Book of Nahum The Minor Prophets Dr. Rick Griffith, Singapore Bible College Assyrianism DUMMIES.

Book of Nahum

The Minor ProphetsThe Minor Prophets

Dr. Rick Griffith, Singapore Bible CollegeDr. Rick Griffith, Singapore Bible Collegewww.biblestudydownloads.comwww.biblestudydownloads.com

Assyrianism

Sequels

Nahum: The Sequel to Jonah

1. Title1. Title

2. Date2. Date

3. Authorship3. Authorship

5. Historical Background5. Historical Background

6. Problem Issue6. Problem Issue

8. Theology8. Theology

4. Recipients4. Recipients

7. Literary Structure7. Literary Structure

ContentsContents

TitleTitle• Nahum means Nahum means

"consolation" or "consolation" or "consoler" "consoler"

• This symbolizes his This symbolizes his message to comfort message to comfort JudahJudah''s oppressed and s oppressed and afflicted people. afflicted people.

DateDate• Latest: NinevehLatest: Nineveh''s s

destruction (612 BC) destruction (612 BC) • Earliest: Captivity of No Earliest: Captivity of No

(No-amon or Thebes, the (No-amon or Thebes, the capital of Upper Egypt) capital of Upper Egypt) in Nahum 3:8 in 663 BCin Nahum 3:8 in 663 BC

621621

Title & DateTitle & Date

342

931

722

586

Obadiah

Jonah Amos HoseaIsaiah

Micah Nahum

Placing the ProphetsKey Dates

hh

650

650

800

800

900

900

950

950

1000

1000

500

500

550

550

850

850

1050

1050

1100

1100

450

450

United Kingdom

1050-930

United Kingdom

1050-930

Exile 586-536Exile 586-536

7 5 0

7 5 0

NahumNahum

7 0 0

7 0 0

600

600

660660Divided

Kingdom

930-722

Divided Kingdom

930-722

Post- Exile

536-425

Post- Exile

536-425

710 710 Solitary

Kingdom

722-586

Solitary Kingdom

722-586

JonahJonah 765765

Tig

lath

-Pile

sar

Tig

lath

-Pile

sar ASSYRIAASSYRIA

1100

1100

Nin

eveh

's F

all 6

12N

inev

eh's

Fal

l 612

Nineveh's Relapse

Nineveh's Relapse

Jon

ah 7

60Jo

nah

760

750

750

700

700

800

800

850

850

900

900

650

650

600

600

Nah

um

660

Nah

um

660

Isra

el's

Fal

l 722

Isra

el's

Fal

l 722

100 Years Later…

100 Years Later…

Ass

yria

Str

on

gA

ssyr

ia S

tro

ng

660 650 640 630 620 610 600 590 580 570 560 550 540 530 520

AssyrianAssyrian Neo-BabylonianNeo-BabylonianPersianPersianWorld World

powerspowers

Fall of Thebes

663 BC

AshurbanipalAshurbanipalKings of Kings of AssyriaAssyria

Ash

ure

tililan

iA

sh

ure

tililan

i

Sin

sh

aris

hku

nS

insh

aris

hku

n

Ash

uru

ballit ii

Ash

uru

ballit ii

612612

JudahJudah

JosiahJosiah

Jeh

oia

ki

mJe

hoia

ki

m

zed

ekia

hzed

ekia

h

Amon Amon JehoahazJehoahaz JehoiachinJehoiachin

NahuNahumm

660660

Captivity of Captivity of Judah to Babylon Judah to Babylon

(586)(586)

Return Return from Exilefrom Exile

HabakkukHabakkuk

Kings Kings of of

JudahJudah

560560

609 605 539609 605 539

ManassehManasseh

Timeline of Nahum

Timeline of Nahum

Fall of NinevehFall of

Nineveh

Contrasting Jonah & Nahum


626JONAH NAHUM

First Book (4 chapters)

Sequel(3 chapters)

about 760 BC about 660 BC

Repentance from Sin Return to Sin

Nineveh Delivered Nineveh Destroyed

Israel Responsible Israel Protected

Chance to Repent No Chance to Repent

Narrative Declarative

626

JONAH NAHUM

Focus on the Messenger

Focus on the Message

Prophet Disobeys Prophet Obeys

Nineveh Obeys Nineveh Disobeys

Deliverance from Water

Destruction by Water

Repented then Relented

No Repenting, No Relenting

Jonah's WrathRefused

Jonah's WrathRevisited

God's Compassion God's Judgment



626

OT Prophets & KingsOT Prophets & Kings 342342

931931

722722

586586

ObadiahObadiah

JonahJonah AmosAmos HoseaHoseaIsaiahIsaiah

MicahMicah NahumNahum

HabakkukHabakkuk

Israel Today (NASA)

Looks red and ripe for judgment!

