The Book of Naḥum
Background
of Naḥum
Time: Between 663BCE (destruction of Egyptian
capital; 3:8) and 612BCE (Nineveh falling to Babylonia)
Place: Southern Kingdom
Kings: Unnamed
Political
Backdrop:
·
Northern Kingdom has been decimated and exiled
by Assyria (722BCE)
·
Soon-to-come: Assyria will be beaten by Babylon
and friends
Primary
Themes of Naḥum:
·
Oppressive political structures will be destroyed
·
God is vengeful against the wicked; Nineveh
will be destroyed due to Nineveh’s sin
·
Is Nineveh a reality or a symbol?
Structure
of Naḥum
Content
|
Verses
|
Section
I: The Character of God
|
Chapter
1
|
Intro
|
1
|
God is
jealous + language from Ex. 34
|
2-3
|
Theophanic
language
|
3-6
|
God is
good!
|
7
|
God
destroys God’s enemies
|
8-14
|
|
|
|
Chapter
2
|
Judah
will be restored
|
1-3
|
Nineveh
will be destroyed
|
4-10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section
III: Nineveh’s Sin
|
Chapter
3
|
Nineveh
is violent and warful
|
1-3
|
Compared
to ‘evil women’ (harlot and sorceress)
|
4-5
|
God
will deal with Nineveh
|
5-6
|
Nineveh
is not better than the places Nineveh attacked
|
7-10
|
Nineveh
will be devoured
|
11-18
|
And
everyone else will be happy about it
|
19
|
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