Nahum ~Wxn:“Comfort/Consolation”

The Latter Prophets ProphetDate Obadiah Obadiah Joel Joel Jonahc. 760 BCJonahc. 760 BC Assyrian Captivity 722 Amos Amos Hosea Hosea Isaiah Isaiah Micah Micah Nahum (II Kgs 21-23)Nahum (II Kgs 21-23) Zephaniah Zephaniah Fall of Nineveh 612 Habakkuk607Habakkuk607 Jeremiah Jeremiah Lamentations Lamentations Ezekiel Ezekiel Daniel Daniel Haggai Haggai Zechariah Zechariah Malachi Malachi Relationship to Babylonian Exile Pre-ExilicPre-Exilic ExilicExilic Post-ExilicPost-Exilic

Background AudienceAudience –Southern Kingdom/Judah – 100 yrs. after the Assyrian Captivity –Assyria / All the Nations – God doesn’t play favorites/Judgment applies to all nations equally Time PeriodTime Period –During the reigns of Manasseh, Amon, and Josiah (II Kings 21-23) BC est. DurationDuration –Unclear – estimate 20 years

Key Word: Doom Major Themes Israel and Judah’s SinIsrael and Judah’s Sin –In the Background – Manasseh (The last straw for the southern kingdom) The Character of GodThe Character of God –“Jealous, avenging, and wrathful” (1:2) –“Slow to anger and great in power” (1:3) Will not leave the guilty unpunishedWill not leave the guilty unpunished –“Good, a stronghold in the day of trouble” (1:7) Judgment of AssyriaJudgment of Assyria –The capitol of Nineveh destroyed in 612 B.C. –“Bloody city, completely full of lies and pillage” (3:1) RestorationRestoration –1:15-2:2 – Destruction of Assyria / Deliverance of Jacob

Factoids At this point in history Assyria is at the peak of their world power –They have destroyed Samaria –Scattered the 10 Northern tribes –Nearly taken Judah as well during Hezekiah’s reign (701 B.C.) A coalition of Babylonians, Medians, and Scythians was formed – Two year siege of Nineveh before the Tigris river overflowed/walls broke down to let in the invading forces This is a little over 100 years after Jonah preached repentance to Nineveh Idolatry back in full-force (1:14)

“The Great City” Founder: Nimrod (Gen 10:11) Population: 600,000 est. Walls: 8 miles surrounded the inner city –100 ft high / 3 chariots could ride abreast –Towers 100 ft higher than the walls Mote: 150 ft wide / 60 ft deep - surrounded the city Circumference: 60 miles Strength: Could sustain a 20 year siege

Structure Destruction Decreed (1:1-2:2) –Principles of Judgment (1:1-8) –Destruction of Nineveh decreed (1:9-14) –Deliverance of Judah (1:15-2:2) Destruction Described (2:3-13) –Nineveh’s destruction described in detail (2:3-13) Destruction Deserved (3) –The crimes deserving destruction (3:1-7) –The comparison with No-amon (Thebes) (3:8-11) –The strongholds are weak (3:12-15) –The leaders are weak (3:16-19)

Application

God does not play favorites! The only way to be delivered from God’s wrath is to be in Christ (1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9)

No Fortress of your own construction will ever deter God’s Judgment

Don’t Presume upon the Grace of God Nineveh was spared a little over 100 yrs prior to this