Nahum
The Prophet of Divine Justice
God's righteousness demands judgment of persistent evil and oppression.
"The Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished." - Nahum 1:3
No earthly power can stand against God's will and authority.
"Who can withstand his indignation?" - Nahum 1:6
God protects and cares for those who trust in Him.
"The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble." - Nahum 1:7
The Divine Inspiration Process
Through Nahum, God reveals His perfect balance of justice and mercy. While His patience endures long, His holiness demands that persistent wickedness be judged. Nahum's prophecy demonstrates that God is both the righteous judge of the wicked and the loving protector of the faithful. His message brings comfort to the oppressed while warning all nations of divine accountability.
Nahum was a prophet from Elkosh who ministered around 650 BC, approximately 150 years after Jonah's successful mission to Nineveh. While Jonah brought a message of mercy that led to repentance, Nahum proclaimed the final judgment upon the Assyrian capital.
His name, meaning "comfort" or "consolation," reflects his dual message: judgment for the oppressor and comfort for the oppressed. Nahum's prophecy was fulfilled when Nineveh fell to the Babylonians and Medes in 612 BC.
Nahum's entire prophecy focuses on the destruction of Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire. Unlike Jonah's call to repentance, Nahum announced that the time for mercy had passed and judgment was inevitable.
The prophecy describes in vivid detail the siege, fall, and complete destruction of this once-mighty city. Nahum's words were fulfilled exactly as prophesied, demonstrating God's sovereignty over nations and His perfect timing in judgment.
Approximately 150 years before Nahum, Jonah had preached to Nineveh, and the city repented. God showed mercy and spared the city. However, Nineveh's repentance was temporary, and they returned to their wicked ways.
Nahum's message represents the end of God's patience. Where Jonah brought a message of conditional judgment that could be averted through repentance, Nahum announced final, irreversible judgment.