Westminster Annotations, Nahum 1
ANNOTATIONS ON THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET NAHƲM.
CHAP. I.
Vers. 1. THe burden] That is, a prophesie of threatnings and evils. Isa. 13. 1. Jer. 23. 33.
of Nineveh] Zeph. 2. 13. The head of the Assyrian Empire, which was conquered by Nebuchadnezzar the great King of Chaldea, who also destroyed Nineveh. Isa. 10. 5. Ezek. 31. 3. Zeph. 2. 13.
The book of the vision of Nahum] The vision or revelation which God commanded Nahum to write of a ruine to Nineveh.
the Elkoshite] Of a City or Castle, called Elcosh; which ancient Histories have affirmed to have been within the Tribe of Simeon: but the Scripture makes no mention thereof.
V. 2. God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth] Or, The LORD is a jealous God, and a revenger, &c. Who cannot endure such injuries done to his glory, and to his children, as the Assyrians have done to them. Exod. 20. 5.
is furious] Heb. that hath fury. With his he is but angry for a time, but his anger never asswageth toward the reprobate, though for a time he deferre it.
V. 3. The LORD is slow to anger] Exod. 34. 6, 7. Thus the wicked would make Gods mercy an occasion to sinne, but the Prophet willeth them to consider his force and justice.
the LORD, &c.] Psalm. 18. 8. Hab. 3. 5, 11, 12.
the clouds are the dust of his feet] He moveth the clouds of the air, even as a great cloud of dust would be raised by a great multitude of horsmen riding apace.
V. 4. He rebuketh the sea] Isa. 90. 2.
Bashan languisheth] The strength and beauty of creatures is destroyed, when they feel his wrath.
the flower of Lebanon languisheth] The fair and excellent Cedars, and other trees of Lebanon. Or, Lebanon, which was so prosperous and flourishing.
mountains quake] Psal. 97. 5.
V. 6. who can abide] Heb. who can stand up. If all creatures be at Gods command, and none is able to resist his wrath, shall man flatter himself, and think by any means to escape when he provoketh his God to anger?
V. 7. strong hold] Or, strength.
and he knoweth them] Psal. 1. 6. Lest the faithfull should be discouraged by hearing the power of God, he sheweth them, that his mercies appertain unto them, and that he approveth of, favoureth, and taketh an especiall care of them.
V. 8. an overrunning floud] Signifying, that God will suddenly destroy Nineveh, and the Assyrians, as with a floud, which shall break down all defences and banks, and shall not be kept back nor turned another way: as Isa. 28. 19.
V. 9. What do ye imagine against the LORD] He sheweth, that the enterprises of the Assyrians against Judah and the Church, were against God, and therefore he would so destroy them at once, that he should not need to return the second time.
V. 10. they be folden together] Troubled and perplexed in their counsels, and means of their defence; and also made drunken with wine, and pleasures, and with pride of their greatnesse and power.
V. 11. There is one come out of thee] He seems to point at Senacherib, who had plotted the totall ruine of Jerusalem, under Hezekiah.
a wicked counseller] Heb. a counseller of Belial.
V. 12. Though, &c.] Or, If they would have been at peace, so should they have been many, and so should they have been shorn, and he should have passed away. Though they think themselves in most safety, and of greatest strength (by reason of the height which this Empire had attained unto) yet they shall be like to ripe corn or grasse of the field; which seemeth to call upon the sickle, and sythe to cut and mow it down.
cut down] Heb. shorn.
though I have afflicted thee] God turneth his speech to the Church.
V. 14. concerning thee] Thou King or Empire of Assyria.
no more of thy name be sown] Namely, after thou art thus cut down, as vers. 12. thou shalt no more come to thy former estate; contrary to those fields, which after the corn is cut down, are sown again. Or, he intimates the totall extinguishing of the royall race of Assyria.
cut off the graven Image] This is added according to the custome of Prophets, who in the description of the ruine of States, do adde thereunto the overthrow of the idols.
I will make thy grave] He seemeth to have relation to Senacherib, being murthered in his own Temple, 2 Kings 19. 36, 37. after he had been shamefully forced to go out of Judea.
