Nahum Chapter 2

Nineveh Conquered

“This chapter is a masterpiece of ancient literature, unsurpassed for its graphic portrayal of a military assault.” (James Montgomery Boice)

A. The Battle of Nineveh

1. Nahum 2:1–2 – A Call to Battle

“He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face: keep the munition, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily.
For the Lord hath turned away the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel: for the emptiers have emptied them out, and marred their vine branches.” (Nahum 2:1–2, KJV)

a. “He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face”: Nahum continues describing the vision given by God, now seeing the invading armies approaching Nineveh. “He that dasheth in pieces” refers to the Medo-Babylonian forces, instruments of God’s judgment. This is not merely human warfare, but divine retribution. God is sovereign over kingdoms, raising up and casting down as He wills. The Assyrians, who once crushed nations without mercy, now stand face-to-face with the One who dashes in pieces. The commands that follow—“keep the munition, watch the way, make thy loins strong”—are almost sarcastic. Nahum challenges Nineveh to brace for war, but no amount of preparation will stop God’s decree. Their walls, soldiers, and fortresses will not save them when the Lord has appointed their fall.

b. “For the Lord hath turned away the excellency of Jacob”: God’s judgment against Nineveh is directly tied to His covenant faithfulness toward Israel and Judah. Assyria had plundered, humiliated, and “emptied out” the people of God. They stripped the land, deported captives, and destroyed their vineyards and prosperity. Yet God promises to “restore the excellency of Jacob.” This does not mean Israel was sinless or did not deserve chastening; rather, it shows God’s mercy toward His covenant people. The phrase “marred their vine branches” pictures how Assyria ravaged Israel’s growth, fruitfulness, and national life. But now, the same God who permitted discipline will restore. The fall of Nineveh is not random history; it is the deliberate act of a righteous God defending His people and fulfilling His promises.

2. Nahum 2:3–7 – The Battle Decided

“The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken.
The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings.
He shall recount his worthies: they shall stumble in their walk; they shall make haste to the wall thereof, and the defence shall be prepared.
The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved.
And Huzzab shall be led away captive, she shall be brought up, and her maids shall lead her as with the voice of doves, tabering upon their breasts.” (Nahum 2:3–7, KJV)

a. “The shield of his mighty men is made red… the chariots shall be with flaming torches”: Nahum’s vision vividly portrays the attacking armies. The shields “made red” could be from being painted blood-red for intimidation, or more literally, drenched in blood from battle. The soldiers are clothed in scarlet, the color of war and conquest. The chariots appear like “flaming torches,” symbolizing speed, iron, and the flash of metal in the sun. The “fir trees… terribly shaken” could refer to spears or lances made of cypress shaking violently as they are raised in battle. Though Nineveh prepares its defenses, everything Nahum sees points to overwhelming force and ruin.

b. “The chariots shall rage in the streets… they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings”: The prophet describes chaos inside the city once the enemy breaks through. Chariots storm through Nineveh’s broad avenues, colliding and jostling in the rush of combat. To the onlooker, they look like streaks of fire — swift, bright, and unstoppable like lightning. This is not a vision of modern automobiles, as some have speculated, but a poetic description of ancient warfare’s speed and terror. Nahum is showing how Nineveh, once an organized, disciplined empire, will dissolve into confusion and panic.

c. “He shall recount his worthies… they shall stumble in their walk”: The Assyrian king calls upon his nobles and trusted warriors, trying to rally them to defend the walls. But even the elite soldiers stagger and stumble, either from drunkenness, shock, or sheer terror. They rush to the defenses, but their preparation is too late. God has decreed their fall. No matter how strong their army, discipline, or strategy, Nineveh cannot stand against divine judgment.

d. “The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved”: Ancient historians record that during the siege, heavy rains caused the Tigris River to flood, breaking parts of Nineveh’s walls. The Babylonians and Medes exploited this breach. Nahum saw this long before it happened. The “gates of the rivers” being opened points to a literal collapse of Nineveh’s water defenses. The palace is “dissolved,” either washed away or left defenseless. What they trusted in for security turned into the instrument of their defeat — God controls even the rivers.

e. “And Huzzab shall be led away captive… her maids… with the voice of doves, tabering upon their breasts”: “Huzzab” likely represents Nineveh personified as a queen or the royal lady of Assyria. She is taken away in humiliation. Her maidservants mourn with the soft, sorrowful sounds of doves while striking their breasts in grief. This once proud and violent nation now knows shame and defeat. Just as Assyria led other nations into captivity, now she herself is led away. The conqueror becomes the captive.

