Devotional
Commentary on Nahum 3
Anyone reading
Nahum 3 cannot avoid saying that it depicts in prophecy the fall of Niniveh in
612 BCE. Niniveh was the capital of Assyria. Sennacherib built some palaces
there and he was murdered by his two oldest sons. Esarhaddon then took over and
he had a strong interest in divination texts. From his earliest age he was very
religious and use to read extispicy, astrology, physiognomy, the interpretation
of terrestrial signs. The main reason is that he lived with a phobia to be assassinated
or killed by man or the gods and so if he focused on pagan “prophecies” or fortune-telling, he would be able to
avoid been killed. So he developed a substitute-ritual so that if the gods says
that he would be killed on a certain day, he sent this substitute in his place
to survive this presumed prediction ordeal. His son took over in 668 BCE,
Ashurbanipal and he also studied very well. He knew Sumerian texts from before
the Flood, but that cannot be true since all texts before the Flood in 2692 BCE
were destroyed by World catastrophe. But he can know the texts after the Flood.
Nevertheless those Sumerian texts were in a different orthography than those of
the Ur III period starting in 2112 BCE. It was quite an achievement. An
excellent description of these kings’ ability with divine texts theology and
languages, see the description by Frahm, E., 2013, “A Short History of Babylonian and Assyrian
Text Commentaries,” Cuneiform Commentaries Project (E. Frahm, E.
Jiménez, M. Frazer,
and K. Wagensonner), 2013–2017; accessed December 29, 2017, at https://ccp.yale.edu/introduction/history-mesopotamian-text-commentaries.
They had large
libraries at Niniveh in the North Palace, the Nabu Temple, the Ishtar Temple
and the South-west Palace complex. When the cuneiform texts were found they
were in a layer of about 40cmm thick and broken.
The truth about
Niniveh, before we read it’s condemnation by the Lord, is that second
and fourth generation Hebrews were living and working in these libraries
copying many of the texts that were found after Botta, Layard and others. Frahm
spent time in analyzing the comparison in commentary writing at Niniveh and
Qumran’s pesharim. This
is fruitful since the Hebrews lived in Niniveh since 723 BCE. By 612 BCE with
it’s destruction
they have been there over a century.
A principle
that we have to spell out here is this: the Fall of Niniveh = the Fall of
Babylon. Wait a minute, you say. Where did you get this from? Another study by
a famous cuneiform specialist Stephanie Dalley in RAI 51 with the study: “Babylon as a Name for Niniveh and Other
Cities” (http://www.let.leidenuniv.nl/rencontre/RAI_2005_program.html)
Babylon means
in Sumerian KA.DINGIR.RA.KI and in Akkadian bab-ilu ki. It means “gate of the god (city)”. It is “the city of the gate of the god.” In Akkadian it means “gate of the gods [city]”. And this is the problem with all empires
through the centuries that they became a gate for the gods. When Ur III fell in
2004 BCE a lamentation was written mourning this disaster. It was the Babylon
of its time. In the Cassite empire, Babylon was Babylon. When Israel left
Egypt, Egypt was Babylon in 1450 BCE. In 800 BCE Damascus was Babylon. In
Isaiah 14 is the description of the Fall of Tyre in a mode similar to the Fall
of Lucifer. Niniveh fell in 612 BCE. It was also the Babylon says Stephanie
Dalley. Babylon fell in 539 BCE. Shushan fell in 333 BCE. It was also Babylon.
Athens fell in 60 BCE and it was also the gate of the gods or Babylon. Rome
fell in 538 BCE although scholars like to use 476 CE. Rome was also Babylon as
Peter said in 1 Peter 5:13. The Vatican is also Babylon as one can see between
538-1798 BCE. The tough part is this: the USA as second beast of Revelation 13
is technically also “the gate of the gods” due to its embracing attitude of all
gods.
So Nahum saw
the Fall of Niniveh and certain descriptions are going to be the same as those
of other cities that also fell due to the Lord’s decision.
It is very
clear from the cuneiform texts that survived the onslaught of Niniveh in 612
BCE, that these final kings were concerned in making Niniveh “great again” but with the help of the gods and not
against them. The irony is that they consulted the wrong gods.
Esarhaddon was
selected by Sennacherib as heir to the throne although he was younger than the
brothers who would kill their father. There was a rebellion in the palace and
Esarhaddon described his brother’s attitude: “Thereafter my brothers went mad doing
everything that is wicked in the eyes of the gods and man, plotting evil”.
When Tirhaka
came, Esarhaddon wanted to go against him in a war in his seventh year. He
consulted the gods whether it will be successful and the highpriest confirmed.
However, Tirhaka, the African, defeated him and now Esarhaddon was confused:
did the Highpriest made a mistake or did the king sin? This was the confusion.
Many letters were written to the king that the gods must be crazy. This habit
of consulting the gods for the future events characterized all the last kings
of Niniveh. Except they did not listen to Nahum the prophet of the true God.
“Woe to the city of blood” (verse 1). Niniveh was a city of violent
acts in war as the iconography indicates on the walls of the palaces. There
would be sounds of defeat (verse 2). Horses and the blades of swords are images
that Nahum saw (verse 3). Many corpses heaped-up. The reason is the harlotries
of woman ordination who served as priestesses “charming”, “enchanting” (verse 4). The Lord is against these
priestesses and He would uncover their skirts upon their faces (verse 5). Detestable
things would be cast upon them (verse 6). All who saw Niniveh will say “Niniveh has been plundered” (verse 7). Then follows a list of cities
that were plundered before in history to show that Niniveh as empire cannot
claim exceptions.
No-Amon is seen
as Memphis which was R`-Amon. It was situated with waters around it. The
Cushites were their strength and Egypt. Helpers were from Put and Lubim which
may be another word for Libya. Memphis went into exile as well. It was
destroyed (verse 10). The young were dashed to death on the streets,
dignitaries were taken away and great men bound in chains (verse 10). It is not
a good picture.
Niniveh shall
have a similar evil result (verse 11).
All the fortresses
of Niniveh were like first-ripe figs that easily fall off if the tree is shaken
(verse 12).
The people are
like woman in the city (verse 13). The gates shall be opened for the enemies.
They need water and strengthening of the city (verse 14). Fire shall consume
them and the sword and they shall be destroyed like nibbling locusts (verse
15). They had many traffickers in Niniveh since it was a cosmopolitan city
(verse 16). Their princes, and armies will fly away and no one knows where they
are (verse 17). The leaders are slumbering (verse 18). The people are scattered
on the mountains and there is no-one to gather them (verse 18).
No one cries
over their destruction. All who hear the report of the destruction of Niniveh “clap hands over you”. What Niniveh did to other nations now in
612 BCE came over them. Once they were the instrument of God inflicting
punishment on Israel but now the wheel has turned and God inflicted punishment
on them. This is a lesson for all rulers of the current world. To be too
selfconfident in always victory and always favor by God for all actions, no
matter how violent, evil, destructive, will not go unnoticed by the Almighty.
Dear God
Your Hand is
over all nations and they are dust in Your control. The Remnant put their lives
in Your Hand for their safety and security. In Jesus Name. Amen.