It is attributed to the prophet nahum, and was probably written in jerusalem in the 7th century bc. The book of nahum comes some one hundred years after the. John owen, translator, calvins commentary on jonah, micah, nahum. So, why dont we remain in your seats, and ill ask gods blessing on the bible study. Before each session read the selected passages in your bible, read over the text notes, and answer the discussion questions. The only mention in scripture of nahum the elkoshite occurs in the first verse of his own book. The blue letter bible ministry and the blb institute hold to the historical, conservative christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of scripture. The name nahum occurs in the new testament where it is found in lukes genealogy of our lord jesus christ. Nahum preached to the city of nineveh 100 years after jonah had preached to the city. Notice how halleys bible handbook introduces the book of nahum. Book of nahum overview insight for living ministries. Book before nahum is a crossword puzzle clue that we have spotted 7 times.
Book of nahum was written for the decline of assyria sometime between 660620 b. Nahum the elkoshite had a message of consolation to judah since he foretold the doom of the assyrians and the restoration of. The author of the book of nahum identifies himself as nahum in the hebrew consoler or comforter the elkoshite 1. Nahum 1 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. Book of nahum the prophet, the book of nahum commentary, bible study out of thee shall come forth one that imagineth evil against the lord, contriving treachery in his mind. Reading the chapter before looking at the notes, while working with the notes, and after finishing with the notes will give each researcher a powerful sense of the series of meanings within each chapter. It would only be about 40 years after their zenith before they would fall to the next regional super power, the babylonians, around 612 b. Barton payne, 2 chronicles, in the expositors bible commentary. Nineveh knows not that god who contends with her, but is told what a god he is. It is the conjecture of the learned huetius that the two other chapters of this book were delivered by nahum some years after, perhaps in the reign of manasseh, and in that reign the jewish chronologies generally place him, somewhat nearer to the time when nineveh was conquered, and the assyrian monarchy reduced, by cyaxares and nebuchadnezzar, some time before the first captivity of judah. Oct 05, 2017 the book of nahum is the seventh book of the 12 minor prophets of the hebrew bible. Approximately a century before nahum, jonah had been sent to the.
Nahum 1 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, by the leading authority in the church of christ, presents a verse level look at the bible. About 100 years before this jonah had, in gods name, foretold the speedy. His name means comforter, and he was from the town of alqosh. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. Therefore it is reasonable to affirm that nahum was written sometime. Nahum 2 nineveh conquered this chapter is a masterpiece of ancient literature, unsurpassed for its graphic portrayal of a military assault.
Come to your small group prepared to share and discuss your responses to that weeks session. An easyenglish commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of nahum. About a hundred years before, at jonahs preaching, the ninevites repented, and were spared, yet, soon after, they became worse than ever. In the prophets, a burden is a heavy message of weighty importance, heavy in the sense that it produces sorrow or grief. When god had a message for the people, he spoke through the prophets. This would put the book probably between about 663 and 654 b. Empire was nineveh, the city that heard the preaching of jonah a hundred years before and repented. God is love, but god is also holy and righteous and good. Nahum free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. The focal point of the entire book is the lords judgment on nineveh for her oppression, cruelty, idolatry and wickedness. Others support the idea that nahum was written shortly before the fall of nineveh at the hands of the medes and babylonians 612 bc. He wrote about the end of the assyrian empire, and its capital city, nineveh, in a vivid poetic style.
This study also includes a teaching outline at the end. Before you attempt to answer the questions below you should read these chapters in the bible and answer the questions at the end of each chapter found at the website answer the questions below and then click ok to send your answers. Actually, i like to study the little books of jonah and nahum together because it was between 100 and 150 years before nahum appeared on the scene that jonah went to nineveh with a message from god. Bible commentary on nahum, habakkuk and zephaniah in easy. The ruins of nineveh will be good news for the people of god. Nahum describes the siege and frenzied activity of ninevehs troops as they try in vain to halt the invaders. His writings were likely written in about 615 bc, before the downfall of assyria.
Nahum is the seventh of the minor prophets, the last 12 books of the old testament. The book of nahum is the seventh book of the 12 minor prophets of the hebrew bible. A free bible version and commentary on the book of nahum in easyenglish. While scholars have proposed a number of theories about nahums 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. Nahum means comfort or consolation and is a short form of nehemiah comfort of yahweh. David guzik commentary on nahum1, describes the judgement of god on nineveh by. Top 5 commentaries on the book of nahum ligonier ministries. Referencing daniel, exodus, isaiah and babylon, nahum shows us that the destruction of nineveh and assyria are examples of how god works in history in every age. Study scripture verses with commentary, concordances, and use highlighting, underlining, take notes in the bible.
