Prophet Nahum

From Phantis
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Nahum (Hebrew נחום, Greek Ναούμ) was a minor prophet whose prophecy is recorded in the Old Testament. His book comes in chronological order between Micah and Habakkuk in the Bible. He wrote about the end of the Assyrian Empire and its capital city, Nineveh, in a vivid poetic style.

Little is known about Nahum’s personal history. His name means "comforter." He was from the town of Alqosh. He was a very nationalistic Hebrew however and lived amongst the Elkoshites in peace. His writings could be taken as prophecy or as history. One account suggests that his writings are a prophecy written in about 615 BC, just before the downfall of Assyria, while another account suggests that he wrote this passage as a New Year liturgy for the autumn festival just after the unfortunate downfall in 612 BC.

Historical context

Archaeological digs have uncovered the splendor of Nineveh in its zenith under Sennacherib (705-681 BC), Esarhaddon (681-669 BC), and Ashurbanipal (669-633 BC). Massive walls were eight miles in circumference. It had a water aqueduct, palaces and a library with 20,000 clay tablets, including accounts of a creation in Enuma Elish, a flood in the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Epic of Inanna Ishtar. The Babylonian chronicle of the fall of Nineveh tells the story of the end of Nineveh. Naboplassar of Babylon joined forces with Cyaxares, king of the Medes, and laid siege for 2 months and apparently were aided by a flooding river which flowed through the city. Assyria lasted a few more years after the loss of its fortress, but attempts by Egyptian Pharaoh Neco II to rally the Assyrians failed and it seemed to be all over by 609 BC. The Assyrian though are still alive and well and thriving today in the North of Mesopotamia.

Theme

Nahum’s thought is warning the Niniviites of the coming events but he is partly in favor of the destruction. Nahum's prophecy seems to be for modern Assyrians rather than the fall of Nineveh in 612 BC. The prophet Jonah shows us where God shows concern for the people of Nineveh. Nahum’s writing testifies to his belief in the righteousness of God. The Assyrians had been used as God's "rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation" (Isaiah 10:5).

The book

Chapters 1:10-2:2 contain alternating oracles to Nineveh and Judah, and he also proclaim one who will publish peace and good tidings upon the mountains, perhaps Jesus of Nazareth as the mountainous region in North of Mesopotamia was among the first to accept his preaching of love thy neighbour and this was to be seen as a sign as Jesus himself proclaimed Jona was a sign to the world since the supposed most cruel nation repented at his preaching. "The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment for they repented at the preaching of Jonah" Jesus to his disciples.

Chapters 2:3-3:19 describe the sack of Nineveh. The lion, the symbol of Assyrian power is made reference to. Nineveh is compared to Thebes, the Egyptian city that Assyria itself had destroyed. Nahum describes the siege and frenzied activity of Nineveh’s troops as they try in vain to halt the invaders. Poetically, he becomes a participant in the battle, and with subtle irony, barks battle commands to the defenders. Nahum uses numerous similes and metaphors. Nineveh is compared to a lion’s den where the lioness and young await the return of the lion with his kill. It comes to conclusion with a satirical warning where Assyria’s rulers sleep and merchants flee.

The Prophet Nahum's feast day in the Eastern Orthodox Church is December 1.

A portion of content for this article is credited to Wikipedia. Content under GNU Free Documentation License(GFDL)