Introduction to Nahum

The pronouncement concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite. Nahum 1:1

Who is Nahum?

There isn’t much information about the prophet in the Bible. The only reference to him is in this book, and the only information given is that he was an Elkoshite. The location of Elkosh is unknown. His name means “comfort” or “consolation”.

When did Nahum prophesy?

We have no indication of when he prophesied in the heading of the book — like we have in some of the other prophetic books. However, his reference to a dated historical event helps us arrive at a fair estimate of when he prophesied.

Too long, please open your Bible Nahum 3: 8-10

Nahum mentions the fall of Thebes (No-Amon) in Egypt as a past event. Thebes fell to the Assyrians in 663 BCE. Nineveh (the capital of Assyria and Nahum’s main target) fell in 612 BCE. So, Nahum must have been written after 663 BCE (Thebes’ fall) but before 612 BCE (Nineveh’s fall).

Given that timeframe, we know that Nahum prophesied after the fall of the Northern Kingdom to Assyria, which happened in 722 BCE.

Relationship with Jonah

Both prophets were sent to the city of Nineveh, but Jonah prophesied about 100 years before Nahum. Jonah is dated to the period of King Jeroboam II in the 8th century BC.

Nineveh’s spiritual decline

In the book of Jonah, God responds to the repentance of the people of Nineveh—even though they lacked the Torah, temple, circumcision, or any move toward Jerusalem. Their repentance wasn’t shaped by Israelite rituals, but God still heard and honoured it. It was a powerful picture of the mercy of God and the boundless reaches of God’s grace. Why did they then become candidates for judgement and destruction in 100 years?

Their judgement was so severe that they became a forgotten city only rediscovered in 1847! How does a wonderful story of God’s grace end mercy change so drastically?

Israel

We don’t know much about what happened in Nineveh between their repentance and their eventual destruction, but we have much documentation on Israel’s decline. God started a relationship with this people group after delivering them from slavery, yet they ended up judged and exiled.

Too long, please open your Bible 2 Kings 17

Israel’s decline began with hidden sins, then ignored the warnings of the prophets, progressed to full blown idolatry until they devolved into detestable things they never would have thought was possible — child sacrifice, for example.

Israel’s story serves as a warning to us. Israel’s decline was a slow fade till their eventual destruction. It was many years of secret sins, disobedience and hardening of heart.

Community as a means for our preservation

We have to be truly humble and totally/truly depend on God to keep us.

Now to him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of his glory, without blemish and with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now and forever. Amen. Jude 1: 24-25

We have to constantly engage the means the God has provided for our preservation. Today, we’ll highlight community.

Watch out, brothers and sisters, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception. Hebrews 3: 12-13

Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching. Hebrews 10: 23-25

Brothers and sisters, if someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so that you also won’t be tempted. Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6: 1-2

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect. James 5:16

My brothers and sisters, if any among you strays from the truth, and someone turns him back, let that person know that whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. James 5: 19-20

Take Heed

Too long, please open your Bible 1 Corinthians 10: 1-12

Revival to Ruin - An Introduction to Nahum