Nahum Lesson 1

OUTLINE TO NAHUM

“THE DESTRUCTION OF NINEVEH” 

KEY VERSE: Nahum 1:3 “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.”

THEME: The terrible and total coming destruction of Nineveh, the great world power of her day.

DATE: The destruction of the great model city of No-Ammon in Egypt in 664 B.C. and the doom of Nineveh in 612 B.C. act as parentheses around the time of the writing of the book by Nahum. This book was written during the fifty-two year period of interval between those two events, or approximately 650 B.C. during the reign of Manasses.

WRITER: Nahum. Nahum means “The Comforter.” He was born in Elkoshm, a Galilean village. The name “Elkosh” means “Consolation.” During a time of great despair and fearfulness in Judah, Nahum appeared on the scene with the message from God.

WRITTEN: The book was written about one hundred fifty years after the revival of Jonah’s day when the city of Nineveh was brought to repentance in dust and ashes. Mercy unheeded in years to follow finally brought judgment. Nahum’s message predicts the final doom and complete overthrow of Nineveh and her empire. The destruction of Nineveh is minutely described.

THE BOOK: Number in Bible: 34th of 66 books in Bible. Number of chapters: 3. Number of verses: 47. Number in order of writing: 7th of 12 books of Minor Prophets.

PURPOSE: To give reassurance and comfort to the Hebrews in Judah who were living in fear and desperation and to announce the future fall of Syria.

DIVISIONS: 1. Nineveh’s Judgment Chapter 1, 2. Nineveh Sentenced Chapter 2, 3. Nineveh Executed Chapter 3.

FACTS: Nineveh, of course, was the capital of Assyria. Assyria was the greatest military power of her day. Northern Israel had fallen. Assyria also had entered Judah and had destroyed her military strongholds and made her a tributary nation. Nahum prophesied that this great world power would fall. Fifty years after his prophesy, Nineveh was completely destroyed and never rose to power again. Sennacherib and his mighty army invaded Judah thirteen years after Assyria entered Judah and was determined to annihilate her, but the Angel of the Lord appeared in the night and slew 185,000 of Sennacherib’s army. Babylon declared her independence of Assyria in 612 and aligned with the Medes. They conquered and destroyed Nineveh. The Tigris River was swollen from rains and washed away a section of the wall, thus letting in the enemy. Nahum 1:8 predicted that this would come to pass.

OUTLINE: I. NINEVEH’S DOOM DECLARED Chapter 1 1. The Lord’s Patience 1:1-3 2. The Lord’s Power 1:3-5 3. The Lord’s Presence 1:6-8 4. The Lord’s Purpose 1:9-14 5. The Lord’s Protection 1:15 II. NINEVEH’S DOOM DESCRIBED Chapter 2. 1. The Siege of Nineveh 2:1-8 2. The Sacking Of Nineveh 2:9-13 III. NINEVEH’S DOOM DESERVED Chapter 3 1. The City’s Fierceness 3:1-3. 2. The City’s Filthiness 3:4-7. 3. The City’s Fury 3:8-10. 4. The City’s Fear 3:11-13. 5. The City’s Fall 3:14-19.

MISCELLANEOUS: The book of Nahum is a continuation of the book of Jonah. Jonah’s message to Nineveh: Repentance. Nahum’s Message to Nineveh: Judgment. Nahum had a double emphasis…As a prophet and as a patriot. 1. The siege of the Medes and the Babylonians lasted for three years. Once the walls were broken down and the enemy poured in, the king built a large funeral pyre in the place. He collected all his wealth, his concubines and eunuchs, and then burned the palace and everything in it, including himself and all his servants. 2. Like all of the prophets, Nahum looks forward to the time when Christ will come to reign in righteousness and justice. As in every other portion of the Old Testament Scriptures, the Lord’s Anointed is visible upon the horizon. In Nahum, we see both the Lord’s character and His power, and we anticipate His glorious coming. 3. The city of Capernaum, on the Sea of Galilee, literally means “The village of Nahum.” Many believe Capernaum was named after this prophet. 4. Nineveh appeared to be impregnable with its walls one hundred feet high and broad enough for chariots to drive upon them. It had a circumference of some sixty miles and was adorned by more than twelve hundred watchtowers. 5. The destruction of Nineveh was so great that when Alexander the Great marched his troops over the same desolate ground, which had once given support to her mighty buildings, he did not even know it had once been a city. 6. The city was evacuated later in 1845 A.D.

LESSONS IN THE BOOK OF NAHUM: 1. The patience of God 1:1-8 2. The Pride of Sennacherib 1:9-14. 3. The Promise of Judah 1:15. 4. The Punishment of Nineveh 2-3.

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