CHAPTER III _The prophet denounces a wo against Nineveh for her perfidy and_ _violence. He musters up before our eyes the number of her_ _chariots and cavalry; points to her burnished arms, and to the_ _great and unrelenting slaughter which she spreads around her_, 1-3. _Because Nineveh is a c... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 4. _BECAUSE OF THE MULTITUDE OF THE WHOREDOMS_] Above, the Ninevites were represented under the emblem of a _lion tearing all_ _to pieces_; here they are represented under the emblem of a _beautiful harlot_ or public _prostitute_, enticing all men to her, inducing the nations to become idolatr... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 5. _I WILL DISCOVER THY SKIRTS UPON THY FACE_] It was an ancient, though not a laudable custom, to strip prostitutes naked, or throw their clothes over their heads, and expose them to public view, and public execration. This verse alludes to such a custom.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 6. _I WILL CAST ABOMINABLE FILTH UPON THEE_] I will set thee as a _gazing-stock_. This was a punishment precisely like our _pillory_. They put such women in the pillory as a _gazing-stock_; and then, _children_ and _others_ threw _mud, dirt_, and _filth_ of all kinds at them.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 7. _WHO WILL BEMOAN HER?_] In such cases, who pities the delinquent? She has been the occasion of ruin to multitudes, and now she is deservedly exposed and punished. And so it should be thought concerning Nineveh.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 8. _ART THOU BETTER THAN POPULOUS NO_] No-Ammon, or _Diospolis_, in the _Delta_, on one branch of the Nile. This is supposed to be the city mentioned by _Nahum_; and which had been lately destroyed, probably by the Chaldeans. _THE WATERS ROUND ABOUT IT_] Being situated in the _Delta_, it had... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 9. _ETHIOPIA AND EGYPT_ WERE _HER STRENGTH_] The land of _Cush_, not far from _Diospolis_; for it was in Arabia, on the _Red Sea_. _PUT AND LUBIM_] A part of Africa and Libya, which were all within reach of forming alliances with _No-Ammon_ or _Diospolis_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Nahum 3:10. _THEY CAST LOTS FOR HER HONOURABLE MEN_] This refers still to the city called _populous No_. And the custom of _casting_ _lots_ among the commanders, for the prisoners which they had taken, is here referred to. _GREAT MEN WERE BOUND IN CHAINS_] These were reserved to grace the _tr... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Nahum 3:12. _THY STRONG HOLDS_] The effects of the consternation into which the Ninevites were cast by the assault on their city are here pointed out by a very expressive metaphor; the _first-ripe_ _figs_, when at _full maturity_, fell from the tree with the _least_ _shake_; and so, at the fir... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Nahum 3:13. _THY PEOPLE _- ARE _WOMEN_] They lost all courage, and made no resistance. O vere Phrygiae, neque enim Phryges: "Verily, ye are Phrygian women, not Phrygian men." So said _Numanus_ to the _Trojans_. _Virg_., AEn. ix.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Nahum 3:14. _DRAW THEE WATERS FOR THE SIEGE_] The Tigris ran near to Nineveh, and here they are exhorted to lay in plenty of fresh water, lest the siege should last long, and lest the enemy should cut off this supply. _GO INTO CLAY, AND TREAD THE MORTAR_] This refers to the manner of forming... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Nahum 3:15. _MAKE THYSELF MANY AS THE CANKERWORM_] On the _locusts_, and their operations in their various _states_, see the notes on Joel 2:2. The multitudes, successive swarms, and devastation occasioned by locusts, is one of the most expressive similes that could be used to point out the su... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Nahum 3:16. _THOU HAST MULTIPLIED THY MERCHANTS_] Like Tyre, this city was a famous resort for merchants; but the multitudes which were there previously to the siege, like the locusts, took the alarm, and fled away.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Nahum 3:17. _THY CROWNED_ ARE _AS THE LOCUSTS_] Thou hast numerous _princes_ and numerous _commanders_. _WHICH CAMP IN THE HEDGES IN THE COLD DAY_] The locusts are said to _lie in shelter_ about the _hedges_ of fertile spots when the weather is _cold_, or during the _night_; but as soon as th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Nahum 3:18. _THY SHEPHERDS SLUMBER_] That is, the rulers and tributary princes, who, as _Herodotus_ informs us, deserted Nineveh in the day of her distress, and came not forward to her succour. _Diodorus Siculus_ says, lib. ii., when the enemy shut up the king in the city, many nations revolt... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Nahum 3:19. THERE IS _NO HEALING OF THY BRUISE_] Thou shalt never be rebuilt. _ALL THAT HEAR THE BRUIT OF THEE_] The report or account. _SHALL CLAP THE HANDS_] Shall exult in thy downfall. _FOR UPON WHOM HATH NOT THY WICKEDNESS PASSED_] Thou hast been a _universal oppressor_, and therefore... [ Continue Reading ]