Nahum 2: The Fall of the Bloody City

Nahum 2 articulates a cinematic and terrifying account of the military assault on Nineveh, describing the red shields, flashing chariots, and the opening of the river gates. The chapter mocks the city's former identity as a 'lion's den' where they once tore their prey apart, revealing that they have now become the prey. It concludes with the absolute declaration that God is 'against' the city, ensuring its total collapse.

  1. v1-5: The Advance of the Destroyer and the Chaos of Chariots
  2. v6-10: The Breach of the Gates and the Emptying of the City
  3. v11-13: The Mockery of the Lion and the Divine Confrontation

Nahum chapter 2

He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face: keep the munition, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily.
For the LORD hath turned away the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel: for the emptiers have emptied them out, and marred their vine branches.
The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken.
The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings.
He shall recount his worthies: they shall stumble in their walk; they shall make haste to the wall thereof, and the defence shall be prepared.
The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved.
And Huzzab shall be led away captive, she shall be brought up, and her maids shall lead her as with the voice of doves, tabering upon their breasts.
But Nineveh is of old like a pool of water: yet they shall flee away. Stand, stand, shall they cry; but none shall look back.
Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold: for there is none end of the store and glory out of all the pleasant furniture.
She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain is in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness.
Where is the dwelling of the lions, and the feedingplace of the young lions, where the lion, even the old lion, walked, and the lion's whelp, and none made them afraid?
The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled his holes with prey, and his dens with ravin.
Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions: and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.

Witness the sudden and violent end of a world superpower that thought it was invincible. Begin your study with nahum 2 summary.

Nahum uses the metaphor of a pool of water with its plug pulled to describe the fleeing population of Nineveh. The 'Word Secret' is Huzzab, a mysterious term often referring to the 'Queen' or the 'Fixed Order' of the city being led away into captive shame. Discover the riches with nahum 2 commentary, containing expert led word study (original greek/hebrew) and passage level analysis.

Unlock the hidden nahum 2 1 meaning and summary by exploring context, analyzing original greek and hebrew words, and studying cross references of each verse.

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2 min read (371 words)