Introduction to the Book of Nahum – Commentary and Explanation
Whew, here we go again. Another minor prophet, another explosive message from God. And this one? It’s fierce. It’s poetic. It’s sharp like a sword cutting through injustice and pride. We’re diving into the book of Nahum. One of those books you might accidentally flip past without noticing, tucked in near the back of the Old Testament. Just three short chapters. But don’t let its size fool you—Nahum packs a punch that echoes through history.
Nahum’s message is all about judgment, justice, and God’s righteous wrath—but also about comfort for the people of God. It’s a tale of two cities, really: Nineveh, the mighty capital of Assyria, and Jerusalem, under pressure, battered, tired. One’s about to fall hard. The other is about to breathe a sigh of relief.
Let’s walk slowly, chapter by chapter, but first... let’s take a big-picture look.
Who was Nahum?
Well, the Bible doesn’t tell us a ton. Nahum means “comfort” or “consolation.” Kinda ironic, right? Considering his message is mainly fire and fury aimed at Nineveh. But for God’s people, especially Judah, his words were comforting. They’d been under the thumb of the brutal Assyrian Empire for decades.
Nahum is from Elkosh—though nobody's really sure where that is. Some think it was in Galilee. Others guess maybe near Judah. It’s a mystery. But does it really matter? God raised him up at just the right time with just the right words. That’s the key takeaway.
When was Nahum written?
The general consensus? Somewhere between 663 and 612 BC. Why those dates?
Here’s why:
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Nahum mentions Thebes (No-Amon) in Egypt being conquered (Nahum 3:8). That happened in 663 BC, so it must’ve been written after that.
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Nineveh falls in 612 BC, and Nahum talks like it hasn’t happened yet. So, somewhere in between.
During this time, Assyria’s power was starting to crumble. But in Judah? They were still feeling the heat. The northern kingdom, Israel, had already been wiped out by Assyria. Judah had survived—but barely. And they were next on the list, or so it seemed.
Why did God give this message to Nahum?
Because Nineveh—Assyria’s capital—was rotten to the core. And their time was up.
Now, hang on. This isn’t the first time we hear about Nineveh, is it?
Nope. Remember Jonah? Yeah, that Nineveh.
About 150 years earlier, Jonah had marched into that same city shouting that judgment was coming. And to everyone’s surprise, they repented. God relented. They got a second chance.
But generations later? They’d gone back to their old ways—only worse. Violence, idolatry, pride, cruelty. They’d become the poster city for evil. So now, God says, “Enough.” This time, there’d be no reprieve.
That’s where Nahum steps in.
Theme of the Book
The book of Nahum shows us one massive, clear theme:
God is patient... but He will not let wickedness go unpunished forever.
Yeah, God had shown Nineveh mercy before. But this time, there’s no “if you repent.” This isn’t Jonah’s message. This is judgment declared. No turning back.
But also? It’s a message of hope for those suffering under the wickedness. God sees. God hears. God knows. He will act. That’s a huge deal.
Breakdown of the Book of Nahum
Here’s a simple way to think of the three chapters:
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Chapter 1 – The Character of God and His judgment
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Chapter 2 – The Destruction of Nineveh described vividly
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Chapter 3 – The Reasons for Nineveh’s destruction and the certainty of it
Alright. Let’s zoom in.
Chapter 1 – The LORD is a Jealous and Avenging God
Right out the gate, Nahum hits us with theology.
“The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;
the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath.” (Nahum 1:2)
That’s intense. And maybe uncomfortable. But it’s real. This isn’t random rage. This is holy justice. God is slow to anger, but not forever slow. He won’t always wait. Eventually, He rises up.
There’s a beautiful contrast here. For Nineveh, the LORD is terrifying. But for His people?
“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him.” (Nahum 1:7)
Same God. Two different reactions. For the proud and wicked—terror. For the faithful—comfort.
Nahum is saying to Judah, “Yes, God sees the Assyrians. He’s not asleep. And justice is coming.”
Chapter 2 – The Fall of Nineveh Described
If chapter 1 lays the foundation, chapter 2 paints the picture.
