Nahum, one of the twelve Minor Prophets in the Old Testament, wrote about the destruction of the Assyrian Empire and the ultimate downfall of its capital city, Nineveh. His early beginnings are somewhat obscure and the only clue to his heritage is mentioned in Nahum 1:1, which states that he was an Elkoshite.
Nahum's poetic predictions were mainly directed against the city of Nineveh and divided into two sections: the sins of the nation and the destruction of Nineveh. Little is known about this ancient prophet, but some scholars and theologians believe Nahum lived somewhere between 700-600 B.C.
The writings of Nahum could be taken as prophecy or literal history. There are at least two different accounts of such a theory... 1) some scholars believe this to be a prophecy written before the downfall of Assyria in 615 B.C.; 2) other theologians suggest it was a liturgy written after the downfall in 612 B.C. Then according to other sources, it is believed that Nahum prophesied during the reign of Ahaz or possibly during the reign of Hezekiah in the 8th century B.C. Yet most all scholars believe the Book of Nahum was written in Jerusalem, where he witnessed the invasion of Sennacherib and the destruction of his host (2 Kings 19:35).
As the destruction of Thebes, Egypt [in 663 B.C,] is mentioned in Nahum 3:8, the scholarly consensus is that his "book of vision" was written at the time of the fall of Nineveh at the hands of the Medes and Babylonians.
Regardless of his early beginnings or the correct date of the oracle's predictions, Nahum is considered the most enigmatic of all the Minor Prophets.
From an historical context, Nahum's prophecy proclaimed the complete destruction of Nineveh, which was the Assyrian Empire's greatest city, as well as its capital. At the height of its glory, it was the center of the civilization and commerce in the world. Yet, according to Nahum it was "a bloody city all full of lies and robbery" (Nahum 3:1), which was a reference to the Neo-Assyrian Empire's military campaigns.
Jonah was the first biblical prophet to utter warnings against the city of Nineveh, and Nahum was followed by Zephaniah, who also confounded the nation with the same prophecy of destruction against the capital city.
The Book of Nahum consists of two parts: 1) Chapter 1 - shows the majesty and might of God the Creator; and 2) Chapters 2-3 - describe the fall of Nineveh. In his book he epitomizes the siege and frenzied activity of Nineveh's troops as they try in vain to halt the invaders. From a poetic view Nahum becomes a participant in the battle, and with subtle irony, barks battle commands to the defenders. It is also believed that this ancient prophet used numerous similes and metaphors in his style of writing. One such example is that he compared Nineveh with a lion, in reference to the lion as an Assyrian symbol of power, who once was strong but ended weak [like a lion hiding in its den].
The great city of Nineveh was destroyed by fire somewhere between 625-612 B.C., bringing the Assyrian Empire to an end just as the prophet had predicted. Based on this event, some theologians enunciate that the siege of Nineveh came at the hands of the king of Akkad and the king of Media during the summer of 612 B.C., and not long after the death of the king of Assyria. The Assyrian Empire officially ended around 605 B.C. and the rise of the Babylonian Empire began. This prophetical event would go on to change the face of Asia.
Despite Nineveh's great power, the ancient city indeed was conquered and destroyed just as Nahum had forewarned. The ancient prophet proved to be correct when he said the city would be "hidden". (Nahum 3:11)
It would not be until the A.D. mid-1800s that archaeologists would begin excavating portions of the biblical city; by 2011 (A.D.) the ruins that were slowly unearthed over a century of hard labor are in dire threat of becoming "hidden" once more due to environmental effects, lack of funds and natural elements.
It is commonly purported the tomb of Nahum is inside the synagogue at Alqosh (present-day northern Iraq), although there are others that lay claim to him being buried in the original ancient town of Elkosh (present-day northern Israel) from which Nahum hailed. Even in death this Minor Prophet remains obscured in history.
The writings of Nahum could be taken as prophecy or literal history. There are at least two different accounts of such a theory... 1) some scholars believe this to be a prophecy written before the downfall of Assyria in 615 B.C.; 2) other theologians suggest it was a liturgy written after the downfall in 612 B.C. Then according to other sources, it is believed that Nahum prophesied during the reign of Ahaz or possibly during the reign of Hezekiah in the 8th century B.C. Yet most all scholars believe the Book of Nahum was written in Jerusalem, where he witnessed the invasion of Sennacherib and the destruction of his host (2 Kings 19:35).
As the destruction of Thebes, Egypt [in 663 B.C,] is mentioned in Nahum 3:8, the scholarly consensus is that his "book of vision" was written at the time of the fall of Nineveh at the hands of the Medes and Babylonians.
Regardless of his early beginnings or the correct date of the oracle's predictions, Nahum is considered the most enigmatic of all the Minor Prophets.
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| Simplified plan of ancient Nineveh, showing city wall & location of gateways. |
Jonah was the first biblical prophet to utter warnings against the city of Nineveh, and Nahum was followed by Zephaniah, who also confounded the nation with the same prophecy of destruction against the capital city.
The Book of Nahum consists of two parts: 1) Chapter 1 - shows the majesty and might of God the Creator; and 2) Chapters 2-3 - describe the fall of Nineveh. In his book he epitomizes the siege and frenzied activity of Nineveh's troops as they try in vain to halt the invaders. From a poetic view Nahum becomes a participant in the battle, and with subtle irony, barks battle commands to the defenders. It is also believed that this ancient prophet used numerous similes and metaphors in his style of writing. One such example is that he compared Nineveh with a lion, in reference to the lion as an Assyrian symbol of power, who once was strong but ended weak [like a lion hiding in its den].
The great city of Nineveh was destroyed by fire somewhere between 625-612 B.C., bringing the Assyrian Empire to an end just as the prophet had predicted. Based on this event, some theologians enunciate that the siege of Nineveh came at the hands of the king of Akkad and the king of Media during the summer of 612 B.C., and not long after the death of the king of Assyria. The Assyrian Empire officially ended around 605 B.C. and the rise of the Babylonian Empire began. This prophetical event would go on to change the face of Asia.
Despite Nineveh's great power, the ancient city indeed was conquered and destroyed just as Nahum had forewarned. The ancient prophet proved to be correct when he said the city would be "hidden". (Nahum 3:11)It would not be until the A.D. mid-1800s that archaeologists would begin excavating portions of the biblical city; by 2011 (A.D.) the ruins that were slowly unearthed over a century of hard labor are in dire threat of becoming "hidden" once more due to environmental effects, lack of funds and natural elements.
It is commonly purported the tomb of Nahum is inside the synagogue at Alqosh (present-day northern Iraq), although there are others that lay claim to him being buried in the original ancient town of Elkosh (present-day northern Israel) from which Nahum hailed. Even in death this Minor Prophet remains obscured in history.
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