B. Nineveh in Defeat

1. Nahum 2:8–12 — Nineveh Brought Low and Spoiled

“But Nineveh is of old like a pool of water: yet they shall flee away. Stand, stand, shall they cry; but none shall look back.
Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold: for there is none end of the store and glory out of all the pleasant furniture.
She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain is in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness.
Where is the dwelling of the lions, and the feedingplace of the young lions, where the lion, even the old lion, walked, and the lion’s whelp, and none made them afraid?
The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled his holes with prey, and his dens with ravin.” (Nahum 2:8–12, KJV)

a. “Nineveh is of old like a pool of water… yet they shall flee away”: Nahum compares Nineveh to a once-calm reservoir, full and secure. The city, long established and filled with people and prosperity, appeared immovable. Yet in the day of judgment, the people scatter like waters draining from a broken dam. The commanders shout, “Stand, stand,” but none obey. Panic replaces order, courage collapses into fear, and the once-disciplined warriors flee without resistance. This imagery shows that human strength cannot stand when God breaks a nation’s confidence.

b. “Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold”: The invaders are told to plunder freely. Nineveh was overflowing with treasures: gold, silver, jewels, ivory, and precious furnishings taken from countless conquered nations. Nahum declares that there was “none end of the store,” yet all would be taken. Boice notes that archaeologists have uncovered no significant gold or silver in Nineveh’s ruins — proof that the prophecy was fulfilled exactly. The city was stripped bare. What Assyria had violently seized from others is now violently ripped from them.

c. “She is empty, and void, and waste”: Nahum uses a triple expression in Hebrew (“būqâh, mĕbūqâh, umĕbullāqâh”) to show complete destruction — emptied, devastated, desolate. The effects of terror are seen on the survivors: hearts melt in fear, knees knock together, pain grips every side, and their faces grow pale or darkened with shock and death. The proud conquerors now experience what they once inflicted on others.

d. “Where is the dwelling of the lions…?” Assyria used the lion as a symbol of power, cruelty, and dominance. Their palaces were decorated with lion carvings; their kings described themselves as lions tearing nations to pieces. Nahum mocks their pride: “Where is the lion’s den now?” The feeding places of the lions — their cities, fortresses, and palaces — are gone. The lion (Assyria) once tore prey for his cubs, killed for his lionesses, and stored plunder in his dens. But now the lion’s lair is silent. No one fears them anymore because God Himself has judged the oppressor.

e. Meaning and prophetic weight: This passage is not only historical but theological. It shows God repaying cruelty, humbling empires that trust in violence and wealth. Nineveh had been the lion, tearing nations apart, but now the Lion of Judah roars against them. Their strength, wealth, and terror are nothing before the Lord of hosts.

2. Nahum 2:13 — The LORD Vows to Conquer Nineveh

“Behold, I am against thee, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions: and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.” (Nahum 2:13, KJV)

a. “Behold, I am against thee”: These are among the most terrifying words a nation or individual could ever hear from God. Assyria had terrified the world, but now God Himself stands against them. For the believer, Romans 8:31 assures, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” The opposite is equally true — if God is against you, no strength, no army, no pride, no religion can deliver you. The downfall of Nineveh is rooted not in Babylonian strength, but in divine opposition. Their greatest enemy is not man, but Almighty God.

b. “Saith the Lord of hosts”: God identifies Himself with a military title — “the Lord of hosts,” meaning the Lord of angelic armies, the supreme Commander of all celestial forces. This emphasizes that Nineveh is not merely fighting human invaders but the God who commands every army in heaven. If God fights against a nation, victory is impossible, defenses are useless, and destruction is certain. Every chariot, spear, wall, and fortress becomes powerless.

c. “I will burn her chariots… the sword shall devour thy young lions”: God declares that Nineveh’s military power will be destroyed. The chariots — symbols of Assyrian strength and conquest — will burn in smoke. The “young lions” refers to their warriors and princes, the aggressive leaders who once tore nations apart. God says they will fall by the sword. Those who once preyed upon others will now be prey themselves.

d. “I will cut off thy prey from the earth”: The Assyrians had filled their cities with spoil stolen from countless nations. God now ends their ability to plunder. No more victims. No more tribute. No more conquest. The devourer will be devoured. This is divine justice — measure for measure.

e. “The voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard”: Nineveh’s messengers once traveled the world with threats, demands, and declarations of Assyrian dominion. Kings trembled when their envoys spoke. But no more. Their political power, their influence, their ambassadorial authority will vanish. God silences the voice of the empire. Their proclamations, threats, and pride are permanently shut down.