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NAHU M.

INTRODUCTION.

NINEVEH, which repented on the preaching of Jonah, soon returned to its former courses. Nahum, therefore, who is supposed to have lived in the reign of Hezekiah, and about 90 years later than Jonah, foretels its destruction, which accordingly took place about 60 years afterwards, when the Assyrian empire was overturned. Bp. Lowth says, "None of the lesser prophets seem to equal Nahum in boldness, ardour, and sublimity. His prophecy forms a regular and perfect poem, relating almost wholly to the destruction of the Assyrian capital. The exordium is not merely magnificent; it is truly majestic. The preparation for the destruction of Nineveh, and the description of its downfal and desolation, are painted in the most vivid colours, and are bold and luminous in the highest degree." (Lowth's Lect. xxi.) Mr. T. H. Horne recommends Bp. Newton's 9th Dissertation on the Prophets, as the best commentary on this book we have therefore carefully consulted it, in connexion with Abp. Newcome's Version, and Dr. Boothroyd's.

CHAP. I.

THE burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

2 God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.

3 The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hạth his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

4 He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.

5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned

at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.

6 Who can stand before his indig nation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.

7 The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth

them that trust in him.

8 But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.

9 What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end; affliction shall not rise up the second time.

10 For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.

NOTES.

CHAP. I. Ver. 1. The burden.-See Note on Isa. xvii. The Elkoshite.-This term is differently. understood. "Many suppose (says Mr. Preb. Townsend) that he was a descendant of Elkosha, while others infer that he was born at Elkosh, or Elkosha, a village in Galilee." Old Test. Arrang. vol. ii. p. 280, Note. The latter sense is adopted by all the authorities referred to in our Introduction to this book. Ver. 2. A jealous God.-See Expos. Deut. ch. xvi. And is furious-Heb. "Having fury," or wrath, namely, for his enemies.

Ver. 3. Will not at all acquit.—See Note on Exod.
xxxiv. 7.
Ver. 4. The sea....the rivers.-See Exod. xiv. 21;
Josh. iii. 16.

Ver. 6. Who can abide? — Heb. "Stand up in ;” that is, all must fall before him.

Ver. 8. With an over-running (or overflowing) flood, &c.-This describes a complete and utter overthrow.

Ver. 10. Folden together as thorns-that is, as a' thorn hedge, says Gesenius. The idea seems to be

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11 There is one come out of thee

that imagineth evil against the LORD,

a wicked counsellor.

12 Thus saith the LORD; Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no

more.

13 For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.

14 And the LORD hath given a commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.

15 Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off. (A)

CHAP. I.

CHAP. II.

[of Nineveh

HE that dasheth in pieces is come

up before thy face: keep the mu nition, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily.

2 For the LORD hath turned away the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel: for the emptiers have emptied them out, and marred their vine branches.

3 The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly sha ken.

4 The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one against another in the broad ways: they shal seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings.

5 He shall recount his worthies: they shall stumble in their walk; they shall make haste to the wall thereof, and the defence shall be prepared.

EXPOSITION.

(A) The majesty of God exhibited in his goodness to his own people, and his severity toward their enemies.-This chapter opens the prophecy with a sublime description of the majesty and power of God, tempered with lenity and goodness to his people, but breathing wrath and judgment to all his enemies. The Prophet then turns to the Assyrians, describes the confusion that prevailed in their counsels, and the corruption of their manners, insomuch that Nineveh, as well as Babylon, appears to have fallen a victim to intoxication.

The one gone forth, the wicked counsellor mentioned in ver. 11, has been generally explained of one or other of the Assyrian kings; but we conceive applies more justly to Rabshakeh, the general of Sennacherib, who was the messenger of his blasphe

mies, and probably the chief author of them; especially of the letter sent in his master's name, 2 Kings xix. 49, &c. Bot this wicked king and his wicked counsel lor loudly boasted of their success against surrounding nations, without drawing any line of distinction between the God of Israel and the idols of the heathen. The Prophet therefore announces the confusion of these blasphemers; the termination their proud career; and, as to Sennache rib, that his tomb is prepared. (2 Kings xix. 37.) Messengers are then seen from the surrounding mountains, announcing the death of the tyrant, and the deliverance of Israel from his yoke, so that they may perform their religious rites secure and uninterrupted. Similar language is, by Isaiah, applied to messengers announcing the incarnation of Messiah, and the salvation of mankind. (Isa. lii. 7.)

NOTES-Chap. I. Con.

that they and their counsels were as full of confusion and perplexity as a thorn hedge, with an infinite number of prickles in every direction: they also intoxicated themselves like drunkards: in this case, they were prepared for destruction, as stubble fully dry is to be consumed by fire.

Ver. 11. A wicked counsellor-Heb. " A counsellor of Belial," or evil adviser.

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Ver. 12. Though they be quiet-Wheeler, "At peace;" Boothroyd, Prosperons."—And likewise many-or numerous. Comp. 2 Kings xix. 17, 18. Ver. 14. That no more of thy name be sown— Newcome, "That thy name be no more scattered (or spread) abroad."