V. 15. Behold, &c.] A description of the Churches joy at the news of the Assyrians ruine, by means whereof she might in peace, securitie, and mirth attend upon Gods service, and give him thanks.
the mountains] Isa. 52. 7. Rom. 10. 15.
keep thy solemn feasts] Heb. feast.
perform thy vows] Or, pay and yeeld them up.
the wicked] Heb. Belial.
CHAP. II.
Vers. 2. HE] Or, The disperser, or, hammer.
that dasheth in pieces] That is, Nebuchadnezzar is in a readinesse to destroy the Assyrians; and the Prophet derideth the enterprises of the Assyrians, which prepared to resist him.
keep the munition] Use what care thou canst to defend thy self; but all shall be in vain. See Jer. 51, 11, 12.
V. 2. For the LORD] Isa. 10. 12.
hath turned away] Seeing God hath punished his own people Judah and Israel, he will now punish the enemies by whom he scourged them; read Isa. 10. 12.
the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel] Or, the pride of Jacob as the pride of Israel.
the emptiers] Psal. 80. 13.
marred their vine-branches] Signifying, that the Israelites were utterly destroyed.
V. 3. The shield] A description of the Chaldeans preparation to assault Nineveh.
of his mighty men] Of that dasher in pieces spoken of vers. 1.
red] A colour which was much used by the Babylonians, especially in warres. See Ezek. 23. 14.
in scarlet] Or, died scarlet.
flaming torches] Or, fiery torches. By reason of the glittering of the armour: some take this in it proper meaning for wilde fires which should be thrown.
in the day of his preparation] To give the onset.
the firre-trees shall be terribly shaken] He doth by Hyperbole call the great Launces, Spears, and other piked Arms, so.
V. 4. they shall seem] Heb. their show.
V. 5. He shall recount his worthies] The King of Babylon shall encourage his captains to the battell, calling them every one by his owne proper name, according to the custome of Generals.
worthies] Or, gallants.
they shall stumble in their walk] There shall be such a throng, and they shall go on so fiercely, that they shall hardly be able to keep their ranks.
defence] Heb. covering, or, coverer. It was some engine or moveable defence, made after the ancient fashion, under which the assailants drew near to the wall, either to digge through it with mattocks and pick-axes; or for to fight with them that stood in defence above upon certain wooden towers.
V. 6. The gates of the rivers] He seemeth to mean some violent meanes used by the Chaldeans, to turn the river Tigris into the besieged Citie, whereby many great buildings were overthrown▪
dissolved] Or, molten.
V. 7. Huzzab] Or, that which was established; or, there was a stand made. That is, the Kings Wife and Concubines, which shall be shut up in the Palace. Some have taken the Hebrew word for the Queen of Ninevehs proper name.
led away captive] Or, discovered.
the voice of doves] Namely, weeping and lamentation.
V. 8. of old] Or, from the dayes that she hath been.
a pool of water] It hath alwayes been a place of ease and rest for her inhabitants; who after the taking of it, shall runne away, some here, some there, and shall no more come, nor be gathered together: like fish taken out of the Pond which is emptied and drawn out.
look back] Or, cause them to turn.
V. 9. Take ye the spoil] God commandeth the enemies to spoil Nineveh, and promiseth them infinite riches and treasures.
for there is none end of the store] Or, and their infinite store, &c.
pleasant furniture] Heb. vessels of desire.
V. 10. She is empty] That is, Nineveh.
the heart melteth] Isa. 13. 7, 8.
the knees smite together] With terrour; as Isa. 13. 7, 8.
the faces of them] See Joel 2. 6.
V. 11. Where is the dwelling of the lions] What is become of Nineveh, the seat of such a powerfull, terrible, and violent Empire?
V. 13. I will burn her chariots] That is, her forces and warlike power, so soon as my wrath beginneth to kindle.
thy prey] The treasures and wealth that thou hast gathered up together by thy oppressions and violence.
the voice of thy messengers] Signifying the Heralds, which were accustomed to proclaim warre. Some read, of thy check teeth, wherewith Nineveh was wont to bruise the bones of the poor, Others say, he seemeth to have an especiall relation to Rabshakeh his blaspheming ambassage, 2 Kings 18. 17, 19.
