Nahum

Agenda:† Introduction

Ω Priest Vs ProphetΩ Common - Jonah and Nahum

† Historical backgroundΩ Nahum the prophetΩ The Book Nahum Ω About Great Nineveh & its KingsΩ Timeline & Maps

† Message of NahumΩ Chapter 1 – The Judge Ω Chapter 2 – The JudgmentΩ Chapter 3 – The Justification

† Quiz

Roles of Prophet Vs Priest

Priest Prophet

Represented the people to God

Represented God to the people

Ministered the ceremonies of

worship

Ministered the proclamation of

God’s Word

Jonah and Nahum

†Focus upon Assyria and their capital city of Nineveh.

†Contain prophecies of Nineveh's destruction.

†Both close their books with a question.





† Quiz

Nahum the prophet† Nahum is Hebrew word and it

means “COMFORT”.

† Is related to the name Nehemiah, meaning “The Lord comforts” or “comfort of the Lord.”

†7th Minor prophet.

†Elkosh is his hometown.

[20 miles southwest of Jerusalem]

The Book Nahum†Author – Nahum

†Key Verses Ch1:3,7-8 & Ch3:5-7

†Message of destruction for Nineveh.

of consolation for the nations oppressed.

†Mainly addressed to Assyria Words to Judah - 1:12–13,15

Words Nineveh - 1:9-11,14; 2:1,13; 3:5-17,19

Word to King - 3:18

… the Book Nahum†God's Holiness, Justice and Power.

†Statistics – 7th minor prophet 34th book in the Bible

3 Chapters / 47 verses

Commands - 5

Questions - 8

Warnings - 72

46 Prophetic verses

Promise - NIL

About Nineveh † Was capital city of ancient Assyria.

† Named after the goddess Ishtar.

† Built by Nimrod - Genesis 10:9-12.

† Nimrod - Great Grandson of Noah.

† Situated on the east bank of the Tigris river.

† Located North East of Israel.

† Presently called Mosul – in Iraq.

…. about Nineveh † Assyria represented the pride, power

and brutality of the kingdoms of the world.

† Assyrians considered as heartless.

† Its army - known for its brutal efficiency - beheadings, impaling victims on poles, stampeding, skinning alive, leading captives by fish hooks passed through the lips or noses, etc.

…. about Nineveh

†Assyria was the bitterest enemy of the people of God.

†To see a picture of the arrogance of Assyria see Isaiah chapter 10.

† Jonah prophesied ~150 years before Nahum.

†Nineveh repented.

† Exceeding great city. † City wall-12 kms in circumference † Wide - 3-5 Mts. & Height - 6-7 Mts.† 15 Gates – all named after an Assyrian god.† The most powerful city.† Hub of the civilized ancient World

† King Sin-shar-ishkun - 627-612 BC. † Ashur-uballit II – Last King of Assyria [612-609 BC].† The Books of Kings and Chronicles describe about the Assyrian empire.

† King Sennacherib (704-681 BC) - Statesman and Soldier.† Built bridges, city wall, dug canals and planted gardens.† 42,000 km2 large palace with 27 entrances.† 80 chambers, halls and rooms.† Lavishly and expensively adorned with massive sculptures, relief-carvings, glazed brick panelling, winged bulls and lions of bronze.† Armies of workers constructed his Palace.† Tried to capture Judah in BC 701 but defeated by Angel of God – Isa 37.

…. about Nineveh

†Nineveh returned to idolatry, violence and arrogance.

†Nahum prophesied her demise.

†Destroyed in 612 BC by combined force of Babylonians and Medes.

TimelineNorthern Kingdom destroyed in ~722

BC

Nahum ~650 – 612 BC

Jonah prophesied ~150 years earlier

King Manasseh~687-642 BC

King Amon~642-640 BC

King Josiah~640-609 BC





† Quiz

Chapter 1 – The Judge† Burden & Vision - V1† About God, His Nature and

Characteristics - V2-7† Jealous - V2; Ex-34:14; Deu-4:24, 5:9, 6:15;

Revenge - 2 Sam-21:1, 22:48; Ps.9:12, 18:47 Wrath – Ex.15:7,22:44,32:10-2 Sam-22:8

† His Power - V3-6† His Goodness - V3[a] & 7† The song of Moses – Ex.15:1-19

† Words to Nineveh - V9-11 & 14† He knows their Plan - Nineveh’s sin [Ps.2:1-4]† Assyria King - V11 - Counsellor / Plotter

Chapter 1 – The Judge†His 3 points - V14† King’s dynasty will end - No descendants

† Help from his gods will end

† God will prepare his grave and his life will end

†Words to Judah - V12-13 & 15† I will afflict you no more

† Nineveh’s fall would bring comfort

† The wicked shall no more pass through you

Chapter 2 – The Judgment†How Nineveh will fall

† The invaders appear - V1-4 † Guard the fortress, Watch the road,

† Brace yourselves, Marshal all your strength!

† The shields of the soldiers are red

† It is captured - V5-10† King Assyria’s orders were too late.

† Khoser River flowed through the city - V6.

† Medes and Babylonians take control.

† Completely ransacked the city - V8-10

Chapter 2 – The Judgment

†The captive leaders are taunted-V11-13 † Compares the people of Nineveh to the

lions.

† Lord is against them – V13.

† The destruction is complete - “I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.”

