Nah 2:11-13 | KingComments | STEP | Opposite the pruning “where?” that comes from the mouth of the king of Assyria ( ), here the challenging “where?” sounds from the mouth of the LORD. The picture of the lion shows the robbing greed of the leaders and the people of Nineveh. The lion is an animal often found in Assyrian inscriptions. Kings of Nineveh compared themselves to it. Like lions they tore up the inhabitants of conquered cities. In spirit, Nahum sees the city as wiped out. He looks at the place where she once stood, but no longer sees her. It was a city full of predatory rulers who, like lions, tore peoples apart, plundered their treasures and filled Nineveh with them. Nothing is left of all those horrors. To make the picture even more impressive, Nahum uses different names and different ages of the lions. Eight times in he uses a word for lion, in different compositions. He talks about the male lion, the female, the young lion who already hunts and the cub, who is not yet able to do so. Everything was under her control, nobody frightened her, she was so sure of her power.

‏ Nahum 2:11-13

A Mockery Question

Opposite the pruning “where?” that comes from the mouth of the king of Assyria (2Kgs 18:34), here the challenging “where?” sounds from the mouth of the LORD. The picture of the lion shows the robbing greed of the leaders and the people of Nineveh. The lion is an animal often found in Assyrian inscriptions. Kings of Nineveh compared themselves to it. Like lions they tore up the inhabitants of conquered cities.

In spirit, Nahum sees the city as wiped out. He looks at the place where she once stood, but no longer sees her. It was a city full of predatory rulers who, like lions, tore peoples apart, plundered their treasures and filled Nineveh with them. Nothing is left of all those horrors.

To make the picture even more impressive, Nahum uses different names and different ages of the lions. Eight times in Nah 2:11-13 he uses a word for lion, in different compositions. He talks about the male lion, the female, the young lion who already hunts and the cub, who is not yet able to do so. Everything was under her control, nobody frightened her, she was so sure of her power.

The Tearing Nature of Nineveh

In Nah 2:11 it is about the city, in this verse it is about the inhabitants. Nineveh has killed in a cruel, ruthless way and thus provided the city with booty. The city has enjoyed this abundantly and greedily.

The LORD Will Judge Nineveh

With the opening words “behold, I am against you” the LORD announces the judgment on the boundless tyranny of Nineveh. He speaks here in His majesty as “the LORD of hosts”. All powers in heaven and earth are subject to Him. The chariots are burned up. That is the end of her military power. This is what the Assyrians trusted in above all.

Also the whole radiance of power, seen in the young lions, is devoured. This is done by the sword of the enemy. When the lion is defeated, his prey, everything he had in his power, is also exterminated. The messengers who delivered and carried out royal orders (1Kgs 19:2; 2Kgs 19:23; Isa 37:9 ; 14 ; 24) will not be heard again (cf. Eze 19:9).