CHAP. III.
Vers. 1. VVO to the bloudy citie] Heb. citie of blouds. Nineveh, which never ceaseth to spoil and robbe. Ezek. 24. 9. Hab. 2. 12.
V. 2. The noise of a whip] He sheweth how the Chaldeans shall haste, and how couragious their horses shall be in beating the ground when they come against the Assyrians.
V. 3. the bright sword, and the glittering spear] Heb. the flame of the sword, and the lightning of the spear.
V. 4. the whoredoms] That is, cunning devices and plots to draw in people, and to become Lords over them, as it were by interest of State. This word being often used in this sense among the prophets. Isa. 23. 15, 17. Rev. 17. 2. and 18. 3.
of witchcrafts] This term may also be referred to the same sense; it being the custome of Harlots to use forceries and witchcrafts. It may also be understood in its proper sense; as Isa. 47. 9. 12.
that selleth nations] Under the colour of protection, favour courtesie, and the like, she seiseth on Kingdoms and States, and doth subject nations unto her.
V. 5. I will discover thy skirts] Isa. 47. 3. Ezek. 16. 37. Jer. 13. 22. I will expose thee to shame and slavery. A term taken from the injuries done by the souldiers to poor women which were taken prisoners in the warres, Isa. 47. 2, 3. Jer. 13. 22. Ezek. 16. 37.
V. 6. I will cast abominable filth upon thee] All manner of filth, as they used to throw upon people that were publikely disgraced.
V. 7. shall flee from thee] Through detestation and horrour.
V. 8. populous No] Or, nourishing. Heb. No Amon. A famous Citie of Egypt, called in following ages Alexandria, which it is likely had been greatly ruined before the Prophets time, not mentioned in Scripture.
among the rivers] In Egypt, where there were divers branches of Nilus cut out in channels; for otherwise Alexandria was not situated by the river it self.
V. 9. Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength] Heb. Chush and Put; people of Africa.
thy helpers] Heb. in thy help.
V. 10. were dashed in pieces] A cruelty which was used in Cities taken by force of Arms. See Psalm. 137. 9. Isa. 13. 6. Hos. 13. 16.
they cast lots] For to part them as a prey.
V. 11. Thou] Namely, Nineveh.
shalt be drunken] With the cup of Gods wrath. Jer. 25. 15, 17, 27.
thou shalt be hid] For fear and shame.
V. 12. shall be like figge-trees] Shall be easily taken by the enemies.
V. 13. thy barres] Thine enclosures and defences.
V. 14. Draw thee waters] Make all needfull preparations and provisions for to hold out the Siege, repairing the breaches of thy walls with bricks. An ironicall kinde of speech; as Nahum 2. 1.
V. 15. There shall the fire devour thee] Namely, in those thy strongholds, so well repaired and fortified.
like the canker-worm] Even as those destroying creatures gnaw and spoil the plants: or, as they themselves are destroyed in any place by fire.
V. 16. Thou hast multiplied thy merchants] An infinite number of people were gathered together in thee, to live by thy traffique and commodities; but like to these wasting creatures, so soon as there is nothing to gnaw, they presently vanish away: so thou were presently forsaken, when there was no more to be gained by thee.
spoileth] Or, spreadeth himself.
V. 17. Thy crowned are as the locusts] Namely, thy Princes, and great Lords, wearing diadems and wreathes, in token of dignitie: or, vassall and confederate Kings.
V. 18. Thy shepherds slumber] Thy Heads, Governours and Officers are dead or astonished, and out of heart. Exod. 15. 16. Psal. 76. 6.
nobles] Or, valiant ones.
shall dwell in the dust] As Jer. 51. 30.
V. 19. healing] Heb. wrinkling.
shall clap the hands over thee] For joy to see thy tyrannie overthrown.
upon whom hath not thy wickednesse passed continually] Meaning, that there was no people to whom the Assyrians had not done hurt.