CHAP. II. Ver. 1. He that dashetk in piecesMarg. "The disperser, the hammer.” See Jer. 1. 21 Ver. 2. The excellency of Jacob — perhaps Jesu salem.-The emptiers, or wasters-i, e. the Assyriaza, who had now wasted Israel, and carried the st into captivity.

Ver. 3. The shield .......... made red-We cancerO this implies the sanguinary character of the bes Comp. Isa. Ixiii. 1, 2. But some think it allades only to their dress. With flaming (or hery) foesthese either preceded or accompanied the warchariots. See Orient, Lit. No. 12-And the fir-trees-which formed the axie-trees of these warchariots. Dr. Wheeler.

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CHAP. III.

6 The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved.

7 And Huzzab shall be led away captive; she shall be brought up, and her maids shall lead her as with the voice of doves, tabering upon their breasts.

8 But Nineveh is of old like a pool of water: yet they shall flee away. Stand, stand, shall they cry; but none shall look back.

9 Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold for there is none end of the store and glory out of all the pleasant furniture.

10 She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain is in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness.

11 Where is the dwelling of the lions, and the feeding-place of the young lions, where the lion, even the

CHAP. 11.

[of Nineveh,

old lion, walked, and the lion's whelp, and none made them afraid?

12 The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled his holes with prey, and his dens with ravin.

13 Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lion and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard. (B)

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EXPOSITION.

(B) The armies, commissioned by God, attack Nineveh." Nineveh is now called on to prepare for the approach of her enemies, the instruments of Jehovah's vengeance; and the military array and muster, the very arms and dress of the Medes and Babylonians, their rapid approach to the city, the process of the siege and inundation of the river, the capture of the place, the captivity, lamentation, and flight of the inhabitants, the sacking of the wealthy city, and the consequent desolation and

terror, are all described in the true spirit of Hebrew poetry, with many pathetic, vivid, and sublime images." (Dr.J. Smith.)

In ver. 7, Huzzab, meaning either the queen, or rather, Nineveh herself, is represented as a great princess, led captive with her attendants, bewailing her and their own condition, by beating their breasts, and by other expressions of sorrow. Nineveh is then compared to a vast den, and her inhabitants to lions and lionesses, strong and ferocious, yet devoted to death and to destruction.

NOTES.

Ver. 5. Worthies-Newcome, "Mighty men."Defence Margin, "Covering," namely, under which the besiegers fought. Ver. 6. The gates, &c.-See the extract from Diodorons in the Exposition of chap. iii.

Ver. 7. And Huzzab- Marg. "That which was established," or, "the establishment;" meaning, the queen and the royal harem; though some think this might be the queen's proper name; and others, that the city of Nineveh itself was thus described. See Orient. Cust. No. 361.

Ibid. As with the voice of doves-that is, of lamen. tation.Tabering-that is, striking their breasts with their hands, as they strike the tabor, or tabret. Ver. 8. Like a pool. · See chap. iii. 5.—Stand, &c.--this is exactly the character of an undisciplined army, calling upon others to stand, and running away themselves.

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Ver. 9. There is none end of the store. -Diodorus says that Arbaces carried away many talents of gold and silver to Ecbatann, the royal city of the Medes. Bp. Newton. And glory- Newcome, "Glorious store," connecting this with the preceding term.

-Out of all the pleasant furniture---Heb. " Vessels of desire," which may include both furniture and drinking vessels.

Ver. 10. The heart melteth. --- See Isa. xiii. 7, 8. The faces of them all gather blackness.---We understand this figuratively, as an expression of vexation and disappointment; but compare Note on Joel ii, 6.

Ver. 11. Dwelling-place of the lions-referring to the fierce character of the Ninevites. The curious reader may see in Josephus a paraphrase of the last six verses of this chapter. Antiq. lib. ix. c. 11.

CHAP. III. Ver. 1. Bloody city-Heb. "City of bloods;" i.e. violence and murder.

Ver. 2. The noise of a whip, &c.-"These first three verses (says Abp. Newcome) are a description of Nineveh, as it was in the time of the prophet," fuil of business and of bustle, of luxury and crime. -Jumping (or bounding) chariots.

Ver. 3. The horseman lifteth-Newcome," mounteth." The bright snord-Heb. "The flame of the sword, and the lightning of the spear" (are there).

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a great number of carcases; and there is none end of their corpses; they stumupon their corpses:

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4 Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the well-favoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts.

5 Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts; and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame.

6 And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazing stock.

7 And it shall come to pass, that all they that look upon thee shall flee from thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste: Who will bemoan her? whence shall I seek comforters for thee?

8 Art thou better than populous No, that was situate among the rivers, that had the waters round about it, whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was from the sea?

9 Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength, and it was infinite; Put and Lubim were thy helpers.

10 Yet was she carried away, she went into captivity: her young children also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the streets: and they cast lots for her honourable men, and all her great men were bound in chains.

11 Thou also shalt be drunken: thou shalt be hid, thou also shalt seek strength because of the enemy.

CHAP. III.

[of Nineveh.

12 All thy strong holds shall be like fig trees with the firstripe figs: if they be shaken, they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater.

