A Study of the Book of

NAHUM

"The Prophet Nahum" by the Artist Tissot

Bruce Leonard
 NAHUM
NAME: Nahum means “consolation,” “compassion” or
“comforter.” His message that God would soon act in divine
retribution was a comfort to the Jews who had suffered under
the Assyrians.
Wiersbe, Warren W. Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the
New Testament. Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1997,
c1992.
Willmington, H. L. Willmington's Bible Handbook.
Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, 1997.

THEME: The impending doom of Nineveh. The city Winton, Bob. Outlined Commentary on The Minor
repented at the preaching of Jonah, but now has returned to Prophets. 1992
its evil ways and the judgment of God is imminent.
Yates, Kyle M. Preaching from the Prophets. Nashville:
AUTHOR: Very little is known about the life of Nahum. Broadman Press, 1942.
He was from the town of Elkosh (Nahum 1:1), but its
location is unknown.

DATE: The book is believed to have been written around

625 B.C. Nahum mentions the fall of No-Amon (Thebes) as
an actual historical event. Ashurbanipal of Assyria
destroyed that Egyptian city in 663 B.C. Nahum also
foretells the fall of Nineveh which took place in 612 B.C.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
Nineveh was founded by Nimrod (Gen. 10:11). Its walls
were one hundred feet high, seven and on half miles in
circumference, and wide enough for three chariots to drive
abreast on top of the wall. There were twelve hundred
defense towers and a moat one hundred and forty feet wide
and sixty feet deep.

Assyria was ruthless against its enemies. They looted and

utterly destroyed those they conquered. They would bury
their enemies alive, skin them alive, and impale them on
sharp poles to burn in the sun. God had used Assyria to
bring judgment upon Israel’s northern ten tribes in 721 B.C
(2 Kings 17:6). They tried to conquer Judah in 701 B.C.

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 RESOURCES
Carson, D. A. New Bible Commentary : 21st Century
Edition. 4th ed. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill.,
USA: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994.
Freeman, James M. and Harold J. Chadwick. Manners &
Customs of the Bible. Rev. ed.]. North Brunswick, NJ:
Bridge-Logos Publishers, 1998.
Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry's Commentary on the
Whole Bible : Complete and Unabridged in One
Volume. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1996, c1991.
Pfeiffer, Charles F. The Wycliffe Bible Commentary : Old
Testament. Chicago: Moody Press, 1962.
Richards, Lawrence O. The Bible Readers Companion.
electronic ed. Wheaton: Victor Books, 1991; Published
in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996.
Smith, James E. The Minor Prophets. Joplin, Mo.: College
Press, 1992.
The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton:
Standard Bible Society, 2001.
The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the
1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version.
Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995.
Walvoord, John F., Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological
Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An
Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor
Books, 1983-c1985.
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during Hezekiah’s reign, but God intervened and their army
was destroyed (Isaiah 36-37).
The city fell in 612 B.C to the Mede’s and Babylonians. Its
destruction was so great that all trace of the city was lost
until it was discovered by archaeologists in 1842.
Manasseh reigned in Jerusalem from 698 B.C. to 643 B.C (2
Kings 21:1). His son Amon ruled for two years (2 Kings
21:19) and then Josiah began his reign (2 Kings 22:1). In
623 B.C. a great reformation began under the leadership of
Josiah when the Book of the Law was found during a
restoration of the Temple (2 Kings 22:3-7). Josiah set out to
restore the Law and proper worship in Judah.
Nahum did not address his message to the citizens of
Nineveh. Even though it is a message concerning the
destruction of Nineveh his words were encouragement for
the oppressed people of Israel and Judah. Israel and Judah
had suffered brutally at the hands of the Assyrians for over a
century. They saw their homes destroyed, their crops
burned, their wives and daughters raped, their children
dashed against stone walls. Now divine retribution is at hand.
This history of the relationship between Assyria and
Israel/Judah puts the book in perspective.
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 NAHUM 3
SUGGESTED OUTLINES: “The Woe of Nineveh”

