Nahum 3:8-13
3:8 a Thebes, the historic capital of Egypt, was situated on both sides of the Nile in Upper Egypt. It achieved its greatest fame as the political, religious, and cultural center of Egypt’s great New Kingdom (1550–1069 BC). Though no longer Egypt’s capital in the 600s BC, the city was still a thriving metropolis.Summary for Nah 3:9-10: 3:9-10 b Thebes fell to the Assyrians under King Ashurbanipal in 663 BC. Before Ashurbanipal’s victory, Thebes had seemed to have unconquerable defenses, as well as the help of all Egypt and its allies: Ethiopia, Put (perhaps the fabled land of Punt, located near what is now coastal Somalia), and Libya. None of these, however, had effectively protected Thebes.
• babies were dashed to death: Ancient conquerors had the heinous practice of exterminating the infants of their enemies in this way (2 Kgs 8:12 c; Ps 137:9 d; Isa 13:16 e, 18 f).
• Soldiers threw dice for the spoils of war, while the leaders of the conquered people were bound in chains (see 2 Kgs 25:7 g; Jer 40:1 h, 4 i; Joel 3:3 j; Obad 1:11 k).
3:12 l ripe figs: Cp. Amos 8:1-2 m; Rev 6:13 n.
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