Nah 1:4 | TNotes | STEP | 1:4 Like clouds (1:3 ) and mountains (1:5 ), oceans and rivers are under God’s sovereign control. The Old Testament prophets often recall God’s actions against the seas and rivers during the Exodus (Exod 15:8-10 ; 2 Sam 22:16 ; Pss 66:6 ; 77:16 ; Hab 3:15 ). God’s power over the waters repudiated the mythology of the ancient Canaanites, who believed that the oceans and the rivers were under the control of the sea-god, Yam. • Bashan, situated east of the Sea of Galilee, was known for its rich pastureland, ideal for raising cattle (cp. Mic 7:14 ). • Carmel , on the Mediterranean coast in central Canaan, was noted for its beauty and fruitfulness (Song 7:5 ; Jer 50:19 ). • Lebanon was famed for its great cedars (1 Kgs 5:6-18 ). Nahum lists these areas to demonstrate that even the most fertile and productive places on earth cannot withstand the power of God’s judgment.

a1:4►

b1:3►

c1:5►

dExod 15:8-10►

e2 Sam 22:16►

fPss 66:6►

g77:16►

hHab 3:15►

iMic 7:14►

jSong 7:5►

kJer 50:19►

l1 Kgs 5:6-18►

‏ Nahum 1:4

1:4 ^a Like clouds (1:3 ^b) and mountains (1:5 ^c), oceans and rivers are under God’s sovereign control. The Old Testament prophets often recall God’s actions against the seas and rivers during the Exodus (Exod 15:8-10 ^d; 2 Sam 22:16 ^e; Pss 66:6 ^f; 77:16 ^g; Hab 3:15 ^h). God’s power over the waters repudiated the mythology of the ancient Canaanites, who believed that the oceans and the rivers were under the control of the sea-god, Yam.

• Bashan, situated east of the Sea of Galilee, was known for its rich pastureland, ideal for raising cattle (cp. Mic 7:14 ⁱ).

• Carmel, on the Mediterranean coast in central Canaan, was noted for its beauty and fruitfulness (Song 7:5 ^j; Jer 50:19 ^k).

• Lebanon was famed for its great cedars (1 Kgs 5:6-18 ^l). Nahum lists these areas to demonstrate that even the most fertile and productive places on earth cannot withstand the power of God’s judgment.