Historical Background Of Nahum

Nahum’s prophecy occurred sometime between the conquest of No-Amon in Egypt (3:8) by Ashurbanipal king of Assyria (661 BC) and the destruction of Ninevah by the alliance of Cyaxares
the Mede and Nabopolassar the Babylonian (612 BC). Ninevah was the capital city of Assyria, and during the time of Nahum was at the peak of wealth, fame, and power (3:16-17). “Up to this time it (Ninevah) had been impregnable. The city, with its walls one hundred feet high and wide enough for three chariots to drive side by side on its top, has remained unconquered for more than a century. It is said that outside this massive wall was a moat one hundred and forty feet wide and sixty feet deep, dominated by some twelve hundred defense towers.”

Assyria was a ruthless empire, known for its cruelty and savagery all through its period of world domination. “The Assyrian records leave no doubt but that through all the nation’s history they were always cruel and violent and barbaric; ever boasting of their victories, gloating that ‘space failed for corpses,’ that they ‘made pyramids of human heads,’ and ‘covered pillars with the flayed skins of their rivals.’” (George L. Robinson, The 12 Minor Prophets, p. 110). Nahum’s message of doom for this nation was also a message of consolation for Judah.

Message Of Nahum

Summarized in the statement “God is jealous and the Lord avenges; the Lord avenges and is furious. The Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies; The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked.” (1:2-3).