The majesty of God, his goodness to his people, and severity to his
enemies.
1:1. The burden of Ninive. The book of the vision of Nahum, the
Elcesite.
1:2. The Lord is a jealous God, and a revenger: the Lord is a revenger,
and hath wrath: the Lord taketh vengeance on his adversaries, and he is
angry with his enemies.
1:3. The Lord is patient, and great in power, and will not cleanse and
acquit the guilty. The Lord's ways are in a tempest, and a whirlwind,
and clouds are the dust of his feet.
1:4. He rebuketh the sea and drieth it up: and bringeth all the rivers
to be a desert. Basan languisheth and Carmel: and the flower of Libanus
fadeth away.
1:5. The mountains tremble at him, and the hills are made desolate: and
the earth hath quaked at his presence, and the world, and all that dwell
therein.
1:6. Who can stand before the face of his indignation? and who shall
resist in the fierceness of his anger? his indignation is poured out
like fire: and the rocks are melted by him.
1:7. The Lord is good, and giveth strength in the day of trouble: and
knoweth them that hope in him.
1:8. But with a flood that passeth by, he will make an utter end of the
place thereof: and darkness shall pursue his enemies.
Of the place thereof... Viz., of Ninive.
1:9. What do ye devise against the Lord? he will make an utter end:
there shall not rise a double affliction.
1:10. For as thorns embrace one another: so while they are feasting and
drinking together, they shall be consumed as stubble that is fully dry.
1:11. Out of thee shall come forth one that imagineth evil against the
Lord, contriving treachery in his mind.
Shall come forth one, etc... Some understand this of Sennacherib. But as
his attempt against the people seems to have been prior to the prophecy
of Nahum, we may better understand it of Holofernes.
1:12. Thus saith the Lord: Though they were perfect: and many of them
so, yet thus shall they be cut off, and he shall pass: I have afflicted
thee, and I will afflict thee no more.
Though they were perfect, etc... That is, however strong or numerous
their forces may be, they shall be cut off; and their prince or leader
shall pass away and disappear.
1:13. And now I will break in pieces his rod with which he struck thy
back, and I will burst thy bonds asunder.
1:14. And the Lord will give a commandment concerning thee, that no more
of thy name shall be sown: I will destroy the graven and molten thing
out of the house of thy God, I will make it thy grave, for thou art
disgraced.
Will give a commandment... That is, a decree, concerning thee, O king of
Ninive, thy seed shall fail, etc.
1:15. Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good
tidings, and that preacheth peace: O Juda, keep thy festivals, and pay
thy vows: for Belial shall no more pass through thee again, he is
utterly cut off.
Belial... The wicked one, viz., the Assyrian.