Nahum Chapter 3 Part 2

Na'hum. (consolation). Nahum, called "the Elkoshite," is the seventh, in order, of the Minor Prophets. His personal history is quite unknown. The site of Elkosh, his native place, is disputed, some placing it in Galilee, others in Assyria

The name refers back to Yahweh's compassion connected with Jonah's mission eighty-seven years before. The name Nahum is an abbreviated form of the name Nehemiah, which means “Comfort of Yahweh.”

The book of Nahum is devoted exclusively to the announcement of the destruction of the city of Nineveh; the prophecy gave hope to the people of Judah who had long been terrorized by Assyria’s constant and ominous threat

I continue with our study on what the Capital Building is all about. Was the Capital design to be a Temple set up by the founders of the New World Order?  In this study, I continue into the insight of the artist of the Capital Dome, Constantino Brumidi. 

As we continue is this Chapter 3, we still see the

2:1 - 3:19. DESTRUCTION OF NINEVEH.
  2:1-2. Yahweh’s. = challenge to fight
  2:3-10. Judgment. = Invasion
  2:11-13; 3:1-7. Causes. = Hostility
  3:8-10. Examples. = Citation
  3:11-13. Examples. = Application
  3:14. Yahweh’s. = challenge to fight
  3:15-17. Judgment. = Devastation
  3:18-19. Causes. = Hostility
Then we continue with Yahweh’s
2:3-10. JUDGMENT. INVASION  
2:11-13; 3:1-7. CAUSES. = Hostility
2:11-12. Yahweh’s. = challenge to fight
2:13. The cause. = Hostility
3:1-3. Yahweh. = Challenge to fight
3:4-7. The cause. = Hostility

In our last study we started to see why Yahweh is so mad with Nineveh. In verse 1 Yahweh states that Nineveh is a ‘bloody city, full of lies and robbery’ and verse 4 we see Yahweh showing us that Nineveh was a city of ‘whoredoms, a mistress of witchcrafts and a seller to other nations through her whoredoms and witchcrafts’ 

We need to know Yahweh’s punishment of Nineveh and its outcome (5-7), so we have an idea of what to expect

1.       Yahweh is the one who punishes: Note the first-person singular pronouns used here by Yahweh

2.     “Behold, I am against you” (5a) = Recall Nahum 2:13

3.       First three lines focuses on Nineveh being humiliated like a prostitute’s shame with public nudity: “And I will lift up your skirts over your face, And show the nations your nakedness, And the kingdoms your shame” (5b)

         1.       Assyrian laws prohibit prostitutes wearing veils, something only a married woman can wear so when a prostitute is caught wearing one she is publicly stripped at the entry of the palace after she is found guilty, as a punishment

        2.       Given the reference to Nineveh’s deceit in Nahum 3:1 and 3:4 this might be the parallel that explain Nineveh’s punishment of being shame with nakedness as a punishment. Thus we see Nineveh’s own law turn against itself

        3.       Assyrian goddess Ishtar often appeals to followers with art work of her naked body; but this exposure is not seductive as it is exposing the horror of what Nineveh’s ugliness is like

       4.       Rather than reveal to intoxicate Yahweh’s punishment here is to repulse those who might otherwise might be tempted by her spell

4.       Further shaming: “I will throw filth on you And declare you worthless, And set you up as a spectacle” (6)

Have any questions? Feel free to email me; keitner2024@outlook.com