This is poetry, but not the nice kind. It’s war imagery—chaotic, vivid, and brutal.
“The shields of the soldiers are red;
the warriors are clad in scarlet.” (Nahum 2:3)
Blood. Fire. Flood. Chaos. The once-mighty city is under siege. Nahum describes Nineveh’s destruction as if it’s happening right now. You can almost hear the chariots clatter, see the walls crumble.
“Nineveh is like a pool whose water is draining away.” (Nahum 2:8)
And then—silence. The city that once boasted about its invincibility? Gone. Just like that.
Judah had watched Assyria crush nation after nation. Now? They’re watching it crumble. What a reversal.
Chapter 3 – Woe to the City of Blood
Nahum isn’t done yet. Now, he lays out the why behind the what.
“Woe to the city of blood,
full of lies,
full of plunder,
never without victims!” (Nahum 3:1)
That’s Nineveh. It’s like an indictment. The charges are serious: violence, deceit, exploitation, idolatry.
And the result?
“I am against you,”
declares the Lord Almighty. (Nahum 3:5)
Oof. Not what you want to hear from the Creator of the universe.
God compares Nineveh to a prostitute—attractive on the outside but corrupt to the core. He says He’ll expose their shame for all nations to see.
And then He goes historical.
“Are you better than Thebes...?” (Nahum 3:8)
Remember Thebes? That proud Egyptian city? Assyria had helped destroy it years earlier. Now it’s Assyria’s turn.
Nahum ends with sarcasm, even mockery:
“All who hear the news about you clap their hands at your fall,
for who has not felt your endless cruelty?” (Nahum 3:19)
No one’s sad about Nineveh being gone. It’s like the world lets out a sigh of relief.
The Message for Us Today
Alright. That’s the book in a nutshell. But what does Nahum have to say to us, in this crazy modern world?
Way more than we think.
1. God’s patience is not approval.
Just because judgment doesn’t come right away, doesn’t mean God approves. Nineveh got mercy once—but eventually, their sin caught up with them. God will act. Not always when we expect, but He will.
2. God sees injustice—and He will deal with it.
You ever look at the world and think, “Why do the wicked keep winning?” Nahum reminds us that God sees every lie, every act of violence, every system of oppression. And He will bring justice. Maybe not on our timeline. But it's coming.
3. God is a refuge for those who trust Him.
Amidst all the judgment, there’s this precious gem:
“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble.” (Nahum 1:7)
In a world of chaos, God is our anchor. That verse still speaks. Loud and clear.
The Gospel Thread in Nahum
It’s subtle, but it’s there.
Nahum shows us the justice of God—how He must deal with sin. But that justice points us to the cross.
Because here’s the truth: we’re not that different from Nineveh. Pride? Check. Rebellion? Check. Our hearts wander. We ignore God’s voice.
But instead of crushing us, God crushed His own Son. Jesus took the wrath that was meant for us. The fire of judgment burned on Calvary.
Nahum says, “God will not leave the guilty unpunished.” And the gospel says, “Jesus took your guilt—so you don’t have to bear it.”
That’s amazing.
Final Thoughts
Nahum is a heavy book. It’s short but weighty. It confronts us with the reality of God’s justice—but also the comfort of His care.
For Judah, hearing Nahum’s prophecy meant hope. Relief. Freedom.
For Nineveh? It meant doom.
We’ve got to ask ourselves: Which side are we on?
Are we trusting in the strength of our own "Nineveh"—whatever that may be? Our success, status, money, comfort? Or are we resting in the refuge of the Lord?
This book calls us to remember: empires fall, cities crumble, kings rise and fall. But God remains. He is good. He is just. He is our refuge.
So next time you pass over the little book of Nahum, pause. Linger a bit. Let its message stir your soul.
God isn’t silent. He isn’t blind. He is holy. He is near. And He will always have the final word.
Thanks for reading this study on Nahum. May we continue to grow deeper in the Word, anchored in the truth, and awake to His justice and mercy.
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