Nahum 3:8 Art thou better than populous No, that was situate among the rivers, that had the waters round about it, whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was from the sea? - Free Bible Online

Nahum 3:8 Are you better than No-amon, Which was situated by the waters of the Nile, With water surrounding her, Whose rampart [was] the sea, Whose wall [consisted] of the sea?


      8. populous No--rather, as Hebrew, "No-ammon," the Egyptian name for Thebes in Upper Egypt; meaning the portion or possession of Ammon, the Egyptian Jupiter (whence the Greeks called the city Diospolis), who was especially worshipped there. The Egyptian inscriptions call the god Amon-re, that is, Amon the Sun; he is represented as a human figure with a ram's head, seated on a chair (Jer 46:25; Eze 30:14-16). The blow inflicted on No-ammon, described in Na 3:10, was probably by the Assyrian Sargon (see on Isa 18:1; Isa 20:1). As Thebes, with all her resources, was overcome by Assyria, so Assyrian Nineveh, notwithstanding all her might, in her turn, shall be overcome by Babylon. English Version, "populous," if correct, implies that No's large population did not save her from destruction.
      situate among the rivers--probably the channels into which the Nile here divides (compare Isa 19:6-8). Thebes lay on both sides of the river. It was famed in HOMER'S time for its hundred gates [Iliad, 9.381]. Its ruins still describe a circumference of twenty-seven miles. Of them the temples of Luxor and Karnak, east of the river, are most famous. The colonnade of the former, and the grand hall of the latter, are of stupendous dimensions. One wall still represents the expedition of Shishak against Jerusalem under Rehoboam (1Ki 14:25; 2Ch 12:2-9).
      whose . . . wall was from the sea--that is, rose up "from the sea." MAURER translates, "whose wall consisted of the sea." But this would be a mere repetition of the former clause. The Nile is called a sea, from its appearance in the annual flood (Isa 19:5).

JFB.


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Nahum Images and Notes

The Book of Nahum

Nahum 1:7 - The LORD [is] good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

Nahum 1:14-15 - And the LORD hath given a commandment concerning thee, [that] no more of thy name be 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. Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.

The Old Testament - A Brief Overview

Bible Survey - Nahum
Hebrew Name - Nachoum "Consulation"
Greek Name - Naoum (Greek form of the Hebrew)
Author - Nahum (According to Tradition)
Date - 713 BC Approximately
Theme - The Destruction of Assyria
Types and Shadows - In Nahum Jesus is the Avenger

The First Day. Light.

Summary of The Book of Nahum

Nahum began to prophesy in about 713 BC after the destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians. Nahum prophesied about God's vengeance and judgement, and the destruction that was going to come upon Nineveh for her great wickedness and cruelty. The name Nahum means "consolation" or "consoler", and this is a fitting name for the man who was chosen to comfort the oppressed people of the southern kingdom of Judah. Nahum told them to rejoice because Nineveh will be justly punished. - The above text is © Rusty Russell - Bible History Online and must be sourced for use on a website.

There is very little known about Nahum, he is called the "Elkoshite" in Nahum 1:1, yet the location of this place is uncertain. Some scholars place it in the Galilee region, and others place it in Judah or Assyria. One  believe is that Nahum's home was Capernaum  which means "Village of Nahum", and that Elkosh was just the place of his birth. In any case Nahum's message was the final decimation and downfall of Nineveh.

In Nahum 1 God is seen as the one who triumphs over his enemies, regardless of how strong they are. The following chapters speak of the reasons for Nineveh's impending doom. There are two primary sins that the prophet mentions about Nineveh:  

1. They had no mercy with all their great strength, they just killed destroyed and plundered with no remorse.

2. Their greed and lustful pleasures cause them to be corrupt in all their dealings with the nations.

Nahum's prophecy is the cry of an oppressed and outraged people of Judah, for all the suffering that the Assyrians bring. The thought of  the Assyrian empire coming to an end brought a joyful satisfaction of a punishment that is justly due.

Interesting Note: In a book of utter judgement stands one verse like the eye in a hurricane. Nahum 1:7 - The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

Outline of the Book of Nahum

Nahum 1:1 Introduction to the prophet Nahum and his "burden"

Nahum 1:2-11 God's holy judgment

Nahum 1:12-15 The fall of Nineveh is proclaimed

Nahum 2:1-12 The siege and overthrow of Nineveh

Nahum 2:13 The reason for Nineveh's destruction

Nahum 3:1-17 Nineveh was an example of sin reaping God's judgment

Nahum 3:18-19 The king of Assyria's destruction brings great joy

The First Day. Light.

Nahum Resources

The Divided Kingdom
The Northern Kingdom of Israel
The Southern Kingdom of Judah
The Assyrian Captivity
The Babylonian Captivity
The Return From Babylon
The Prophets
The Messiah

The Book of Nahum

More About the Book of Nahum
Nahum in the Picture Study Bible
Chart of the Prophets of Israel and Judah
Timeline of the Ancient World
Back to the Old Testament
Back to Bible History Online
 

Bibliography Information

Free Bible Online Picture Study Bible, King James Version. New York: American Bible Society: www.free-bible.com, 1995-2013. Bible History Picture Study Bible. Nov 16, 2024.


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