Every post in Nahum, in order. Tap a post for the whole conversation, or the book icon for the verses.
Nahum, from Elkosh. I’ve had a vision, and it’s about one city. Nineveh. The capital of Assyria, the empire that’s been crushing everyone round here for as long as anyone can remember.
This is the burden against Nineveh, the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite:
The LORD is slow to get angry and great in power, and he won’t let the guilty off. His road is the whirlwind and the storm. Clouds are the dust his feet kick up.
Moses@moses · Mount SinaiThe LORD passed in front of me, calling out his own name. Compassionate and gracious. Slow to get angry. Overflowing with love that doesn’t quit, and faithfulness. Forgives wrongdoing, but never lets the guilty off.The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.
The LORD is good. A safe place when trouble comes. He looks after everyone who trusts him.
The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of distress; He cares for those who trust in Him.
The LORD’s message to Judah: he’s made you suffer, and he won’t any more. He’s breaking their yoke off your neck and snapping your chains.
This is what the LORD says: “Though they are allied and numerous, yet they will be cut down and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, O Judah, I will afflict you no longer. For I will now break their yoke from your neck and tear away your shackles.”
Replying to @nahum.elkosh
Look, over the mountains: someone running in with good news. Peace. Judah, keep your festivals. Keep your promises to God. The wicked will never march through you again.
Look to the mountains—the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your feasts, O Judah; fulfill your vows. For the wicked will never again march through you; they will be utterly cut off.
Isaiah has the same runner on the mountains.
Isaiah@isaiahThe feet of the one running over the mountains with good news: how beautiful they are. Peace. Rescue. “Your God reigns!” And the watchmen on the walls shouting for joy.Look to the mountains—the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your feasts, O Judah; fulfill your vows. For the wicked will never again march through you; they will be utterly cut off.
Nineveh, someone’s coming to scatter you. Guard the fort. Watch the road. Brace yourselves.
One who scatters advances against you, O Nineveh. Guard the fortress! Watch the road! Brace yourselves! Summon all your strength!
Replying to @nahum.elkosh
What I saw: 1. Red shields. Soldiers in scarlet. 2. Chariots racing through the streets like torches, flashing like lightning. 3. The river gates thrown open. The palace collapsing. 4. Everyone running. “Stop! Stop!” Nobody turns back. 5. Take the silver! Take the gold! There’s no end to it.
The shields of his mighty men are red; the valiant warriors are dressed in scarlet. The fittings of the chariots flash like fire on the day they are prepared, and the spears of cypress have been brandished. The chariots dash through the streets; they rush around the plazas, appearing like torches, darting about like lightning. The river gates are thrown open and the palace collapses. Nineveh has been like a pool of water throughout her days, but now it is draining away. “Stop! Stop!” they cry, but no one turns back. “Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold!” There is no end to the treasure, an abundance of every precious thing.
Nineveh has been like a pool of water for as long as it’s stood. Now it’s draining away.
Nineveh has been like a pool of water throughout her days, but now it is draining away. “Stop! Stop!” they cry, but no one turns back.
Where’s the lions’ den now? The lion that hunted for its cubs and filled its lair with prey, where nothing ever scared it off?
Where is the lions’ lair or the feeding ground of the young lions, where the lion and lioness prowled with their cubs, with nothing to frighten them away? The lion mauled enough for its cubs and strangled prey for the lioness. It filled its dens with the kill, and its lairs with mauled prey.
City of blood. Full of lies, full of plunder, never done with its prey.
Woe to the city of blood, full of lies, full of plunder, never without prey.
Nineveh, are you any better than Thebes? It sat on the Nile with water all round it. Egypt and Cush were its strength, with no end to it. And Thebes still went into exile.
Are you better than Thebes, stationed by the Nile with water around her, whose rampart was the sea, whose wall was the water? Cush and Egypt were her boundless strength; Put and Libya were her allies. Yet she became an exile; she went into captivity. Her infants were dashed to pieces at the head of every street. They cast lots for her dignitaries, and all her nobles were bound in chains.
Your forts are fig trees with ripe figs on them. Give them a shake and the figs drop straight into the mouth of whoever’s eating.
All your fortresses are fig trees with the first ripe figs; when shaken, they fall into the mouth of the eater!
Your guards are like locusts. Your officials, like a swarm settling on a wall on a cold day. The sun comes up, they fly off, and nobody knows where they went.
Your guards are like the swarming locust, and your scribes like clouds of locusts that settle on the walls on a cold day. When the sun rises, they fly away, and no one knows where.
King of Assyria, your shepherds are asleep. Your people are scattered on the mountains with nobody to gather them. Your wound won’t heal. Everyone who hears the news claps, because who hasn’t felt your cruelty?
O king of Assyria, your shepherds slumber; your officers sleep. Your people are scattered on the mountains with no one to gather them. There is no healing for your injury; your wound is severe. All who hear the news of you applaud your downfall, for who has not experienced your constant cruelty?