I. Chapter One: The Destruction of Nineveh Declared O T N I C H A R M S B R T F O R T S

A. 1:1-8: The Divine Vengeance and Mercy of God H E A S I N G T Y P C O R P S E S S
B. 1:9-13: The Utter End of Nineveh is Plainly Affirmed C T S F M T K E E S S A S L E E P K
C. 1:14-15: Nineveh’s Grave Was to be dug By the Lord
S P L C O U N T L E S S W P C W P B
II. Chapter Two: The Destruction of Nineveh Described T G V I P D B V S B Y D M B H Y O O
A. 2:1-7: The One who is to Annihilate is on His Way C N N D F I D S D L T U C R A C K U
B. 2:8-13: The Ninevites Would Be In Terror I A L I E C E P D A L K L L R G Y N
B O A A R R O A Y T S W A A G L A D
III. Chapter Three: The Destruction of Nineveh Defended C R T R T O E M I D H H P C I V C B
A. 3:1-7: Nineveh Was To Suffer The Just Fate For Her
D E I R E D H P F E O W E V N V L L
Great Crimes
B. 3:8-11: Nineveh Was To Suffer The Fat of No (Thebes) R Y O C H V L W R O D O E D G I A K
C. 3:12-19: None of the Possessions or Powers of Nineveh U F M M K Y O E I T R E L R V S Y S
Could Deliver Them N N T U O H T I W S D T S B E E N L
K F A S P S D C S E C N E F P I F O
Chapter 1: A sublime picture of God. E E H C A P T I V I T Y N R A L I C
Chapter 2: A graphic picture of the fall o f Nineveh. N H B O D I E S R U O Y L H S F G U
Chapter 3: A statement of the reasons for the utter ruin of
the wicked city. B E C A M E P R E T A W C L I T S S
Y D A D E V O U R F S Y A R T E B T
LESSONS OF VALUE:
1. God’s patience is limited. ASLEEP COMFORTERS FORTRESSES
BECAME CORPSES FORTS
2. God is a sovereign and moral judge of not only His BETRAYS COUNTLESS INTO
people, but of the whole world. BLOODY CRACK LOCUST
3. The wrath of God must be viewed in terms of God’s love. BODIES DASHED MULTIPLY
4. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). BOUND DEADLY OVER
5. God is angered by the senseless destruction of life and BRICK DEVOUR SEEK
CAPTIVITY DRUNKEN WATER
property. CHAINS EASING WERE
6. Disregarding God and His righteous standards will bring CHARGING EATER WHERE
judgment. CHARMS FENCES WHORINGS
CLAP FIGS WITHOUT
CLAY FILTH YOUR
COLD FLIES

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 NAHUM 2 NAHUM 1
“The LORD Will Destroy Nineveh”
1. Who does the oracle concern? v. 1
B E A T I N G J J B K S Y N N P
F E E D I N G G R B L W O K O F 2. Whose vision is given in the book?
S B U C D R K A D R U I V D N D
Y P C L J E N Y I A L R O F E S 3. Where is Nahum from?
T M L W A C H G W H R V N H S G
4. How is God described? v. 2
S A I U H M C T B P E T S E W S
E E S E N O E R O S U I R B T E 5. To whom does God reserve his wrath?
J L S O L D U N N L D D J R Y R
A G H L S T E E T N C T B E Y E 6. To what is the Lord slow? v. 3
M T E E S H D R A I I N I A O H
7. To what is the Lord great?
A C E I A Y E R P E N O R S U W
T N D S N A B K T A T G P T N N 8. Who will the Lord not clear?
K E T R T S T O I R A H C S G R
G E A L E R H O H C L M Y F A F 9. Where is the Lord’s way?
N B A W C A V E S C Y P R E S S
T H V Y N S S D E I R R A C H T 10. What are the clouds?

BEATING CYPRESS KNEES 11. What does God do to the sea and rivers? v. 4
BRANCHES DART LAMENTING
BRANDISHED DENS LION 12. What withers?
BREASTS DISTURB MAJESTY
BURN DOVES NONE
CARRIED DRESS PLUNDER
13. What do the mountains do before the Lord? v. 5
CAVES FEEDING PREY
CHARIOTS GIRLS WHERE a. The hills?
CLOTHED GLEAM YOUNG
COLLECT HALT b. The earth?
CUBS HASTEN
c. The world?

14. What questions are asked? v. 6

15 4
 a. NAHUM 1
“God’s Wrath Against Nineveh”
b.
E T P M W R D E L B U O R T K I
15. How is God’s wrath poured out? A V E N G I N G M H G H T C O E
T S H O E R E S D S R N A D O R
16. What is broken into pieces?
L T S U U N S G D R E A A P B U
17. What is the Lord? v. 7 O S T N A A E N A M I T E S W D
A R S A P D O M D M H E E L G N
18. Who does the Lord know? T U A H A B E N I O I I D O C E
C B E U R E A L U E R U O S G H
19. To what end will the Lord make His adversaries? v. 8 I E F M T M C G G A S D D N U S
L T C D M K H E S N B R E H W O
20. Where will the Lord pursue His enemies?
F E N O V M G R M C A K V R D K
21. What had been done to the Lord? v. 9 F L C L D S E W M K O T A R B L
A P L D H V T O N R I T N U H E
22. What will not rise a second time? E M C U D R O U B U H K F E E T
V O U A P L R S S E L H T R O W
23. How are they described? W C A K B D E V E H C A R M E L
a.
ADVERSARIES CLEAR FEET
AFFLICT COMMANDMENT GOOD
b. APART COMPLETE IMAGE
AVENGING DRIED NAHUM
c. BLOOM DRUNKARDS PASS
BONDS ELKOSH THOUGH
BOOK ENDURE TROUBLE
24. From where did the one come who plotted against the BROKEN ENEMIES WORTHLESS
Lord? v. 11 BURST ENTANGLED WRATH
CARMEL FEASTS
25. What are they called?

