The Book of Nahum Explained: God's Justice

Verses to read

• “Yahweh is slow to anger, and great in power, and will by no means leave the guilty unpunished.”

  Nahum 1:3

• “Yahweh is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knows those who take refuge in him.”

  Nahum 1:7

Who was the prophet Nahum?

Nahum was a prophet, which is a person who shares messages from God. He lived in a town called Elkosh. He wrote his message during a time when the Assyrian Empire was very powerful and very scary.

The Assyrians had hurt many people, including the Israelites. God gave Nahum a vision to show that this bullying would not last forever. His message was a warning to the enemies of God and a promise of hope to those who were suffering.

Why was Nineveh destroyed?

Nineveh was the capital of Assyria. It was a very rich and strong city, but it was also full of violence. The Bible says they were like lions who tore others apart. They lied to people and used their power to hurt the weak.

God is patient, but He does not like it when people are cruel. Nineveh refused to change their ways this time. Nahum explained that God would use a great flood and a fire to bring the city down because of their sins.

What does Nahum teach about God's character?

The first chapter of Nahum tells us two important things about God. First, it says God is slow to get angry. He gives people a long time to do the right thing. But it also says He is just. Being just means He will not let bad people keep hurting others forever.

Second, the book shows that God is a safe place. A stronghold is like a fort or a castle. When life is scary, God's people can run to Him. He knows who belongs to Him and He will keep them safe even when the world is messy.

Is Nahum different from the Book of Jonah?

Yes, Nahum and Jonah are like two parts of the same story. Jonah went to Nineveh about 100 years before Nahum. When Jonah preached, the people felt sorry and God showed them mercy. They were saved from trouble.

By the time Nahum wrote his book, the people of Nineveh had forgotten their promise to God. They became proud and mean again. Nahum shows us that we cannot just say we are sorry once; we must keep following God's good ways every day.

Common questions

What is the main message of Nahum?

The main message is that God is the judge of all the earth. No matter how powerful a bad nation seems, God is stronger and will bring justice to those who are treated poorly.

When was the Book of Nahum written?

It was written between 663 BC and 612 BC. This was after a city called Thebes fell but before Nineveh was actually destroyed by its enemies.

Is Nahum in the Old or New Testament?

Nahum is in the Old Testament. It is one of the twelve books called the Minor Prophets because these books are shorter than others like Isaiah or Jeremiah.

Why is Nahum called a book of comfort?

It is comforting because it tells people who are being hurt that God sees them. It promises that their enemies will not be able to hurt them forever because God is in control.