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Nahum 2

World English Bible

WEB

1He who dashes in pieces has come up against you. Keep the fortress! Watch the way! Strengthen your waist! Fortify your power mightily! 2For Yahweh restores the excellency of Jacob as the excellency of Israel, for the destroyers have destroyed them and ruined their vine branches. 3The shield of his mighty men is made red. The valiant men are in scarlet. The chariots flash with steel in the day of his preparation, and the pine spears are brandished. 4The chariots rage in the streets. They rush back and forth in the wide ways. Their appearance is like torches. They run like the lightnings. 5He summons his picked troops. They stumble on their way. They dash to its wall, and the protective shield is put in place. 6The gates of the rivers are opened, and the palace is dissolved. 7It is decreed: she is uncovered, she is carried away; and her servants moan as with the voice of doves, beating on their breasts. 8But Nineveh has been from of old like a pool of water, yet they flee away. “Stop! Stop!” they cry, but no one looks back. 9Take the plunder of silver. Take the plunder of gold, for there is no end of treasure, an abundance of every precious thing. 10She is empty, void, and waste. The heart melts, the knees knock together, their bodies and faces have grown pale. 11Where is the den of the lions, and the feeding place of the young lions, where the lion and the lioness walked with the lion’s cubs, and no one made them afraid? 12The lion tore in pieces enough for his cubs, and strangled prey for his lionesses, and filled his caves with the kill and his dens with prey. 13“Behold, I am against you,” says Yahweh of Armies, “and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword will devour your young lions; and I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers will no longer be heard.”

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Nahum Chapter 2 presents a vivid and powerful prophecy concerning the fall of #Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire. The chapter opens with a call to prepare for battle, as the Lord is depicted as a divine warrior who will bring judgment upon the city. The imagery of a besieged city is striking, with descriptions of chariots rushing through the streets and soldiers advancing, symbolizing the impending destruction that will come upon Nineveh due to its wickedness and oppression of God's people (#Israel). The chapter emphasizes the certainty of God's judgment, as it states, "The Lord will restore the majesty of Jacob, like the majesty of Israel" (Nahum 2:2), highlighting God's faithfulness to His covenant people and His promise to deliver them from their enemies.

The chapter continues with a detailed portrayal of the chaos and devastation that will engulf Nineveh. The once-mighty city, known for its strength and pride, is depicted as vulnerable and exposed. The text describes the fall of the lion, a symbol of power, as the Assyrians are likened to lions that have been defeated. This serves as a reminder that no earthly power can stand against the will of God. The chapter concludes with a proclamation of woe to the city, emphasizing that the Lord has decreed its destruction, and it will never rise again. This chapter serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty and justice, assuring believers that He will ultimately triumph over evil.

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