Given the limited amount of information that we know about nahum, the best we can do is narrow the timeframe in which the book of nahum was written to between 663 and 612 b. Since you are already here then chances are that you are looking for the daily themed crossword solutions. God spared nineveh when they repented in the days of jonah. Well send you a new verse every day to download or share. Nahum maintains that god is just in his judgment of this nation. If we do not know that, these verses will confuse us.
His book comes in chronological order between micah and habakkuk in the bible. Bible commentary on nahum, habakkuk and zephaniah in easy english. You can find the best commentary on nahum for you using the tools on the right side. Nahum with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Study the bible online using commentary on nahum 1 and more. Jfb is one of the more literal, conservative older commentaries prior to 1900. The book of nahum mentions the recent fall of noamon, or thebes, which. The book of nahum reveals that god will punish all evil.
We only know little of nahum the 7 th of the twelve minor prophets. Apart from this book, nothing is known about the prophet called nahum. There are a number of helpful commentaries on the book of nahum, and the. In a deep sense, the book of nahum speaks to faith when faith is faltering.
His word came in visions, oracles, dreams, parables, and the like. Apr 06, 2011 probably the book was written in jerusalem. He was raised up to preach gods judgment for a second time to nineveh. To understand the prophets exultant outburst of joy over the impending destruction it is necessary to recall the savage cruelty of assyria, which had made it the scourge of the ancient near east for almost three centuries. Since the text and audio content provided by blb represent a range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed in the resource materials are not. The lords anger against nineveh the lord is a jealous and avenging god. Nahum 1 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on the. The central theme of the book of nahum is the overthrow of the greatest capital city of the ancient gentile world in the 7 th century bc. Nowhere does the book describe nahum as a prophet, but he was a prophet.
This first verse has the utility of identifying the object of gods wrath so forcefully mentioned. The book of the vision as prophets were of old called seers, so their prophecies were called visions. Nahum s name means comforter, but nahum is not trying to comfort the people. And as you can see on the slide, tonight we are going to be talking about the book of nahum. For notes on elkosh, see the introduction to the book of nahum. The burden of nineveh was what the prophet plainly foresaw, for it was his vision, and what he left upon record it is the book of the vision, that, when he was gone, the event might be compared with the prediction and might confirm it.
The subject of nahum s prophecy is the approaching complete and final destruction. Study nahum 1 using john gills exposition of the bible to better understand scripture with full outline and verse meaning. He reserveth wrath though they seem to prosper for a time. And is furious so powerful in the manifestations of his judgments, that nothing can stand before him. C, merely before their downfall at the hands of the babylonians and almost 150 years after the events in the book of jonah. 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. I have afflicted thee, and i will afflict thee no more. Nahum 1 bible commentary john gills exposition of the bible. Look no further because you will find whatever you are looking for in here.
He that dashes in pieces is come up before thy face, at the beginning of the second chapter of nahum, refers to judas maccabeaus. Ninevehs fall, which is nahum s theme, would bring comfort to judah. The lord had harsh words for nineveh, who had again become disobedient to him, but this time nineveh would not escape destruction. The books title is taken from the prophetofgods oracle against nineveh, the capital of assyria. In the book of nahum there are allegedly numerous verbal, stylistic, and conceptual parallels to isaiah 5152 and indeed the entire book of isaiah. One of the most striking examples of verbal parallel, recognized by all scholars, is nahum 1. Read nahum 1 commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole. There are many theories as to where that city was though there is no conclusive evidence. Perhaps the book s emphasis upon the power of the assyrians may suggest a date before 645 b. The graphic and poetic imagery of ninevehs demise is a testament to gods sovereignty and strength. Translators could also find the translated bible text useful, as the writer translated from the hebrew tex t.
It is the book of the vision of nahum the elkoshite. Shortly before the fall of nineveh, the capital of assyria, in 612 b. Ralph smith micahmalachi word biblical commentary, 1984. Bible study guide book of nahum united church of god. Chapters two and three describe the fall of nineveh, which later took place in 612 bc. Authorship the author of this remarkably literary book is probably nahum. He was raised up to preach gods judgment for a second time to. We are continuing our series on the minor prophets tonight. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 1200 word vocabulary on the books of nahum, habakkuk and zephaniah. One such theory is that it refers to the city later called capernaum which literally means the village of nahum at the sea of galilee. However, within 100 years, nineveh had once again become a wicked and evil city. This commentary has been through advanced checking. Nahum 1 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary is one of the most respected interdenominational commentaries ever written.
However, nahum is a thrilling book to study because it reveals the other side of the attributes of god. Jan 02, 2020 one such theory is that it refers to the city later called capernaum which literally means the village of nahum at the sea of galilee. The lord takes vengeance on his foes and vents his wrath against his enemies. The book of nahum is a collection of poems announcing the downfall of assyria, one of israels worst oppressors. Merely one generation later, nineveh was back to its evil ways. Nineveh is compared to thebes, the egyptian city that assyria itself had destroyed in 663 bc.