Understanding The Bible
STUDY REFERENCE
Clarence E. Mason's "OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETIC BOOKS"
NAHUM
Expanded Appendix

 

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Dr. Clarence E. Mason, Jr.
Philadelphia College of Bible
1970

OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETIC BOOKS
NAHUM: Expanded appendix

NAHUM ("Comforted")
 (Dr. Boddis)

Nothing is known concerning Nahum except the reference to himself in the first verse of Ills prophecy. He was a native of Elkosh, a town whose location cannot be determined with any certainty. Some locate it in Assyria where the prophet's tomb is said to be. Others declare it to be a village in Galilee. Various dates have been given to this book. Some believe Nahum to be a contemporary with Habakkuk; others, that he prophesied during the reign of Manasseh; while many place his ministry during the reign of Hezekiah. This was from about 645-620 BC (Whitcomb). From internal evidence the best authorities place the date of the prophecy between the fall of Thebes (No-Amon of 3:8) in 663 BC and the capture of Nineveh by the Babylonians and Medes in 607 BC. Nahum's message concerns Nineveh exclusively. This would seem to link Nahum's ministry with that of Jonah, although Jonah's ministry took place more than 150 years before.

OUTLINE

Title page and author 1:1

  1. JEHOVAH APPEARS IN JUDGMENT 1:2-15
    1. The character of the Judge 2-8
      Slow to anger, yet a God of vengeance and overwhelming majesty.
      To His friends He is good; to His enemies, an overwhelming flood.
    2. The verdict against Nineveh 9-14
      This paragraph is addressed to the Lord's own people by way of comfort, but brings an indictment against Assyria and pronounces her doom.
    3. Proclamation of deliverance to Judah 15
       
  2. THE EXECUTION OF THE JUDGMENT 2
    1. Nineveh warned to prepare for the inevitable 1-2
    2. The conflict described 3-5
    3. The city taken and spoiled 6-10
    4. Assyria to be destroyed forever 11-13
       
  3. THE JUDGMENT VINDICATED 3
    1. The first indictment: A bloody city, full of lies, conquest and oppression 1-3
    2. The second indictment and the proclamation of vengeance: Idolatry, witchcraft, and her cruelty to the surrounding nations 4-7
      The judgment is sure, because Jehovah is against her.
    3. The fate of No-Amon should have been a warning to Nineveh 8-17
      It was populous, strong, and well fortified; yet it was destroyed and
      its inhabitants carried into captivity. Such shall be the fate of Nineveh.
    4. Assyria shall know no recovery 18-19
      There will be no healing of Assyria's deadly wound, but great rejoicing over her downfall.

 

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