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The Prophet Nahum

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- Chapter 1 -

(Jonah 1:1–3)
1
The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
2
God is a rival, and the Lord is avenging. The Lord is avenging, and one who applies wrath. The Lord is avenging with his enemies, and he becomes angry with his adversaries.(a)
3
The Lord is patient and great in strength, and those who are not clean, he makes innocent. The Lord is in a tempest, and his way is a whirlwind, and the clouds are dust at his feet.(b)
4
He is the one who rebukes the sea, and who dries it up, and who leads all the rivers to the desert. Basan has been weakened, and also Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon has languished.(c)
5
The mountains have trembled before him, and the hills have become desolate, and the earth has quaked before his face, both the world and all that dwells in it.
6
Who can stand firm before the face of his indignation? And who can continue against the fury of his wrath? His indignation has broken out like a fire, and the rocks have been dissolved before him.
7
The Lord is good, and a comforter in the day of tribulation, and he knows those who hope in him.
8
And in the flood that passes over, he brings to consummation the end of his place. And darkness shall pursue his adversaries.(d)
9
What are you thinking up against the Lord? He will accomplish the consummation. There shall not rise up a double tribulation.
10
For just as thorns entwine one another, so also, while they are feasting and drinking together, they will be consumed like stubble that is completely dry.
11
Out of you will go forth one who thinks up evil against the Lord, dragging betrayals through his mind.(e)
12
Thus says the Lord: If they had been perfect, and many of them so, yet still they would be pruned, and it will cross through them. I have afflicted you, and I shall afflict you no more.(f) (g)
13
And now I will shatter his rod from your back, and I will break open your bonds.
14
And the Lord will place a commandment over you; nothing more from your name will be sown. From the house of your God, I will order destroyed the graven image and the molten image. I will prepare your grave, because you are not honorable.(h) (i)
15
Behold, over the mountains, the feet of the Evangelizer and the Announcer of peace. Judah, celebrate your festivals and keep your vows. For Belial will never again pass through you; he has completely passed away.(j) (k)

Footnotes

(a)1:2 Or, ‘God is jealous and an avenging Lord.’ The word ‘æmulator’ can refer to a rival or a competitor or to one who is jealous. This verse is contrasted with the next.(Conte)
(b)1:3 The Lord takes those who are not clean ‘mundans non,’ and he makes them into those who are innocent. The Lord dwells in a tempest and his way is like a whirlwind. This verse is often mistranslated.(Conte)
(c)1:4 He not only dries out the sea, he also waters the desert.(Conte)
(d)1:8 Of the place thereof:Viz., of Ninive.(Challoner)
(e)1:11 Shall come forth one, etc:Some understand this of Sennacherib. But as his attempt against the people seems to have been prior to the prophecy of Nahum, we may better understand it of Holofernes.(Challoner)
(f)1:12 The word ‘pertransibit’ could also be rendered as ‘he will pass through,’ referring to the individual in verse 1:11 (probably referring to the Antichrist). But the expression ‘Thus says the Lord’ seems to start a new topic, so the translation is ‘it will pass over’ or ‘it will cross through.’ In other words, the affliction sent by God is unavoidable, but it will end.(Conte)
(g)1:12 Though they were perfect, etc:That is, however strong or numerous their forces may be, they shall be cut off; and their prince or leader shall pass away and disappear.(Challoner)
(h)1:14 Here is an example of the use of ‘interficiam,’ which usually refers to the execution of a criminal by one with the authority to put someone to death, instead to refer to one who is in authority who orders the destruction of inanimate objects, as if these were being put to death like criminals. In this case, God is executing these graven images and molten images, ordering their destruction.(Conte)
(i)1:14 Will give a commandment:That is, a decree, concerning you, O king of Ninive, thy seed shall fail, etc.(Challoner)
(j)1:15 The evangelizer is Christ and the announcer of peace is the Virgin Mary. This passage indicates that both Christ and Mary will return at the end of the Antichrist’s reign. The name “Belial” refers to the Antichrist.(Conte)
(k)1:15 Belial:The wicked one, viz., the Assyrian.(Challoner)
(Jonah 1:1–3)
1
A revelation about Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
2
The LORD (a) is a jealous God (b) and avenges. The LORD avenges and is full of wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries, and he maintains wrath against his enemies.
3
The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. The LORD has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
4
He rebukes the sea and makes it dry, and dries up all the rivers. Bashan and Carmel languish. The flower of Lebanon languishes.
5
The mountains quake before him, and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, yes, the world, and all who dwell in it.
6
Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the fierceness of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken apart by him.
7
The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knows those who take refuge in him.
8
But with an overflowing flood, he will make a full end of her place, and will pursue his enemies into darkness.
9
What do you plot against the LORD? He will make a full end. Affliction won’t rise up the second time.
10
For entangled like thorns, and drunken as with their drink, they are consumed utterly like dry stubble.
11
One has gone out of you who devises evil against the LORD, who counsels wickedness.
12
The LORD says: “Though they are in full strength and likewise many, even so they will be cut down and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more.
13
Now I will break his yoke from off you, and will burst your bonds apart.”
14
The LORD has commanded concerning you: “No more descendants will bear your name. Out of the house of your gods, I will cut off the engraved image and the molten image. I will make your grave, for you are vile.”
15
Behold,(c) on the mountains the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace! Keep your feasts, Judah! Perform your vows, for the wicked one will no more pass through you. He is utterly cut off.

Footnotes

(a)1:2 When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name.
(b)1:2 The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).
(c)1:15 “Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.
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