Verses 1-4 Woe to the bloody city! it is all full of lies and robbery; the prey departeth not; 2 The noise of a whip, and the noise of the rattling of the wheels, and of the pransing horses, and of the jumping chariots. 3 The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering spear: and there is a multitude of slain, and a great number of carcases; and there is none end of their corpses; they stumble upon their corpses: 4 Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts.
The Hebrew word translated as “woe” is “howy” and it means alas which is an expression of grief, pity, or concern. In Scripture this word occurs when judgement from God is forthcoming.
The prophet Nahum gives a description of the condition of Nineveh as he is seeing it in his vision. He calls it bloody with good reason because historically it has been determined that the Assyrians were a cruel and murderous people. They tended to torture their captives, cutting off hands, feet, arms, noses, ears, and whatever other body parts they desired while the victims were still alive. Gouging out the eyes of their captives was also a common practice. They bragged about their violence and cruelty by recording it on monuments that are reported to be in various museums today. Skinning a man or woman alive and then using their skin to cover and decorate pillars was apparently acceptable behavior for these evil, devil possessed people. They would also murder hundreds of captives, behead them, and then use their bodies to form pillars. The prophet Nahum describes the chaos of the army driving over the bodies of the slain of which there is no end as the number is so great. Since they had multiple gods and goddesses to worship, all this blood-shedding and cruelty would appease the appetite of the devils behind these gods/goddesses. Witchcraft apparently was running the nation and the city of Nineveh, and unfortunately this sinful societal behavior was taken to other nations as well. Nineveh exported her violence, deception, idolatry and witchcraft.
Application: Most converted Christian believers have no understanding of witchcraft and of what it entails. Just mentioning witchcraft will often cause believers to exit the area, and pastors do not seem to have any idea about this religion either. The problem is that witchcraft has been around since the days of Nimrod and it is Satan’s religion. It has various “denominations” and forms, but it is all Satan’s religion of choice. In order for Christian believers to spiritually fight the Devil and his fallen angels, it is necessary to understand how they operate. In the natural, one does not go to war without understanding the enemy to be fought and the possible tactics that might be used. Spiritual battle is no different. One cannot be successful without understanding the enemy and how he operates. Way back in these Old Testament days, witchcraft was driving (having a strong and controlling influence) the nation and one-world government of Assyria. It was driving the nation of Egypt back in the days of Moses. It drove the nation of Babylon, and of Medo-Persia, and of Greece, and of Rome. It is driving all the nations today and the governments of all the nations, and unfortunately the Church does not appear to have any understanding of why various events are happening around the world. Furthermore, witchcraft has infiltrated the Church in many ways. So although this writer does not promote taking a beginner’s course in witchcraft or spending a lot of time studying what witches believe, obtaining a brief understanding of their beliefs will assist the believer to better understand the events of today and to aid in praying more appropriately against the powers of darkness that are in every government office and institution of man. God hears the prayers of those who are engaged in spiritual battle and He answers them.
Verses 5-6 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 gazingstock.
To “discover thy skirts upon thy face” means that the robe being worn is to be pulled up around the head so that the torso of the body is exposed naked. Back in the day when girls and women wore dresses and petticoats, it was an embarrassment should the skirt be blown by the wind so that stockings or underwear was displayed. Unfortunately this type of modesty seems to be no longer, but the principle being taught here is that God is going to expose the truth about the Assyrian nation and the city of Nineveh in a manner that will embarrass, dishonor, and disgrace them, and all the other nations of the world will be watching (Nineveh will be a gazingstock or spectacle) as punishment is poured out upon them.
Application: The worse words that can be spoken to a man or woman are the words that God is against them. This usually means that there is no redemption for the souls of the individuals that have rebelled against the authority of God Almighty. Their future destination is Hell. Scripture describes these people as “reprobates” (a sinner who is not of the elect and is predestined to damnation). “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;” Romans 1:28 “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” Titus 1:16 Remember that the citizens of Nineveh had heard the Gospel from the mouth of the prophet Jonah and they had repented. But over a short period of time they went back to their witchcraft and demonic way of life to the point that God said to them through the prophet Nahum, “Behold, I am against thee.” The converted Christian believer needs to guard the faith and be vigilant so that when he/she leaves the body and stands in the spirit before the LORD the words are heard, “Well done, good and faithful servant. . .” Mathew 25:21
Verses 7-10 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.
The city of No is thought to be the ancient city of Thebes, the ancient capital of Egypt during the Hebrew bondage and the days of Moses. “No” is the Hebrew rendition of the name Thebes. The city was wealthy and known for its splendor and for its worship center for the Egyptian pagan deity, Amon. “The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saith; Behold, I will punish the multitude of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with their gods, and their kings; even Pharaoh, and all them that trust in him:” Jeremiah 46:25 The prophet Nahum is prophesying that if God did not spare the wicked city of No, the city of Nineveh will not be spared either. The people will be slain, and those that are not slain will be taken into captivity.
Verses 11-15 Thou also shalt be drunken: thou shalt be hid, thou also shalt seek strength because of the enemy. 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 brickkiln. 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.
Nineveh will be intoxicated and unable to function like a drunkard under the influence of alcohol. It will be weak and desolate and unable to repel the enemy. All of its efforts to provide places of refuge and safety will fail. Their preparations for a siege will fail and the enemy will come through the gates of the city and through the land and devour it like a fire.
Verses 16-18 Thou hast multiplied thy merchants above the stars of heaven: the cankerworm spoileth, and flieth 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 in the dust: thy people is scattered upon the mountains, and no man gathereth them.
Merchants, captains, shepherds, and nobles were all people in leadership positions in Nineveh. Yet all these leaders would be ineffective in staving off the judgement that was coming. The merchants with their businesses, influence, and money would fail. The captains would flee away. The shepherds who should have been watching for the enemy and for danger would be sleeping and unaware. The nobles would be useless to the king of Assyria. So the people, lacking leadership, would scatter.
Verse 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? (Nahum 3)
The prophet Nahum ends his book declaring that there was no hope for the city and people of Nineveh and that all the other nations would be glad at its demise.
Application: So why is the book of Nahum included in the Bible as it has little bearing on the history of the Hebrew people and the nations of Israel and Judah? It is included as a warning to all the peoples and nations that have come after the nation of Assyria that God will only tolerate evil and rebellion against Him for so long before He takes action and brings punishment upon sinful and evil mankind and the nations in which they dwell. Today, can a nation be found that is even somewhat “good” by mankind’s standards? Yes, there is a remnant of God’s people, His Church, in every country, but this writer cannot name one nation that does not have leadership engaging in the formation of a one-world government at the behest of Satan and in defiance of the Word of God. So what should the converted Christian believer understand from this book? Simply that no nation or people can serve Satan and defy Almighty God and escape divine judgement. Nineveh and No were just two examples of the consequences of rebellion against the LORD. And clearly these are the end of the end times and God will bring judgement upon the whole world as the societal degradation, the intensity of the rampant sin, and the violence in the world cannot continue. Mankind and the natural state of the earth is being and will be destroyed to the point that no one can survive without the intervention of the LORD Jesus Christ. So what should the Christian believer do? First of all, wake up and understand that time is short, and then follow the instructions of Jesus in Luke 21:28. “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” And follow the instructions of the Apostle Paul. “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering: (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25 All that is happening today is the fulfillment of Bible prophecy and will usher in the return of the LORD Jesus Christ, the end of time, and life in eternity.