13 Behold, thy people in the midst of thee are women: the gates of thy land shall be set wide open unto thine enemies the fire shall devour thy bars.

14 Draw thee waters for the siege, fortify thy strong holds: go into clay, and tread the morter, make strong the brick-kiln.

15 There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off, it shall eat thee up like the cankerworm: make thyself many as the cankerworm, make thyself many as the locusts.

16 Thou hast multiplied thy merchants above the stars of heaven: the cankerworm spoileth, and fleeth away.

17 Thy crowned are as the locusts, and thy captains as the great grasshoppers, which camp in the hedges in the cold day, but when the sun ariseth they flee away, and their place is not known where they are.

18 Thy shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria: thy nobles shall dwell is the dust: thy people is scattered upon the mountains, and no man gathereth them.

19 There is no healing of thy bruise; thy wound is grievous: all that hear the bruit of thee shall clap the hands over thee; for upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually? (C)

EXPOSITION.

Prophet goes on to denounce a woe against (C) Nineveh's utter destruction.- The Nineveh, for her perfidy and violence. He

NOTES-Chap. III. Con.

Ver. 5. I will discover thy skirts.-Bp. Lowth remarks, that it was the barbarous custom of ancient conquerors to strip their captives (even women) naked, and so to make them travel.

Ver. 8. Populous No-that is, "No-Ammon," a eity of Egypt. See Jer. xlvii. 25, and Note.Situate among the rivers — that is, the channels of the Nile and the sea; all large lakes were so called, as Gennesareth, Sodom, &c.

Ver. 9. Infinite-literally, " without end."

Ver. 10. She was carried away-Boothroyd (following Prideaux) explains this of the taking of No by Sennacherib, as predicted by Isaiah, ch. xx. 4.

-Cast lots.-It was common to cast lots in dividing the captives.

Ver. 11. Thou shalt be drunken - that is, "with the cup of God's wrath." Boothroyd.

Ver. 12. Like fig trees-their fortresses shall tum

ble to pieces, as ripe figs fall from the tree when shaken. See Rev. vi. JS.

Ver. 13. Women—that is, weak and helpless. Ver. 14. Tread the morter-this is said to be the practice as respects bricks, and we suppose morter, to the present day, in Persia. See Orient. Lit. No. 1091.

Ver. 16. The cankerworm spoileth Margia "Spreadeth himself and flieth away;" Boothroyd, "As locusts, they (the merchants) spread themselves, and fly around."

Ver. 17. In the cold day- Heb. "In the day of cold;" i. e. in cold weather.

"

Ver. 18. Thy nobles-Marg. " Valiant ones." Dwell in the dust - Newcome, "In sloth;" i. c. All the tributary princes deserted Ninereh, and were inactive.

Ver. 19. Bruit-See Note on Jer. x. 2.

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#musters up before our eyes the number of her chariots and cavalry; points to her burnished arms, and to the great and unrelenting slaughter which she spreads around her. He assigns her sins as the cause of 2 her ignominious and unpitied fall, which be compares to the dreadful destruction of the famous city of No, in Egypt. He then describes the ease with which her strong holds should be taken, and pronounces that all her preparations, her numbers, opulence, and chieftains, would be of no avail, and that her tributaries would desert her. The whole concludes with introducing the nations she had oppressed, as exulting with joy at her destruction.

As the following passage of Diodorus Siculus is quoted by Bp. Newton, as throwing light on several parts of this prophecy, it may not be improper to subjoin it here: "There was an old prophecy, or tradition, that Nineveh should not be taken till the river (the Tigris, which defended part of the city) became its enemy. And in the third year of the siege, this river, being swollen with coutinual rains, overflowed part of the city, and destroyed the wall for

[of Nineveh,

twenty furlongs. The king, thinking the oracle was fulfilled, and the river become an enemy, built a large funeral pile in the palace, and collecting all his wealth, concubines, and eunuchs, set fire to the pile, involving them, himself, and the palace, in one common ruin."

By comparing Nahum i. 8. with chap. ii. 13, it appears that Nineveh was to owe its destruction to the opposite elements of fire and water, and such the Pagan author just cited assures us was its fate. When Nahum uttered his prophecy, Nineveh was the capital of the greatest empire in the world, being about 60 miles in circumference, and well peopled. See Jonah jii. 3. What probability then was there that such a city should ever be so totally destroyed, that the place where it stood should not be known? Yet Lucian, who was a native of a neighbouring country, and flourished in the second century, affirms, that no traces of Nineveh remained, even then; and now, its very situation is disputed: such is the truth and exactness of the divine predictions. (See Bp. Newton's Diss. ix.)

HABAKKUK.

INTRODUCTION.

AS Nahum prophesied the destruction of the Assyrians, who carried the ten tribes captive, so Habakkuk foretold the destruction of the Chaldeans, who completed the captivity of Judah and Benjamin, the two tribes which remained. This Prophet is supposed to have lived about the same time with Jeremiah, and holds a distinguished rank among the sacred poets: the hymn, or ode, in the third chapter, Bp. Lowth says, “may be accounted amongst the most perfect specimens of that class." (Lect. xx.)

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