Nahum 3:7-12

Nahum 3:7 (KJB)

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?

 

When people will come upon the ruins of Nineveh they will not stand around and stare but they will see the condition of the city and will themselves flee because they might fear that they will partake of the same destruction Nineveh did.  Nineveh is laid waste, that is, she has been utterly destroyed and the walls are in ruins and everything in it has been destroyed.  She is uninhabitable by humans because even the living quarters of the people have been obliterated.  The question is asked, who will bemoan her?  Who will feel sorry for her and who will lament?  Certainly not those people whom Assyria has invaded and plundered and certainly not those who lived there because they have been removed from their houses and taken to other lands in Babylon.  The next question is asked, “whence shall I seek comforters for thee?”  The ones who lived there could not comfort Nineveh because they are gone and certainly those nations who suffered under her hands would never seek to comfort her, instead they would deride her.

 

Nahum 3:8 (KJB)

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?

 

No was a big city otherwise known as Thebes which was in Egypt on the Nile River.  It was thought to be an invincible city which was destroyed by the Assyrians.  It was located 440 miles (708 km) south of Cairo.   It was a mighty and very wealthy city.  The waters that were around it made the rampart or defense of the city and was thought to be invincible.  The sea was the Midland Sea and was northward of the city.  They had constructed a great wall from the city to the sea which was supposed to be a deterrent to any attacks where troops could easily move where needed in case of an attack.  It was General George Patton who stated that “fixed fortifications are a monument to the stupidity of man.”  He was right because there is no fixed fortification which could not be penetrated.  God asks the Assyrians are they better than No?  In other words, if No could be taken what makes you think that you could not be taken?

 

Nahum 3:9 (KJB)

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

 

The city of Thebes was taken during the reign of Ashurbanipal in 663 B.C. just at the beginning of the ministry of Nahum.  Nineveh would suffer the same fate.  Egypt and the kingdom south of Egypt Ethiopia were the strength of Thebes.  Whenever the city needed it, they were sent supplies and even soldiers to defend her.  Their concords were of a continuing nature.  The Lubim were the Libyans which were northwest of Thebes.  Put was also of Libya and were also called Africans but were farther west of the Lubim.  They were also the descendants of Ham also known as Phut.  Genesis 10:6 (KJV) And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.

 

Nahum 3:10 (KJB)

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.

 

Even though Thebes was considered to be a very impenetrable city, nevertheless it was conquered by the Assyrians and their people taken captive and their treasures wound up in the treasure storehouses of Nineveh.  Many were killed in the attack including children so Nineveh will not be able to protect her children.  One of the ancient customs of the victors was to cast lots for the prisoners they had taken.  The great men which would refer to all the leaders of Thebes were not killed but were kept alive and placed in chains for the purpose of being a witness to the fact that they were a defeated people.  This warning is to Nineveh who thought they were an impenetrable city and will realize that once the Chaldeans begin to move in and conquer, they will not quit until the city is razed.

 

Nahum 3:11 (KJB)

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

 

Nineveh will become as helpless as a drunk is.  They are not rational, they cannot walk properly, and their judgment is confused by means of the liquor.  This is how the people of Nineveh will be, as helpless as drunks not being able to resist what is coming at them.  When it says they shall be hid, they will be on the run and will hide instead of confronting the enemy, they will be on the run instead of in command as they have been used to for so many years.  They will also try and be strong in the face of the enemy but that will only turn to weakness as they try very hard to find some strengths to defend themselves and maybe repel the invasion to victory.  They will try to seek a place of safety but there will be none since the Chaldeans will make it a total destruction.

 

Nahum 3:12 (KJB)

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.

 

Revelation 6:13 (KJV) And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.  Here the verse speaks of total destruction as it states that “all” their strongholds will become weak like figs when they first appear on the tree.  Because of their weight and ripeness, they will fall easily to the ground.  Here no matter what fortifications Nineveh throws up to try and thwart the enemy, it will be futile.  The mouth of the eater is the Chaldeans as they will devour Nineveh like it is nothing more than a simple fig tree.

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