Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible · Nahum Capítulo 1

Nahum 1:1. The burden of Nineveh— The sentence upon Nineveh. See the Argument, and Isaiah 13:1. Bishop Newton observes, that if there be some difficulty in discovering the persons by whom Nineveh was taken, there is more in ascertaining the king of Assyria in whose name it was taken; and more still in fixing the time when it was taken; scarcely any two chronologies agreeing in the same date. But as these things are hardly possible to be known, so neither are they necessary to be known with precision and exactness; and we may safely leave them among the uncertainties of ancient history and chronology. It is sufficient for our purpose, that Nineveh was taken and destroyed according to the predictions, and that Nahum foretold not only the thing but also the manner of it.

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Nahum 1:2. God is jealous, &c.— This and the following verses, to the eighth, are a preamble, like that of many others in the Prophets, to prepare the mind of the reader, and to impress upon him sentiments of respect and fear. As God is very jealous of his honour, so will he not fail to execute his judgments on those who affront and dishonour him; and though he does not always punish impenitent sinners immediately, yet he will not fail in due time to execute his severity upon them. The repetition of the word revengeth denotes not only the greatness of the divine anger, but the certainty of the punishment. The reader will observe, that many of the ideas in the following verses are taken from the description of the Almighty's descent on mount Sinai.

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Nahum 1:5. The earth is burned, &c.— Is made desolate. Houb.

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Nahum 1:7. The Lord is good, &c.— The Lord is good to him who trusts in him in the day of trouble: he careth for those who confide in him. This is said very appositely by the prophet, prophesying against Nineveh, after the overthrow of the army of Sennacherib, and the mercies vouchsafed to Hezekiah, who had put his trust in the Lord.

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Nahum 1:8. But with an over-running flood, &c.— The passage may be rendered, But in the overflowing of wrath he will make an end, that there shall be no rising up more; but utter darkness shall pursue his enemies. Houbigant renders it, But, as an overflowing flood, he passes through to make an utter end of those who resist him; and darkness pursues his enemies. See the note on chap. Nahum 2:6.

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Nahum 1:9. What do ye imagine— Why do ye take counsel? &c. The prophet says this to the Ninevites, who seemed willing to repair the loss of Senacherib's army, and to invade Judaea; and it is most likely, says Houbigant, that Nahum, when he delivered this prediction, was a captive in Nineveh, as was Tobias, or in some neighbouring place.

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Nahum 1:10. For while they be folden, &c.— For they who sit round their cups, and are drunken as drunkards, shall be, &c. Houbigant. Diodorus relates, that while all the Assyrian army were feasting for their former victories, those about Arbaces, being informed by some deserters of the negligence and drunkenness in the camp of the enemies, assaulted them unexpectedly by night; and, falling orderly upon them disordered, and prepared on them unprepared, became masters of the camp, slew many of the soldiers, and drove the rest into the city. See Newton's Prophesies, vol. 1:

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Nahum 1:11. There is one come out, &c.— Wherefore comes there out from thee him who meditated evil against the Lord, and used wicked counsels? Pointing out Sennacherib, who reproached the living God in the epistle which he sent to Hezekiah. See Houbigant.

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Nahum 1:12. Thus saith the Lord, &c.— Thus saith the Lord to those who rule over many waters: as the waters are many, so shall they be carried away, and passed through. I will so afflict thee, as to afflict thee no more. The prophet calls the people waters, as is usual in the prophetic style, and because these waters had lately overflowed Judaea and the neighbouring countries. Houbigant.

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Nahum 1:13. For now will I break his yoke, &c.— I am about to break the yoke which thou didst impose, and to burst the bonds which thou didst bind. The prophet addresses himself to the king of the Assyrians, as is plain from what goes before, and what follows. Houbigant.

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