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Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents
1:9-15 The Lord's Coming Judgment on Nineveh and Deliverance of Judah. The preceding section (vv. 2-8) presented in a general way the omnipotent cosmic monarch's attitude toward, and action with, his enemies and his people. In this section (vv. 9-15) the focus turns to Nineveh and Judah, alternating between the Lord's coming judgment on Nineveh and his deliverance of Judah.
1:9-12a The Destruction of Wicked, Plotting Nineveh. God addresses Nineveh, saying that in spite of her plots and might, she will fall.
1:9 You is masculine plural in Hebrew, presumably addressing the Assyrians (cf. the superscription in v. 1, "concerning Nineveh," the capital of Assyria). plot. Plots to harm God's people are ultimately against the Lord himself. complete end. See v. 8; here it is specifically applied to Nineveh. Trouble (cf. v. 7) is what Judah experienced because of oppressive Assyria.
1:10 Entangled thorns can be thrown en masse into the fire, just as the Assyrians as a whole will be wiped out. Like drunkards, the Assyrians will be unable to defend themselves successfully against their attackers. The image of burning dry stubble, a frequent one in the OT, conveys the sense of quick extermination.
1:11 You is feminine singular in Hebrew and thus refers to the city of Nineveh (see v. 9). one who . . . worthless counselor. Either a reference to a particular wicked Assyrian king or to the series of evil Assyrian kings who reigned in Nineveh after Sennacherib made that city the capital (see Introduction: Purpose, Occasion, and Background).
1:12a they. The Assyrians. full strength. Assyria was likely at the height of its power when Nahum wrote (see Introduction: Date). many. The Assyrian army was large enough to manage a number of extensive conquests (e.g., 2 Kings 19:35) and maintain control of the empire for lengthy periods of time. will be cut down and pass away. God would end the military dominance of the Assyrians, and they would pass from the pages of history (see Introduction: Purpose, Occasion, and Background).
