Notes: Nahum 1:9-12
This study was done using the Amplified Bible, which I don't have permission to publish, so I will replace the verses here with the American Standard Version. Because of that some of the comments may not totally make sense because the AMP has expanded explanations. I would highly recommend going to a site like BibleGateway.com where you can read the AMP version for free.
[9]What do ye devise against Jehovah? he will make a full end; affliction shall not rise up the second time.
A. The amplified Bible here says "What do you devise and [how mad is your attempt] to plot against the Lord." I think this equation of plotting against the Lord to be on par with insanity is about as correct a statement as they come. Only a complete fool would take the time to plan an attack on Jesus an think it possible to win. It reminds me of a famous actor on a well known TV series who said he would like the opportunity to disprove the existence of God. He is followed by tens of thousands of people, is in the world's eyes a brilliant man, but is in fact what a stereotype would look like for a fool by God's standards.
B. Affliction will not rise up a second time. This promise from God is interesting. One would so why God allowed it to happen the first time instead of choosing to stop it the second. The blood of the saints, and explained in the book of Revelation is and important factor in the wrath of God, and as we have seen over and over again in the church, it is usually only the non-persecuted Christians who have any issue with persecution. The underground church understands fully that persecution for Christ means to relate to Him in a way that no other christian can. Bleeding as He bled puts us in an honor that non-persecuted Christians often take offense at.
10 For entangled like thorns, and drunken as with their drink, they are consumed utterly as dry stubble.
A. As will happen at the end of days, people in Nineveh thought themselves unbeatable, invincible, much the same way modern day America has felt for a very long time. They abandoned the repentance and revival from the time of Jonah about a hundred years before, and moved into debauchery, wild parties and drunkenness, and then found themselves surrounded by smoke and rubble with no escape. It was so definite her destruction that the Babylonians even depopulated and de-urbanized the entire 750 hectare (1853 acre) city leaving it as if it had always been piles of shattered stone.
11 There is one gone forth out of thee, that deviseth evil against Jehovah, that counselleth wickedness.
A. This, as many Bible translators and scholars agree, is referring to two people, not one, specifically Senaccherib and his spokesman The Rabshakeh (not a name, a title for a high ranking military official), as is explained in more detail in Matthew Henry's commentary on the Bible:
"I. The great provocation which the Assyrians gave to God, the just and jealous God, for which, though slow to anger, he would take vengeance (Nah 1:11): There is one come out of thee, that imagines evil against the Lord - Sennacherib, and his spokesman Rabshakeh. They framed an evil letter and an evil speech, not only against Hezekiah and his people, but against God himself, reflecting upon him as level with the gods of the heathen, and unable to protect his worshippers, dissuading his people from putting confidence in him, and urging them rather to put themselves under the protection of the great king, the king of Assyria. They contrived to alter the property of Jerusalem, that it should be no longer the city of the Lord, the holy city. This one, this mighty one, so he thinks himself, that comes out of Nineveh, imagining evil against the Lord, brings upon Nineveh this burden. Never was the glorious Majesty of heaven and earth more daringly, more blasphemously affronted than by Sennacherib at that time. He was a wicked counsellor who counselled them to despair of God's protection, and surrender themselves to the king of Assyria, and endeavour to put them out of conceit with Hezekiah's reformation (Isa 36:7); with this wicked counsellor he here expostulates (Nah 1:9): “What do you imagine against the Lord? What a foolish wicked thing it is for you to plot against God, as if you could outwit divine wisdom and overpower omnipotence itself!” Note, There is a great deal imagined against the Lord by the gates of hell, and against the interests of his kingdom in the world; but it will prove a vain thing, Psa 2:1, Psa 2:2. He that sits in heaven laughs at the imaginations of the pretenders to politics against him, and will turn their counsels headlong."
B. Sennacherib began his campaign and laid siege to Judah and Jerusalem in the year 701, about 50 years before Nahum is thought to have written his book. It is believed by many Bible scholars, and is pointed out by A.R. Faussett that because of his description of Sennacherib's army, he seemed to have intimate knowledge of it, and was very possibly inside of or near Jerusalem when Sennacherib laid siege. This would also suggest that Nahum could have possibly been in contact with Hezekiah and Isaiah. It is likely that Isaiah was an influence and role model in Nahum's life.
12 Thus saith Jehovah: Though they be in full strength, and likewise many, even so shall they be cut down, and he shall pass away. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.
A. It was twenty years after God delivered Jerusalem from Sennacherib that he was assassinated by his own sons.
"So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esar-haddon his son reigned in his stead." - 2 Kings 19:36-37
Another historical account also says he was killed and his sons pushed a llamasu (pictured above) on top of him and crushed him. A llamamu, ironically, is a protective deity the Assyrians worshipped, although it dates all the way back to Sumerian culture.
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