Nahum 2 Study Notes

2:1 Nahum the “Watchman” mockingly begins to cheer the Assyrians on as they prepared for siege warfare (3:14).

2:2 This verse gives the reason Nineveh is being attacked. It is because the Lord is restoring the majesty of Jacob/Israel, which requires Nineveh’s destruction.

2:3-10 To heighten the suspense and surprise, shields of his warriors . . . dyed red and valiant men . . . dressed in scarlet initiate an intentionally ambiguous description of the battle’s outcome. Were these uniforms dyed red or were they spattered with blood? Normally Nineveh’s weapons would be stained with the blood of their enemies, but here it is unclear whether Nineveh or its attackers are so portrayed. Not until v. 8 is it clear that Nineveh is the defeated party, whose hearts would melt with fear.

2:11-13 The lions’ lair with lion and lioness plays on two lion motifs commonly employed by Assyrian kings. The kings described themselves as “lions” crushing their enemies. Ashurbanipal often portrayed himself killing literal lions single-handedly, with a weapon or even bare-handed. Ironically reversing this imagery, the Lord mocked Nineveh, the once-mighty lion who preyed on its enemies. Now Nineveh was being hunted and made prey. Its young lions (warriors) would be killed in battle.