Babylonian EmpireBabylonian Empire

Battle of Carchemish (609 BC)

Megiddo: Josiah dies

Babylonians

Egyptians

Assyrians

Arabia

• Nothing is known about Nahum except his being an Nothing is known about Nahum except his being an Elkoshite (1:1).Elkoshite (1:1).

• No valid evidence has shown someone else as author. No valid evidence has shown someone else as author. • Four principal suggestions on the location of Elkosh Four principal suggestions on the location of Elkosh

have been advanced: have been advanced:

1.1. A modern village Elkush, or Alkosh, not far from the A modern village Elkush, or Alkosh, not far from the left bank of the left bank of the TigrisTigris, two days, two days'' journey north of journey north of the site of ancient Ninevehthe site of ancient Nineveh

2.2. A small village in A small village in GalileeGalilee, at a place identified by , at a place identified by many with the modern El-Kauze, near Ramiehmany with the modern El-Kauze, near Ramieh

3.3. CapernaumCapernaum, the name of which means "Village of , the name of which means "Village of Nahum" Nahum"

4.4. Elkosh in the territory south of Elkosh in the territory south of JudahJudah

622AuthorshipAuthorship

The message concerned Nineveh, but The message concerned Nineveh, but no record exists of it reaching this no record exists of it reaching this empire. It was Judah that needed to empire. It was Judah that needed to know how God would judge the know how God would judge the nation that persecuted them.nation that persecuted them.

• Contemporaries: Jeremiah, Habakkuk, and ZephaniahContemporaries: Jeremiah, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah• Assyria conquered Israel about 60 years before (722 BC).Assyria conquered Israel about 60 years before (722 BC).• Now God purposed to visit the former rod of His anger.Now God purposed to visit the former rod of His anger.• Despite repenting under Jonah, Nineveh was ready for Despite repenting under Jonah, Nineveh was ready for

judgment due to her cruelty in war and greed. judgment due to her cruelty in war and greed. • The power that had ruled western Asia for some three The power that had ruled western Asia for some three

centuries was now to be broken by the combined might of centuries was now to be broken by the combined might of the Babylonians and the Medes.the Babylonians and the Medes.

622622RecipientsRecipients

Historical BackgroundHistorical Background

ElkoshElkosh•Jerusalem•Jerusalem

IsraelIsrael

JudahJudah

CapernaumCapernaum

Walk Through The Bible ©1989Walk Through The Bible ©1989

“Flood”“Flood” NahumNahum

Nahum 1:8Nahum 1:8

NahumNahum''s Prophecies Happeneds Prophecies HappenedNahumNahum''s Prophecies Happeneds Prophecies Happened 625625625625

Hobart E. Freeman, An Introduction to the Old Testament Prophets (Chicago: Moody Press, 1977).

Book Chart

Nahum: Nineveh's Destruction

Certain Detailed Justified

Nahum 1 Nahum 2 Nahum 3

Destruction Decreed

Destruction Described

Destruction Deserved

Verdict of Vengeance Vision of Vengeance Vindication of Vengeance

What God Will Do How God Will Do It Why God Will Do It

God's Anger God's Actions God's Accusations

God's Predictionsfor Judah

God's Power for Judah

God's Justicefor Judah

Title1:1

God's Attributes

1:2-8

Plotting Against

God 1:9-11

Destruction is Judah's

Deliverance1:12-15

Battling vs. Judah's

Splendor 2:1-2

Destruction &

Despoiling2:3-13

Destruction for Cruelty

3:1-7

Drunk When

Destroyed

3:3-11

Burned With Fire

3:12-19

In Judah Against Assyria's Capital, Nineveh

c. 660 BC

621621

a Yahweh, like a terrible force of nature, avenges his enemies (1:2-10)

b Yahweh will destroy Nineveh but restore Judah (1:11-15)

c Vivid description of the attack upon Nineveh (2:1-10)

d CENTER: Lament over fall of Nineveh (2:11-13)

c' Vivid description of the looting of Nineveh (3:1-7)

b' Nineveh will be destroyed: it is vulnerable, like Thebes (3:8-13)

a' Nineveh, likened to a force of nature, will be destroyed (3:14-19)

Adapted from David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament: A Commentary on Genesis – Malachi (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1999)

Dorsey reveals that the placement of the eulogy over the "lion's den" in the book's highlighted central position reinforces the sense of certainty of

Nineveh's fall.