Chapter 3 – The Justification† He is Just

† Gen 18:25; Luke 18:7-8.

† He cares for those who trust in Him.

† He will judge those who violate His law.

† God gives 3 reasons.

†Reason 1: Ruthless bloodshed - V1-3 † Bloody city, Full of lies & Robbery.

† City of crime † Slaughtered people regardless of age and sex.

† Shedding of innocent blood.

† Her woe is due to her sins - V1-4.

Chapter 3 – The Justification

† Reason 2: Idolatry - V4-7 † In scripture, Idolatry is associated with

prostitution.

† Ishtar - Goddess of sexual passion.

† Nineveh became like Ishtar - Ps.115:8; Hosea 4:12-14; Romans 1:20-24.

† Assyria spread evil to other nations.

† The Lord will uncover her shame and make her a spectacle - V5-7.

Chapter 3 – The Justification

†Reason 3: Pride - V8-19 † Assyrian’s victory over Egyptian city in

663 BC. [No-Ammon or Thebes - V8-11.]

† It is no better than No-Ammon - V8.

† Its strongholds will fail - V12-13; Proverbs 16:18.

† Fire - The City will burn - V15.

† Its efforts, wealth, army will futile - V14-17.

† Rejoice - Throes who hear her fall.

Closing word

Romans 11:22

Ensure to continue in His goodness, lest

we too experience the severity of God

Nahum 1:3b - the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished

Remember Jehovah MakkehThe LORD that Smiteth / Strikes





† Quiz

Quiz 1

Rules:

† Form 2-3 teams

† Correct answer

+ 2 points [for own question]

+ 1 point [for passed question]

† Wrong answer -1 point

† Pass – 0 point

Quiz - 11) Which book of the Bible precedes

Nahum?† Micah

2) Which empire's fall did Nahum explain in his book?

† Assyria

3) Where did he deliver his prophecy?† Judha

4) According to his prophecy, the fortresses of Nineveh would be like ______?

† Fig trees

……. Quiz - 1

5) What was his prophecy?† A. Bring back faith to the Ninevites

† B. Rebuild the temple

† C. Day of the Lord

† D. Downfall of Assyria and Nineveh

6) Who was the king during the time of the fulfilment of Nahum’s prophecy?

† A. King Amaziah

† B. King Amon

† C. King Manasseh

† D. King Josiah

……. Quiz - 1

7) When was the book written?† After the fall of Israel

8) Which is the symbol of Assyrian power as mentioned in the Book of Nahum?

† Lion

9) Which book of the Bible follows Nahum?† Habakkuk

10) What is the period of the events described in the Book of Nahum?

† 7th century AD

……. Quiz - 111)What does the name Nahum mean?

† Comforter

12)What is Nahum's birthplace?

† Elkosh

13)Whose glory does the hymn in chapter 1:2-9 in the Book of Nahum extol? † A dead warrior

14)How is the Lord described to be in the second verse of the first chapter of the Book of Nahum?

† Jealous and avenging

……. Quiz - 115)What are the clouds according to Nahum?

† The dust of His feet – Nahum 1:3

16)How are the chariots described in Nahum?

† With flaming torches – Nahum 2:3

17) Nineveh is all full of ______________

† Lies and robbery – Nahum 3:1

18) What are “the crowned” compared in Nahum?

† Locusts – Nahum 3:17

……. Quiz - 1

19) Which places were the helpers according to Nahum

† Put and Lubim – Nahum 3:9

20) How many promises are in the Book of Nahum

† Promise – NIL





† Quiz

JONAH NAHUM

Focus: upon Assyria and their capital city of

Nineveh

Prophecy - Nineveh's destruction

Book ends with a question

Jewish prophet

Hebrew Name

Focus: upon Assyria and their capital city of

Nineveh

Prophecy - Nineveh's destruction

Book ends with a question

Jewish prophet

Hebrew Name

JONAH NAHUM

From Northern Kingdom -Israel

Period – BC 800

Multiple references in The Holy Bible

Theme - Mercy of the God

God’s Love, Grace, Power, Great Miracles, His presence and His

teaching

From Southern Kingdom –Judah

Period – BC 650

Only one reference -Nahum1:1

Theme - Judgment of the God

God’s Wrath, Power, Goodness, Just,

Sovereign, The Avenger, Protector

JONAH NAHUM

Emphasis on Jonah the

prophet

Disobedient prophet

Obedient people of

Nineveh

People of Nineveh

repented

Nineveh delivered from

destruction

Emphasis on the

prophecy

Obedient prophet

Obedient people of

Nineveh

People of Nineveh

rebelled against God

Nineveh destructed as

per prophecy

Names and Meanings of Jehovah† Jehovah-Shalom - Jehovah Is Peace Judges 6:24

† Jehovah-Rophe -Jehovah Heals Exodus 15:26

† Jehovah-Rohi - Jehovah My Shepherd Psalms 23:1

† Jehovah-Shammah - Jehovah Is There Ezekiel 48:35

† Jehovah-Jireh - Jehovah My Provider Genesis 22:14

† Jehovah-Nissi - Jehovah My Banner Exodus 17:15

† Jehovah-Tsidkenu - Jehovah Our Righteousness Jeremiah 23:6

† Jehovah-M'kaddesh - Jehovah Who Sanctifies Exodus 31:13

Education

Nahum