As a result, she has sunk down to a very low level for a nation which has had such a tremendous history. This book has received some attention from those who speak “the wild utterances of prophecy mongers,” as Sir Robert Anderson calls them. While scholars have proposed a number of theories about Nahum’s hometown, Elkosh, the best option identifies it with a city in southern Judah that later came to be known as Elcesi, near where the prophet Micah lived. In his prophetic vision, Nahum takes a tour of the city of Nineveh and observes how ripe it is for judgment. When and how was Nineveh destroyed? https://www.insight.org/resources/bible/the-minor-prophets/nahum In time they became as brutal as they had been before. The question arises: Is He right in doing it? Nahum lived in a dark time, a time in which the faithful few must have wondered how long they would have to resist cultural and spiritual compromise. country of Ninevah. His home was in Elkosh, although no one knows where … J. Barton Payne, “2 Chronicles,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, abridged ed., Old Testament, ed., Kenneth L. Barker and John R. Kohlenberger III (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994), 672. As Chuck was talking, Christ was also talking to my heart. “From abundance to selfishness, from selfishness to complacency”—is that a picture of us today? Read the Bible free online. It was located on the east bank of the Tigris river. How much longer is our civilization going to last? Well, God’s methods vary. Assyria was a nation that had had light, but what was the net result? Please note, our website requires JavaScript to be supported. However, Nahum is a thrilling book to study because it reveals the other side of the attributes of God. Nahum Images and Notes. Why did God judge Nineveh so harshly in the book of Nahum? We don't know exactly when Nahum gave this prophecy. I think I will put it on our route and will bring people here when we take tours. At that time they were a first–rate nation. Please note, our website requires JavaScript to be supported. This is all his prophecy is about, and it has already been fulfilled; so how can this book be meaningful to us today? To begin with, we know very little about Nahum personally, and he has just one theme: the judgment of Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire. This little book has a message for us, my friend. In all three chapters Nahum prophesied Nineveh's fall, which was fulfilled in 612. He sent Jonah to Nineveh because Nineveh was a great, wicked city, but they were totally ignorant of God. In 3:8-10 the author speaks of the fall of Thebes, which happened in 663 b.c., as already past. Also, a small but faithful remnant in an increasingly idolatrous Judah would have been comforted by declarations of God’s slowness to from apathy back to bondage. Please contact us or click here to learn more about how to enable JavaScript on your browser. The text says in 1:1: “The book of the vision of Nahum.”1 The Hebrew name Nahum means “compassion,” or “comfort” and is interesting in light of God’s promises throughout the book of comfort and deliverance for his people. 6:23). “If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!”. Well, there are several possible identifications of the city of Elkosh. They had forgotten the great revival that took place under him. Ch. The first time I visited England, I asked my guide to take me to the cemetery across from Wesley’s church where Wesley is buried. anger (Nahum 1:3), His goodness and strength (1:7), and His restorative power (2:2). No doubt we all have felt overwhelmed by the darkness both within ourselves and in our world. And the answer is no—they didn’t. Their question now was whether God had totally abandoned them, or worse, was God able to deliver them from the hands of the heathen nations who had been God's very instruments of judgment. Rev. It is the belief of many that what actually happened was that Nahum was born up in the northern kingdom of Israel—which would explain his great attachment to the northern kingdom—but that he later moved down to Elkosh, a place in the south of Judah. Amon, the chief god of the Egyptians, was shown on Egyptian relics as a figure with a human body and a ram’s head. I do not think that Nahum actually went to Nineveh. Listen to Chuck Swindoll’s overview of Nahum in his audio message from the Classic series God’s Masterwork. A wall that extended for eight miles formed the northern and eastern boundaries. But in *Hebrew Bibles, it starts chapter 2. Nahum (Program #1) – Jehovah’s Judgment on Nineveh. ... Blue Letter Bible study tools make reading, searching and studying the Bible easy and rewarding. Interesting Facts About Nahum Barnes’ Bible Charts MEANING: The Hebrew word “Nahum” means “Comfort,” “consolation.” It is a shortened from of Nehemiah. We have certain place names in this country of which you will find one in practically every state. However, Nahum is a thrilling book to study because it reveals the other side of the attributes of God. The next step, according to the senator, is “from apathy back to bondage.”. Lewis, wrote a story in which he tells about a bus trip that was run from hell to heaven. from courage to liberty The driver told everyone on the bus, ‘At four o’clock this afternoon, the bus is going to leave and head for home.’ Home just happened to be hell. The remarkable thing about the Word of God is that no matter where we turn we find a message for us. Also, while Did this nation become a godly nation? a second time. This would place him during the reign of Josiah and make him a contemporary of Zephaniah and the young Jeremiah. Try it free for 30 days! Your browser does not support JavaScript. The Nile appears as a sea when it overflows its banks annually. Thanks for the good work you do. Nahum is identified in the first verse of the book: “The burden of Nineveh. Jerome recorded that a guide pointed out to him such a village as the birthplace of Nahum. The city was about three miles wide and ei… The Lord Jesus spoke about light that is rejected. He and the driver talked it over, looked at the city map, and finally wound their way through the streets of London until we arrived at the place. While the book as a whole clearly shows God’s concern over sin, His willingness to punish those guilty of wickedness, and His power to carry out His desire for judgment, it also contains rays of hope shining through the darkness. Those of us who had ancestors in the British Isles—whether in England, Wales, Scotland, or Ireland—have to bow our heads today in shame. As I come to each new book and chapter of the Bible, some folk kid me that I always say it is the greatest book or chapter. Isn’t that really the history of revivals? Why were infants dashed to pieces (Nahum 3:10)? Some folk think the Book of Nahum should be called “Ho hum”! One hundred years later, during the time of Nahum, the Assyrians had returned to their bullish ways, conquering the northern kingdom of Israel and lording their power over Judah in the south (2 Kings 17:1–6; 18:13–19:37). Sign up to receive e-mail from Insight for Living Ministries. (1) There was a city of Elkosh in Assyria, a few miles north of the ruins of Nineveh. Book of Nahum - Bible Survey What are the Major Prophets and Minor Prophets? Evidently, Elkosh was a common name like that. The only thing we're told is what we're told in Nahum 1:1 Nahum 1:1 The burden of Nineveh. The man who wrote this prophecy evidently knew something about Sennacherib’s attack upon Jerusalem. from spiritual faith to courage Nahum also predicted a time of peace beyond this troubled world. Who was Nahum? I had that pointed out to me also when I was over there. Quite a few years ago I cut out this little clipping which reads: A United States Senator has stated that the average life of the great civilizations of the world has been about 200 years. Nahum will say that He is not only right in doing it, but that He is also good when He does it. Go To Nahum Index. How can he be a comforter? Title: The book’s title is taken from the prophet-of-God’s oracle against Nineveh, the capital of Assyria.           –Description of No-Amon (Thebes) from Jonah, Micah, and Nahum by Dr. Charles Feinberg, Also sign me up to receive Thru the Bible's monthly newsletter by email. Do we ever reach a point that we cannot be forgiven (Nahum 3:19)? The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh. God is love, but God is also holy and righteous and good. That, of course, has no reference at all to the automobile, as we will see when we come to it. Nahum 2 – Nineveh Conquered “This chapter is a masterpiece of ancient literature, unsurpassed for its graphic portrayal of a military assault.” (James Montgomery Boice) A. View Chuck Swindoll's chart of Nahum, which divides the book into major sections and highlights themes and key verses. There are more Bibles in this country of ours than any other book; it is the best–selling, but least read, book. How can light be darkness in anyone? Dates are suggested anywhere from 720 B.C. I do not think he was there, nor was he ever called to go there. He pronounces judgment by the total destruction of Assyria, Nineveh being the capital of that nation. And God still moves in the lives of nations; therefore, this book speaks right into where we are today. He probably went down there as a lad and was raised in the southern kingdom. Where are we today? God pity America when we reach the bottom of the hill.” Are we a nation of abundance? The two verses probably belong together. You will find a city of the same name in California, in Texas, and then maybe way up in Connecticut. He goes on to say that these civilizations have progressed (if that’s the right word) through the following stages: from bondage to spiritual faith The judgment of this godless and idolatrous city was foretold by Jeremiah (46:25) and Ezekiel (30:14-16). Nahum’s prophecy against the city of I’m not going to waste my time because there is no point in it. The Book of Nahum. 180+ | 58 min: Add All (5) to Favorites | Use in conjunction with the Transfer Agent for batch downloading. Nahum sounds the death knell of Nineveh. The Bible states that humanity does not know the way to peace and that without God’s help we cannot succeed (Isaiah 59:8-10).           –Dr. Whatever you plot against the LORD, He will bring to an end. This leads us to date Nahum’s prophecy between the years of 663 and 654 BC. There are many dates which have been assigned to this book and this prophet. There was a great turning to God, but how did England make out? Very candidly, I do not think that is true; I believe that the content of the book reveals that Nahum did not go to Nineveh. Its ruins cover an area of some 27 miles. He said, “… If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matt. 1 Bible Study Guide– Book of Nahum Saturday, August 24, 2012 Background on Nahum The name “Nahum“ means “comfort” and is related to the name Nehemiah, meaning “The Lord comforts” or “comfort of the Lord.” (Nineveh’s fall, which is Nahum’s theme, would bring comfort to Judah.) by conservative scholars. They are way down on the list today. Picture Study Bible - Nahum - Bible History Online. This is the picture that is given of Nineveh, and this is the message of Nahum. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.” Who is an Elkoshite? J. Gresham Machen, “The very brilliant Oxford don, C.S. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991. When God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and to bring a message there, a remarkable thing happened—the entire city turned to God—100 percent. Because they have already had the light, and they’ve rejected it. Well, look at her today.