Chiastic Structure of NahumChiastic Structure of Nahum

God as Sovereign KingGod as Sovereign KingNahum pictured God as the sovereign ruler of the universe who controls both nature and nations, judging them and using them as instruments of judgment in accordance with His will. Not even mighty Assyria, the most powerful nation on earth in Nahum's day, could withstand the LORD's judgment. The LORD would also destroy Nineveh's idols (1:14), showing His sovereignty over the Assyrian gods.

Theology of NahumTheology of Nahum

Nahum sees the Lord as divine Warrior par excellence. The Nahum sees the Lord as divine Warrior par excellence. The book begins with a terrifying portrayal of the angry, avenging book begins with a terrifying portrayal of the angry, avenging warrior in a storm frightening all of nature with His battle cry warrior in a storm frightening all of nature with His battle cry (1:2-6). In this opening theophany, Nahum employed many of (1:2-6). In this opening theophany, Nahum employed many of the same motifs used by Assyrian kings to describe their the same motifs used by Assyrian kings to describe their prowess and exploits in battle. This emphasized that the prowess and exploits in battle. This emphasized that the LLORDORD, not Assyria, not Assyria''s king, was the most powerful warrior. The s king, was the most powerful warrior. The "L"LORDORD Almighty," or "L Almighty," or "LORDORD of Armies," personally announced of Armies," personally announced He would defeat Nineveh (2:13; 3:5). He would defeat Nineveh (2:13; 3:5).

Theology of NahumTheology of Nahum

God as WarriorGod as Warrior

God as JudgeGod as JudgeAssyriaAssyria''s judgment was well deserved. She had exploited s judgment was well deserved. She had exploited and cruelly treated other nations (cf. 3:1, 4), including Godand cruelly treated other nations (cf. 3:1, 4), including God''s s own people (1:15). Although the Lord had used the own people (1:15). Although the Lord had used the Assyrians as an instrument to punish Judah (1:12-13), they Assyrians as an instrument to punish Judah (1:12-13), they attributed it to their own power (cf. Isa. 10:5-19; 36:4-21). attributed it to their own power (cf. Isa. 10:5-19; 36:4-21). God saw this arrogance as an evil plot against His God saw this arrogance as an evil plot against His sovereign authority (1:9, 11), so he announced He would sovereign authority (1:9, 11), so he announced He would destroy the rebellious Assyrians, avenging His oppressed destroy the rebellious Assyrians, avenging His oppressed covenant people in the process. covenant people in the process.

Theology & ApplicationTheology & Application

God as IsraelGod as Israel''s Protectors ProtectorGod's judgment of Nineveh would be an expression of His zealous devotion to His covenant people (cf. 1:2). Though God had used the Assyrians to chastise Judah, He announced through Nahum that the Assyrian oppression was about to end (1:13, 15). In delivering Judah from the Assyrian yoke, He would once again demonstrate His goodness to His people and prove that He does indeed take notice of those who are loyal to Him and trust Him for protection (1:7).

Application

Do not mistake the patience of God as the

impotence of God

––Huang Sabin

Theology & ApplicationTheology & Application

Micah & Isaiah AlikeMicah & Isaiah AlikeMicah & Isaiah AlikeMicah & Isaiah Alike Exact parallels Messiah prominent Wrote from Jerusalem Wrote about both Israel and Judah Influenced Hezekiah Stressed the kingdom Contemporaneous

616616

In like manner, Jonah & Nahum are alikeIn like manner, Jonah & Nahum are alikeIn like manner, Jonah & Nahum are alikeIn like manner, Jonah & Nahum are alike

622622

REVIEW QUIZ on Nahum

1. Nahum prophesied the destruction of _________.

2. Nahum’s prophecy completes the story begun by the prophet ______.

3. Nahum uses vivid imagery (e.g. _____).

4. This book teaches that each generation must experience a fresh _______.


1. Nahum prophesied the destruction of _________.





1. Nahum prophesied the destruction of Ninevah (Assyria).











2. Nahum’s prophecy completes the story begun by the prophet Jonah.











3. Nahum uses vivid imagery (e.g. lion).











4. This book teaches that each generation must experience a fresh revival.





4. This book teaches that each generation must experience a fresh revival.

BlackBlack

OT Survey link at biblestudydownloads.comOT Survey link at biblestudydownloads.com

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Book of Nahum The Minor Prophets Dr. Rick Griffith, Singapore Bible College Assyrianism DUMMIES.

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