Naum 1

¹ The{{See Isa_13:1}}burden of Nineveh.The vision or revelation, which God commanded Nahum to write concerning the Ninevites.The book of the vision of Nahum theThat is, born in a poor village in the tribe of Simeon.Elkoshite.The Argument – As those of Nineveh showed themselves prompt and ready to receive the word of God at Jonah's preaching, and so turned to the Lord by repentance, so after a certain time they gave themselves to worldly means to increase their dominion, rather than seeking to continue in that fear of God, and path in which they had begun. They cast off the care of religion, and so returned to their vomit and provoked God's just judgment against them, in afflicting his people. Therefore their city Nineveh was destroyed, and Meroch-baladan, king of Babel (or as some think, Nebuchadnezzar) enjoyed the empire of the Assyrians. But because God has a continual care for his Church, he stirs up his Prophet to comfort the godly, showing that the destruction of their enemies would be for their consolation: and as it seems, he prophesies around the time of Hezekiah, and not in the time of Manasseh his son, as the Jews write.

² God [is]Meaning, of his glory.jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, andWith his own he is but angry for a time, but his anger is never appeased toward the reprobate, even though he defers it for a time.[is] furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth [wrath] for his enemies.

³ TheThus the wicked would make God's mercy an occasion to sin, but the Prophet wishes them to consider his power and justice.LORD [is] slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit [the wicked]: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds [are] the dust of his feet.

⁴ He rebuketh the sea, and dryeth it, and he dryeth vp all the riuers: Bashan is wasted and Carmel, and the floure of Lebanon is wasted.

⁵ The mountaines tremble for him, and the hilles melt, & the earth is burnt at his sight, yea, the worlde, and all that dwell therein.

⁶ If all creatures are at God's commandment, and none are able to resist his wrath, will man flatter himself, and think by any means to escape, when he provokes his God to anger?Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.

⁷ The LORD [is] good,Lest the faithful should be discouraged by hearing the power of God, he shows them that his mercy appertains to them, and that he has care over them.a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

⁸ But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of theSignifying that God will suddenly destroy Nineveh and the Assyrians in such a way, that they will lie in perpetual darkness, and never recover their strength again.place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.

⁹ What do yeHe shows that the undertakings of the Assyrians against Judah and the Church were against God, and therefore he would so destroy them the first time, that he would not need to return the second time.imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.

¹⁰ For while [they be] folden together [as]Though the Assyrians think themselves like thorns that prick on all sides, yet the Lord will set fire on them, and as drunken men are not able to stand against any force, so they will not be able to resist him at all.thorns, and while they are drunken [as] drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.

¹¹ There is [one]Which may be understood either of Sennacherib, or of the whole body of the people of Nineveh.come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counsellor.

¹² Thus saith the LORD; Though [they be]Though they think themselves in most safety, and of greatest strength, yet when God will pass by, he will destroy them: nonetheless, he comforts his Church, and promises to stop punishing them by the Assyrians.quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.

¹³ For nowe I will breake his yoke from thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.

¹⁴ And the LORD hath given a commandment concerning thee, [that] no more of thy name beMeaning, Sennacherib, who would have no more children, but be slain in the house of his gods; (2Ki_19:36-37).sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.

¹⁵ Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publishethWhich peace the Jews would enjoy by the death of Sennacherib.peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.