the Book of Nahum in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.^[1][2] This book contains the prophecies spoken by the prophet Nahum, and is a part of the Book of the Twelve Minor Prophets.^[3][4] This chapter describes the cause of the destruction of Nineveh.^[5]

Text

• The original text is written in Hebrew.
• Some of the most ancient manuscripts containing this chapter are:
  • In Hebrew:
    • Masoretic Text
    • Dead Sea Scrolls: 4QpNah, known as the "Nahum Commentary" (1st century BC)^[6]
  • In Greek:
    • Septuagint (3rd century BC)
• This chapter is divided into 19 verses.

Structure

This chapter can be grouped:

• Nahum 3:1-7 = IV. The Cause of the Destruction: The woe of Niniveh
• Nahum 3:8-15 = Comparison to other lands
• Nahum 3:16-19 = The final judgment

Verse 8

Are you better than No Amon

That was situated by the River,

That had the waters around her,

Whose rampart was the sea,

Whose wall was the sea?^[7]

• "No Amon" is translated from Hebrew word: נא אמון nō-’ā-mō-wn,^[8] (Jeremiah 46:25; Ezekiel 30:15-16) that is ancient Thebes,^[9] referring to the Egyptian name Niwt-Imn, the "City of Amun" that was used for the city from the end of the New Kingdom period. The well-fortified Thebes in Egypt fell to Ashurbanipal in 661 BC, and here is used as a "solemn warning to proud Niniveh" that would fall despite its excellent defenses (vv. 14-19.).^[5]
• "River" refers the Nile and the surrounding canals.^[10]

Verse 9

Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength,

And it was boundless;

Put and Lubim were your helpers.^[11]

• Ethiopia in the Hebrew text is כוש Cush^[12]
• "Put" and "Lubim" is identified as Lybians (2 Chronicles 12:3; 2 Chronicles 16:8; Jeremiah 46:9; Ezekiel 30:5; Ezekiel 38:5; Daniel 11:43).^[5]

Verse 19

Your injury has no healing,

Your wound is severe.

All who hear news of you

Will clap their hands over you,

For upon whom has not your wickedness passed continually?^[13]

The message in this final verse of the Book of Nahum gives a positive encouragement and "message of comfort for Israel, Judah, and others who had experienced the "endless cruelty" ("wickedness passed continually") of the Assyrians."^[14]

See also

• Ashurbanipal
• Thebes
• Other related Bible parts: Nahum 1, Hebrews 10, Revelation 18

References

1. Halley, Henry H. Halley's Bible Handbook: an abbreviated Bible commentary. 23rd edition. Zondervan Publishing House. 1962.
2. Holman Illustrated Bible Handbook. Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. 2012.
3. J. D. Davis. 1960. A Dictionary of The Bible. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House.
4. Therodore Hiebert, et.al. 1996. The New Intrepreter's Bible: Volume: VII. Nashville: Abingdon.
5. The Scofield Study Bible, Oxford University Press. 2003. ISBN 9780195278583. pp. 1185-7.
6. VanderKam, James C., The Dead Sea Scrolls Today, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994. pp. 10-11.
7. Nahum 3:8
8. Hebrew word #528 in Strong's Concordance
9. Targum and Vulgate read populous Alexandria. New King James Version
10. New King James Version
11. Nahum 3:9
12. Hebrew word #3568 in Strong's Concordance
13. Nahum 3:19
14. Michael D. Coogan, A Brief Introduction to the Old Testament, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009) 297–298.

External links

• Unique Pictures Of Nahum Tomb By Kobi Arami
• Jewish translations:
  • Nachum – Nahum (Judaica Press) translation [with Rashi's commentary] at Chabad.org
• Christian translations:
  • Online Bible at GospelHall.org (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
  • BibleGateway
  • Nahum – King James Version
• Nahum public domain audiobook at LibriVox Various versions