Nahum 1: Avenging and Good
A majestic hymn reveals God as jealous, avenging, and almighty, yet good and a stronghold for all who take refuge in him.
Nahum 1 (WEB)
1 An oracle about Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
2 Yahweh is a jealous God and avenges. Yahweh avenges and is full of wrath. Yahweh takes vengeance on his adversaries, and he maintains wrath against his enemies.
3 Yahweh is slow to anger, and great in power, and will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. Yahweh has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
4 He rebukes the sea, and makes it dry, and dries up all the rivers. Bashan languishes, and Carmel; and the flower of Lebanon languishes.
5 The mountains quake before him, and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, yes, the world, and all who dwell in it.
6 Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the fierceness of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken apart by him.
7 Yahweh is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knows those who take refuge in him.
8 But with an overflowing flood, he will make a full end of her place, and will pursue his enemies into darkness.
9 What do you plot against Yahweh? He will make a full end. Affliction won’t rise up the second time.
10 For entangled like thorns, and drunken as with their drink, they are consumed utterly like dry stubble.
11 There is one gone out of you, who devises evil against Yahweh, who counsels wickedness.
12 Thus says Yahweh: “Though they be in full strength, and likewise many, even so they will be cut down, and he shall pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more.
13 Now will I break his yoke from off you, and will burst your bonds apart.”
14 Yahweh has commanded concerning you: “No more descendants will bear your name. Out of the house of your gods, will I cut off the engraved image and the molten image. I will make your grave, for you are vile.”
15 Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace! Keep your feasts, Judah! Perform your vows, for the wicked one will no more pass through you. He is utterly cut off.
Nahum 1 (KJV)
1 The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
2 God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.
3 The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
4 He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.
5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
6 Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.
7 The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
8 But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.
9 What do ye imagine against the Lord? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.
10 For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.
11 There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the Lord, a wicked counsellor.
12 Thus saith the Lord; Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.
13 For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.
14 And the Lord hath given a commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.
15 Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.
Nahum 1 (ASV)
1 The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
2 Jehovah is a jealous God and avengeth; Jehovah avengeth and is full of wrath; Jehovah taketh vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.
3 Jehovah is slow to anger, and great in power, and will by no means clear the guilty: Jehovah hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
4 He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel; and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.
5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt; and the earth is upheaved at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
6 Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken asunder by him.
7 Jehovah is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that take refuge in him.
8 But with an over-running flood he will make a full end of her place, and will pursue his enemies into darkness.
9 What do ye devise against Jehovah? he will make a full end; affliction shall not rise up the second time.
10 For entangled like thorns, and drunken as with their drink, they are consumed utterly as dry stubble.
11 There is one gone forth out of thee, that deviseth evil against Jehovah, that counselleth wickedness.
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.
13 And now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.
14 And Jehovah hath given commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image; I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.
15 Behold, upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! Keep thy feasts, O Judah, perform thy vows; for the wicked one shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.
Summary
Nahum's vision concerning Nineveh opens not with the city but with God himself. Yahweh is a jealous God who avenges, full of wrath toward his enemies, yet he is also slow to anger and great in power, and he will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. The prophet paints his majesty across all creation: he rebukes the sea and dries the rivers, the mountains quake and the hills melt, and no one can stand before his indignation, for his wrath is poured out like fire. Then, in the very center of this storm, comes the steady promise: “Yahweh is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knows those who take refuge in him.” Against Nineveh, however, God will make a full end, pursuing his enemies into darkness and cutting off the idols from the house of their gods. To Judah, long afflicted under the Assyrian yoke, he speaks comfort: he will break that yoke and burst their bonds. The chapter closes with feet upon the mountains bringing good news and publishing peace, for the wicked one will pass through them no more; he is utterly cut off.
Key Figures
- Yahweh (the LORD) — The jealous, avenging, almighty God who is also slow to anger, good, and a stronghold in the day of trouble, sovereign over sea, mountain, and storm.
- Nineveh — The city of the oracle, against whom God will make a full end, pursuing his enemies into darkness and cutting off her idols and her name.
- Judah (God's afflicted people) — Those long bowed under Assyria's yoke, to whom God promises to break their bonds and send good news of peace.
- The herald of good news — The messenger seen on the mountains publishing peace, announcing that the wicked one is utterly cut off.
Key Verse
Nahum 1:7 (WEB)
Yahweh is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knows those who take refuge in him.
Lessons Learned
- God's wrath against evil and his goodness toward the trusting are revealed side by side; both are essential to who he is.
- The Lord rules all creation, so no power can finally resist his purposes.
- In the very midst of judgment, God is a refuge for those who take shelter in him.
- God's defeat of the oppressor is good news of peace for his weary people.
- God avenges because he is just. “Yahweh is a jealous God and avenges… and will by no means leave the guilty unpunished” (Nahum 1:2-3, WEB). His justice means evil will not stand forever.
- All creation answers to him. “The mountains quake before him, and the hills melt away” (Nahum 1:5, WEB). The God who commands the sea and the storm cannot be resisted by any nation.
- God is a stronghold for the trusting. “Yahweh is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knows those who take refuge in him” (Nahum 1:7, WEB). Judgment for the proud is shelter for the humble.
- God's victory brings good news of peace. “Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace!” (Nahum 1:15, WEB). The fall of the tyrant sets God's people free to worship.
- How does Nahum describe God's character in the opening verses, and why do you think he begins with God rather than with Nineveh?
- What images of God's power over creation does the prophet use, and what do they reveal about him?
- Nahum 1:7 sits right in the middle of an oracle of wrath. Why is it significant that this promise of refuge appears here?
- How does God's word to Judah in verses 12-13 turn judgment on Nineveh into comfort for his people?
- Where do you most need to take refuge in God as “a stronghold in the day of trouble” (Nahum 1:7) right now?
- Nahum calls God jealous, avenging, and wrathful, yet also slow to anger, great in power, and good (1:2-3, 7). By beginning with God's character rather than the city, he grounds the whole oracle in who God is, so that judgment is read as the act of a holy, good, and patient Lord, not arbitrary rage.
- He pictures God rebuking and drying up the sea, withering Bashan, Carmel, and Lebanon, the mountains quaking and the hills melting, and his wrath poured out like fire that splits the rocks (1:4-6). Such majesty shows that no created power, including Assyria, can stand before him.
- Placed amid descriptions of fire and quaking mountains, the promise that God is “good, a stronghold in the day of trouble” (1:7) shows that his power is not only against the wicked but for the trusting. The same strength that terrifies his enemies shelters his people. Judgment and refuge come from one good God.
- God tells Judah, “Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more,” promising to break Nineveh's yoke and burst their bonds (1:12-13). The downfall of the oppressor is precisely what liberates the oppressed, so the same word that dooms Nineveh comforts Judah.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to bring a present trouble before God and to rest in the promise that he knows those who take refuge in him (1:7). As leader, keep the tone warm and hopeful, pointing to the God who is both mighty and good.