Naum

Naum 2:1

Ver. 1. Face, O Juda. Sept. "who blows on thy face, (Gen. ii. 7.) freeing from misery." Here S.

Jerom's Gr. copy ends the chap. H. --- Watch. Behold Nabopolassar is about to attack thy enemies. Some think that Nahum addresses Ninive ironically. C. ---

Nabuchodonosor wasted all the environs, and then took the city (W.) after his other conquests. C. --- But his father is here denoted. H.

Naum 2:2

Ver. 2. Pride, &c. He hath punished Jacob for his pride; and therefore Ninive must not expect to escape. Or else, rendering the pride of Jacob means rewarding, that is, punishing Ninive for the pride they exercised against Jacob.

Ch. --- After the Assyrians had seized the ten tribes, they became more insolent, and are therefore punished. W. --- The haughty Phul, &c. had invaded the Israelites, and had taken them into captivity. This God will now resent, (C.) though he justly chastised his people by them. H.

Naum 2:3

Ver. 3. Mighty men. He speaks of the Chaldeans and Medes sent to destroy the Ninivites. Ch. ---

This is the common opinion. Yet it seems rather that the Ninivites are designated, as they were asleep and stumbled, &c. C. --- Stupified. That is, they drive on furiously, like men intoxicated with wine. Ch. --- Heb. "the fir-tree shall be shaken," or poisoned. Ps. cxix. 4. Sept. read better, (C.) "their horsemen shall be in a hurry, or in confusion." H. --- The armour was kept very shining, and the soldiers of Cyrus were clothed in purple, like himself. Xen. iii.

--- Yet this availed nothing, while the men were asleep or confounded. C.

Naum 2:4

Ver. 4. Streets. The Ninivites are disordered at the enemy's approach. S. Jer.

Naum 2:5

Ver. 5. Muster. Lit. " remember" (H.) the ancient heroes, Salmanasar, &c. C. ---

Stumble, by running hastily on. Ch. --- Prepared to defend the city. H. --- All this represents a city surprised.

It attempts to defend itself; but God renders all efforts vain. C.

Naum 2:6

Ver. 6. Gates; floodgates or channel of the Tigris overflowing. C. i. 8. --- Temple.

Sept.

"palace."

Naum 2:7

Ver. 7. Soldier. Heb. hutsab, (H.) "the station" or guard; the queen, or the statue of the idol, with the women (C.) who prostituted themselves in its honour.

Sanct. xxxi. --- Ninive and its dependances are taken. Grot.

Naum 2:8

Ver. 8. Waters: multitudes, (Apoc. xvii. 15.) and riches; (C.) or the flood bursting upon them makes them flee. H. --- The citizens run away when the enemy had made a breach, as water does when the dam is broken down; and though some more valiant will exhort them to tarry, they will not succeed, nor save the city. W.

Naum 2:10

Ver. 10. Kettle. In mourning they blacken their face. Tav. Perse.

Naum 2:11

Ver. 11. Lions. The kings of Assyria had plundered various nations, (H.) and had brought the spoils to Ninive. But all shall be lost. W. --- These princes followed no law but their own will.

--- The lion, Nabopolassar, or his son: though it seems rather to relate to the Assyrian monarchs.

C.

Naum 2:13

Ver. 13. Chariots. Sept. "multitude." Some wild beasts were thus suffocated in their dens.

Theod. --- More, like that of the impious Rabsaces. 4 K. xviii. 17. C.