Nahum 1:1-15

God's Vengeance on His People's Enemies. Deliverance for Judah

1, 2. Superscription: 'Oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of prophesying of Nahum the Elkoshite.' A. theological introduction describing a theophatty or a coming of Jehovah to judgment. Cp. the brief statements in à similar spirit, Amos 1:2; Micah 1:3; Micah 1:4. The whole should be printed as verse:

A jealous and avenging God is Jehovah; Jehovah is avenging and wrathful; Jehovah taketh vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserveth wrath for His enemies.

3-6. The prophet sketches the character of Jehovah in terms suitable to his general theme; it is the vengeance of God upon Israel's enemies, who are also His enemies, that we are here invited to consider: Cp. Exodus 20:5; Exodus 34:14; Deuteronomy 4:24. Note the terrible manner of His appearance when He comes to judgment.