Sunday

Reading Through the Bible - NAHUM








Some Books of the bible are very short and some are very long but this one is one of the shortest.








NAHUM  -  OLD TESTAMENT  -  PROPHECY

34th book of the OT 
34th book of the Bible



It starts with the Greatness of God 







and continues with the Goodness of God.







It is always good to be reminded of the attributes of God. 





What is it?

The Book of Nahum is one of the Minor Prophets in the Old Testament which means it is Prophecy.



How Long is it?

It has 3 chapters.



When was it Written?

It is generally thought to have been written in 650 BC



Who Wrote it?

Nahum

The second part of the very first verse tells us who Nahum was

"The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite."

Presumably this word "Elkoshite" refers to his birthplace or homeplace. 


Bible Gateway tells us the following

"It prob. refers to a place, but if so, the place is unknown."




Who was it about?

It was written about the people of Ninevah as we see in
 chapter 2 verse 8:

 "Though Nineveh of old was like a pool of water,
Now they flee away."






Why was it Written? 

It was written to tell of God's judgement on Ninevah the capital of Assyria.  
The same city that Jonah had been sent to and the people repented but later they had gone back to their old ways. 


The Overview Bible  tells us the following

"Nahum foretells of God’s judgment on Nineveh, the capital of Assyria."

which is stated in the first part of the first verse 



"Teach Sunday School" tells us the following

"... almost exclusively focuses on God's pending judgement against Nineveh .....the nation that had invaded and destroyed the Northern Kingdom of Israel nearly a hundred years earlier."





What structure does this book take?


The Overview Bible  gives us a quick outline

  1. The Lord: Nineveh’s vengeful enemy (Nah 1)
  2. The siege of Nineveh (Nah 2)
  3. The inevitable judgment of God (Nah 3)



What is important to take away from this book?
 

The view of the nature of God in chapter 1 v 3








What other books of the Bible have something in common to Nahum?

  • Jonah also prophesied about Nineveh
  • Obadiah was also written to a foreign country





How does it end?


With a direct warning to the King of Assyria in chapter 3 v 18

    "Your shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria;
     Your nobles rest in the dust.
     Your people are scattered on the mountains,
     And no one gathers them."





OTHER BOOKS OF THE BIBLE ARE ADDED REGULARLY AND AN UPDATED LIST CAN BE FOUND AT OUR READING THE BIBLE PAGE