26. What will happen to the many that are at full strength?
v. 12

27. What had the Lord done to them?

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44. What were they to take hold of? 28. What will he not do any more to them?

45. What would devour them? v. 15 29. What will the Lord break off of them? v. 13

46. What would cut them off? 30. What will he burst?

47. How would they be devoured? 31. What has the Lord given about them? v. 14

48. What were they to multiply like? 32. What will happen to their name?

49. How much did they increase their merchants? v. 16 33. What would be cut off from them?

50. What does the locust do? 34. What would the Lord make for them?

51. What are their princes like? v. 17 35. Why?

52. What are their scribes like? 36. What was on the mountains? v. 15

53. What did they do when the sun rose? 37. What is to be kept?

54. What were the shepherds doing? v. 18 38. Who is to keep it?

55. Who is being addressed? 39. What are they to fulfill?

56. What of the nobles? 40. What will never pass through them?

57. Where are the people? 41. Why?

58. Who gathers them together?

59. What is grievous? v. 19

60. Who will clap their hands?

61. To whom had they shown evil?

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 25. What was the cities rampart?

26. Who was the strength of that city? v. 9

27. Who were the helpers?

28. What happened to this city despite its strength? v. 10

29. Where did she go?

30. What happened to the infants?

Illustration: Nineveh fell when floodgates controlling the flow of
water from the great reservoir system constructed by the Assyrians 31. Who were lots cast for?
were thrown open. The resultant flooding apparently caused a
collapse of the palace and city’s defenses (2:6). The empire’s 32. What happened to the great men?
well–equipped soldiers were unable to withstand the assault.
33. What would they be? v. 11

NAHUM 2 34. Where would they go?

1. What has come up against them? v. 1 35. What would they seek?

2. What are they to man? 36. What would their fortresses be like? v. 12

3. What were they to watch? 37. What would happen if they were shaken?

4. For what were they to dress? 38. What were the people (troops) in their midst like?

5. What were they to collect? 39. What happened to the gates?

6. What is the Lord restoring? v. 2 40. What would fire devour?

7. What have plunderers done? 41. Why would they draw water? v. 14
a.
b. 42. What were they to strengthen?

43. What were they to tread?

7 12
7. How many dead bodies? 8. What is red? v. 3

8. What did the stumble over? 9. Who is clothed in scarlet?

9. Why did this happen? v. 4 10. What has flashing metal?

10. What was she full of? 11. What are brandished?

11. How did she betray nations? 12. What races through the streets? v. 4

12. How did she betray people? 13. What do the do in the squares?

13. Who is against them? v. 5 14. How do they gleam?

14. What will the LORD lift over their face? 15. How do they dart?

15. What will the nations look at? 16. What does he remember? v. 5

16. What will kingdoms see? 17. What happens as they go?

17. What will the LORD throw on them? v. 6 18. Where do they hasten?

18. How will he treat them? 19. What is set up?

19. What will he make of them? 20. What is opened? v. 6

20. What will all who look at them do? V. 7 21. What happens to the palace?

21. What will they say? 22. Who is carried off? v. 7

22. What city is mentioned? v. 8 23. What do the slave girls (maidens) do?

23. Where is that city located? 24. What is Nineveh like? v. 8

24. What was around the city? 25. What do they cry?
11 8
26. Who turns back?

27. What are they to plunder? v. 9

28. What has no end?

29. How is she describes? v. 10

30. What melted?

31. What trembled?

32. What was in anguish?

Assyrian war chariot of the early period
33. What happened to their faces?

34. How much did the lion tear? v. 11

NAHUM 3

35. What did the lion do to its prey? 1. How is the city described? v. 1

36. What did the lion fill its caves with? 2. How much prey is there?

37. What did it fill its dens with? 3. Where would noise come from? v. 2

38. Who is against them? v. 13 a.

39. What will the LORD burn? b.

40. What will the sword do? c.

41. What will be cut off from the earth? d.

42. What will no longer be heard? 4. What did the horseman have? v. 3

5. How many are slain?

6. How many corpses?

9 10