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Book of Nahum

Chapters

Author and Date
The book contains the "vision of Nahum" (), whose name means "comfort" and is related to the name Nehemiah, meaning "The Lord comforts" or "comfort of the Lord." (Nineveh's fall, which is Nahum's theme, would bring comfort to Judah.) Nothing is known about him except his hometown (Elkosh), and even its general location is uncertain.

Date

In the author speaks of the fall of Thebes, which happened in 663 b.c., as already past. In all three chapters Nahum prophesied Nineveh's fall, which was fulfilled in 612 b.c. . Nahum therefore uttered this oracle between 663 b.c. and 612 b.c., perhaps near the end of this period since he represents the fall of Nineveh as imminent (. This would place him during the reign of Josiah and make him a contemporary of Zephaniah and the young Jeremiah.

Theme
The focal point of the entire book is the Lord's judgment on Nineveh for her oppression, cruelty, idolatry and wickedness. The book ends with the destruction of the city.

According to , God is not only kind but also stern. In Nahum, God is not only "slow to anger" () and "a refuge . . . for those who trust in him" (), but also one who "will not leave the guilty unpunished" ().
God's righteous and just kingdom will ultimately triumph, for kingdoms built on wickedness and tyranny must eventually fall, as Assyria did.

In addition, Nahum declares the universal sovereignty of God. God is Lord of history and of all nations; as such, he controls their destinies.

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