The title of the book consists simply of the name of the prophet who was its author. Nahum, Hebrew Nachum, Means “comforted,” or “the one comforted.”
The book has one supreme theme, the coming fate of Nineveh. Because of this, prophecy is complementary to the message of Jonah. Jonah preached repentance to Nineveh, and because its inhabitants humbled themselves before God, the city was saved. However, a century later, again lapsed into iniquity, and it was Nahum’s burden to predict the divine sentence of its destruction. Nineveh’s measure of pride, cruelty, and idolatry had come to the full. Far too long had the kings of Assyria defied the God of heaven and His sovereignty, placing the Creator of the universe on a par with the idols of surrounding nations (see 2 Kings 18:33-35; 19:8-22), for these kings supposedly were carrying out the wishes of their god Ashur when they fought against other nations. Assyria’s defiance of God must cease, if not by the nation’s repentance, then by its distraction. The downfall of the Assyrian forces in Judah had been previously foretold by Isaiah (Isa. 37:21-38), Nahum’s prediction foresaw the final downfall of the capital of the empire itself.
Disclaimer: THE PLAIN WORD may quote an outside article(s) or provide references to outside materials, which indicate that we stand behind the content of that particular article or reference; but it is not an endorsement by The Plain Word of the author’s opinion, lifestyle or work published elsewhere.
2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” AND 1 Thessalonians 5:21, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”