Nahum 2:6

The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved. THE GATES OF THE RIVERS SHALL BE OPENED. The river wall on the Tigris (the west defense of Nineveh) was 4,530 yards long. On the north, south, and east sides there were large moats, capable of being easily filled with water from the Khosrsu. Traces of dams ("gates," or sluices) for regulating the supply are still visible, so that the whole city could be surrounded with a water barrier (, "Nineveh of old is like a pool of water"). Besides, on the east, the weakest side, it was further protected by a lofty double rampart, with a moat 200 feet wide between its two parts, cut in the rocky ground. The moats or canals, flooded by the Ninevites before the siege, to repel the foe, were made a dry bed to march into the city, by the foe turning the waters into a different channel, as Cyrus did in the...

By the gates of the rivers the Prophet means that part of the city which was most fortified by the river Tigris; for the Tigris flowed close by the city. As then the Tigris was like the strongest defense, (for we know it to have been a most rapid river,) the Prophet ridicules the confidence of the Ninevites, who thought that the access of enemies could be wholly prevented in that part where the Tigris flowed. _The gates _then _of the rivers are opened; _that is, your river shall not prevent your enemies from breaking through and penetrating into your city. We hence see, that the Prophet removes all the hindrances which might have seemed available to keep off enemies; and he did so, not so much for the sake of Nineveh as for the sake of his chosen people, that the Israelites and Jews might know, that that city was no less in the power of God than any other; for God can no less easily pass...

1-10 Nineveh shall not put aside this judgment; there is no counsel or strength against the Lord. God looks upon proud cities, and brings them down. Particular account is given of the terrors wherein the invading enemy shall appear against Nineveh. The empire of Assyria is represented as a queen, about to be led captive to Babylon. Guilt in the conscience fills men with terror in an evil day; and what will treasures or glory do for us in times of distress, or in the day of wrath? Yet for such things how many lose their souls!...

Verse 6. _THE GATES OF THE RIVERS SHALL BE OPENED_] I have already referred to this, Nahum 1:8; but it will be necessary to be _more particular_. The account given by _Diodorus_ _Siculus_, lib. ii., is very surprising. He begins thus: Ην δ' αυτῳ λογιον παραδεδομενον εκ προγονων, κ.τ.λ. - "There was a prophecy received from their forefathers, that Nineveh should not be taken _till the river first became an enemy to the city_. It happened in the _third_ year of the siege, that the Euphrates [query, _Tigris_] being swollen with continued rains, overflowed part of the city, and threw down _twenty_ stadia of the wall. The king then imagining that the oracle was accomplished, and that _the river was now_ _manifestly become an enemy to the city_, casting aside all hope of safety, and lest he should fall into the hands of the enemy, built a large funeral p...

THE GATES OF THE RIVERS SHALL BE OPENED, AND THE PALACE SHALL BE DISOLVED - All gives way in an instant at the will of God; the strife is hushed; no more is said of war and death; there is no more resistance or bloodshed; no sound except the wailing of the captives, the flight of those who can escape, while the conquerors empty it of the spoil, and then she is left a waste. The swelling of the river and the opening made by it may have given rise to the traditional account of Ctesias, although obviously exaggerated as to the destruction of the wall. The exaggerated character of that tradition is not inconsistent with, it rather implies, a basis of truth. It is inconceivable that it should have been thought, that walls, of the thickness which Ctesias had described, were overthrown by the swelling of any river, unless some such event as Ctesias relates, that the siege was ended by an entran...

EXPOSITION NAHUM 2:1 Part II. THE EXECUTION OF THE DECREE; THE DESTRUCTION OF NINEVEH DESCRIBED. NAHUM 2:1 § 1. _Nineveh shall be besieged, because God is about to exalt his people by taking vengeance on the enemy, whose defence, howsoever formidable, is of no avail._ NAHUM 2:1 Nahum addresses Nineveh, and forewarns her of the siege she was about to undergo (see Introduction, § I.). HE THAT DASHETH IN PIECES; the disperser; qui disper

THE GATES OF THE RIVERS SHALL BE OPENED,.... Of Diava and Adiava, or Lycus and Caprus, between which, according to some writers i, Nineveh was situated; or the gates of the city, which lay nearest to the river Tigris, are meant; or that river itself, the plural for the singular, which overflowing, broke down the walls of the city for two and a half miles, and opened a way for the Medes and Chaldeans to enter in; of which see Nahum 1:8: AND THE PALACE SHALL BE DISSOLVED; by the inundation, or destroyed by the enemy; meaning the palace of the king, which might be situated near the river; or the temple of Nisroch the Assyrian deity, or Jupiter Belus; for the same word k signifies a temple as well as palace. i Vid. Fuller. Miscel. Sacr. l. 3. c. 6. k ההיכל "templum", V. L. Junius Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius, Cocceius....

CHAPTER 2 The Overthrow, Plundering and Destruction Of Nineveh _ 1. The capture of Nineveh announced and described (Nahum 2:1) _ 2. The completeness of the judgment (Nahum 2:11) Nahum 2:1. This great prophecy was literally fulfilled some ninety years after Nahum had spoken. When these words were spoken Nineveh was in the zenith of her glory. Who told Nahum the Elkoshite that the proud world city would undergo such a sack and be completely wiped out? Who moved his pen to give such a vivid description of what would take place? There is but one answer--the Spirit of God. How was the prophecy fulfilled? Cyaxares of the Medes had surrounded Nineveh in the north. Nabopolassar of Babylon entered into an allianc

NAHUM 1:11; NAHUM 1:14; NAHUM 2:1; NAHUM 2:3. THE FALL OF NINEVEH. Nahum 1:11. In days gone by there went out of Nineveh one that planned villainous devices against Yahweh and His people. Now Yahweh has given commandment that his name shall be blotted out, his grave dishonoured, and the temple of his gods robbed of its images. NAHUM 1:11. The reference is clearly to Sennacherib. BELIAL (_mg.): i.e._ malicious destruction ...

GATES. flood-gates, or sluices. THE RIVERS. Nineveh lay on the east (or left) bank of the Tigris. The Khusur (a perennial stream) ran through it; also. canal from it to the Tigris ran through the city. OPENED: i.e. by the enemy. BE DISSOLVED. melt away [in fear], or was in dismay....