Divided Kingdom II; Judah Alone Lesson 17 The prophet Nahum / Josiah

Nahum Although the prophet is introduced as Nahum the Elkoshite, no one knows exactly where he is from. It seems from the prophecy that he was a resident of Judah. His name means, “comfort; consolation” Date: between 650 – 620 B.C. Message: joyful message to the people of Judah…an assurance that God is just and is avenging the wickedness of Assyria.

Assyria; Historical Background Jonah prophesied to Nineveh about 758 B.C. (approx. 100 years prior to Nahum) Although the city repented, it wasn’t long before they once again began their course of world conquest and wicked aggression.

Assyria; Historical Background Tiglath-pileser III (745-727 B.C.) – began a program of world conquest. Shalmaneser V (727-722 B.C.) - began the siege of Samaria Sargon II (722-705 B.C.) - completed the siege of Samaria Sennacherib (705-681 B.C.) – invaded Judah & surrounded Jerusalem. Army withdrew when an angel of the LORD struck 185,000 soldiers in one night; his army withdrew Esarhaddon (681-668 B.C.) – died while marching against Egypt in an effort to subdue them

Assyria; Historical Background Ashurbanipal (668-625 BC) – completed campaign against Egypt that resulted in the fall of No-Amon (Thebes). He extended Assyria's influence farther than any of his predecessors. Under his rule, Nineveh became the mightiest city on earth. According to the records, he was an extremely cruel man.

Assyria; Historical Background Nineveh Medes Babylonions Arabs

Nineveh; Historical Background Greater Nineveh: about 30 miles long and about 10 miles wide. … It was protected by 5 walls and 3 moats (canals) Inner city Nineveh: about 3 miles long, and 1½ miles wide, built at the junction of the Tigris and Khoser rivers. Protected by walls 100 feet high, and broad enough at the top to hold 4 chariots driven abreast, 8 miles in circuit. Nineveh had enough provisions within the city to withstand a 20 year siege.

Nahum Book Outline: Ch. 1: triumphant song over the impending fall of Nineveh Ch. 2: description of the destruction to come Ch. 3: the guilt of the city

Nahum God is jealous, and the LORD avenges (1:2) Ch. 1: triumphant song; fall of Nineveh (vs. 1-6) God is jealous, and the LORD avenges (1:2) The LORD is slow to anger, but His power is great…He never lets the guilty go unpunished. Who can stand before His indignation? Who can endure the fierceness of His anger?

Nahum Ch. 1: triumphant song; fall of Nineveh (vs. 7-11) The LORD is good; a stronghold in the day of trouble; knows who trust in Him (1:7) The LORD sweeps away His enemies in an overwhelming flood & pursues them into the darkness of night (1:8) The LORD will make an end to His enemies and they will be devoured like stubble fully dried

Nahum Ch. 1: triumphant song; fall of Nineveh (vs.12-15) Assyria will be cut down and disappear; their yoke on Judah will be broken There will be no descendants to bear her name; the Assyrian gods would be destroyed Look! The messenger is coming bearing the good news; keep your feasts days because your enemy is defeated!

Nahum Nineveh, brace yourself because destruction is coming Ch. 2: destruction of Nineveh (vs.1-13) Nineveh, brace yourself because destruction is coming The LORD will restore the land of Israel although Assyria had emptied & ruined it The battle will be decisive as “the gates of the river are opened, and the palace is dissolved” The people will flee and the city will be looted of all its treasures

Nahum Where is this nation that was like lions tearing at its prey? Ch. 2: destruction of Nineveh (vs.1-13) Where is this nation that was like lions tearing at its prey? Behold, the LORD is against you…you will be completed destroyed as a nation

Nahum Ch. 3: the guilt of Nineveh (vs.1-19) The punishment was deserved…it was a bloody city full of lies and robbery. There will be many casualties because of the great harlotry and sorceries of the Assyrian nation Behold, the LORD is against you…He will make them a spectacle to all the nations & no one will regret their destruction

Nahum Are you any better than No-Amon (Thebes) who was carried away? Ch. 3: the guilt of Nineveh (vs.1-19) Are you any better than No-Amon (Thebes) who was carried away? You will also stagger like a drunkard and will hide for fear of the attacking enemy; your fortresses will fall like ripe figs Draw water for the siege but the fire will devour you & the sword will eat you up like locust Your leaders will be like locust that flee as the sun rises; and no one knows where they are

Nahum Your leaders are dead and your people scattered Ch. 3: the guilt of Nineveh (vs.1-19) Your leaders are dead and your people scattered Your injury has no healing, your wound is severe; all who hear of this news will clap their hands with gladness

Josiah 8 years old; reigns for 31 years (2 Kings 22:1 – 23:30; 2 Chron. 34:1 – 35:27) 8 years old; reigns for 31 years He “did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.”

Josiah purges land of idolatry (2 Chron. 34:1–7) In the 8th year of his reign (16 years old), Josiah began to seek the God of his father David. In the 12th year of his reign (20 years old), Josiah began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, wooden images, the carved & molded images.

Josiah commands for Temple repair (2 Kings 22:3-7; 2 Chron. 34:8-13) In the 18th year of his reign (26 years old), Josiah sends Shaphan the scribe, Maaseiah (governor of the city), and Joah to repair the house of the LORD his God. They obtained the money that had been brought into the house of the LORD by all who entered, including those from Israel. They gave the money to the craftsmen doing the work for items needed to repair the temple. They performed their work faithfully.

Josiah; the book of Law found (2 Kings 22:8-20; 2 Chron. 34:14-28) Hilkiah finds the Book of the Law of the LORD given to Moses. He gives it to Shaphan who delivers it to Josiah and reads it Upon hearing the words of the Law, Josiah tears his clothes

Josiah; the book of Law found (2 Kings 22:8-20; 2 Chron. 34:14-28) Josiah sends several men to “go inquire of the LORD” on his behalf, for the people, and for all of Judah… for “great is the wrath of the LORD that is aroused against us…for our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book” These men went to Huldah the prophetess and spoke with her about Josiah’s concern

Josiah; the book of Law found (2 Kings 22:8-20; 2 Chron. 34:14-28) Huldah instructs them to tell Josiah the following: The LORD will bring calamity on this place He will bring all the curses written in the book Because: The people have forsaken the LORD They burned incense to other gods and provoked the LORD to anger with all the works of their hands “Therefore, My wrath will be poured out on this place, and not be quenched”

Josiah; the book of Law found (2 Kings 22:8-20; 2 Chron. 34:14-28) But Josiah will be spared from seeing the destruction because his heart was tender, he humbled himself, tore his clothes, and wept before the LORD when he heard His words.

Lessons Once saved does not mean always saved. “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12) God will execute vengeance on His enemies and the enemies of His chosen people (Rev. 6:10) The names Hosea, Joshua, and Jesus are all derived from the same Hebrew root word. The word “hoshea” means salvation but Joshua & Jesus include an additional idea: “Yahweh is Salvation”. As God’s messenger, Hosea offers the possibility of salvation if only the nation will turn from idolatry back to God.