Nahum
All we know about Nahum is his name which means consolation or comforter, and that he was from Elkosh. While there is a tomb of Nahum in a city near the Assyrian (Iraqi) city of Mosul revered by both Christians and Muslims, the Jewish tradition about Elkosh points to a city in Galilee as supported by the 4th century’s church father, Cyril.
While the book concerns itself with warnings and rebukes of Nineveh, the Assyrian Capital, its purpose is on giving comfort to Judah in assuring God’s judgment of her cruel and godless enemy. It appears the best dating of this book, judging from its contents, is after the exile of the ten tribes and the defeat of Sennacherib in front of Jerusalem in the latter part of the reign of Hezekiah (see Isa. 37, especially verses 36-38). This likely furnished the occasion of this prophecy that found its fulfillment in the capture of Nineveh by the Babylonians and their allies in 612 B.C.
1:5—The Introduction
(1) Who the Lord is (vv. 2-3a)
a. How does the Lord introduce Himself in v. 2?
b. To whom is this introduction directed? (v. 2b)
c. However, there is another side to Him:
- What is it? (v. 3a; see Exod. 34:6-7)
- Do you think this character of the Lord is meant only for the Israelites? Why or why not?
(2) The God over heavens and earth (vv. 3b-5)
a. The wind, storm and cloud (v. 3b): What does v. 3b seek to convey? (see Ps. 104:3-4; 78:26)
b. The sea and rivers(v. 4a):
- How has God demonstrated this authority in the past? (Exod. 14:21; Jos. 3:14ff)
- Did God only demonstrate His authority over nature in the Old Testament? (see Matt. 8:23ff)
c. Bashan, Carmel and Lebanon (v. 4b)
- What will happen to these three noted regions known for their fruitfulness and beauty?
- By the time of Nahum, these former places of the Northern Kingdom had fallen into the hands of the Assyrians (e.g. 2 Ki. 15:29): What might be the purpose in citing them in this message?
d. Mountains, hills, earth and the world (v. 5)
- The quaking of the mountains: Of which incident would the readers of Nahum be reminded? (Exod. 19:16-18)
- Together with all of the above, what is the message of this introduction? (v. 5b)
1:6-11—The Character of God Applied
(3) V. 3a speaks of God’s great power and His punishment of the guilty: Given His power expressed in His control over nature, what conclusion is drawn concerning those who provoke His anger? (v. 6)
(4) But to those who choose to trust in Him, what will they find in the Lord? (v. 7)
(5) Which side of God’s character have you experienced?
(6) Nineveh—His enemy (vv. 8-11)
a. What images does the Lord use to describe their demise? (v. 8)
b. Who is the one who has openly plotted against God’s people? (v. 11; see Isa. 36:1)
c. What will his plots lead to? (v. 10)
d. What is God’s message to Judah and how was it fulfilled? (v. 9; see Isa. 37:36-38)
1:12-15—The Good News to Judah
(7) Should Judah fear such a formidable enemy? (vv. 12-13) Why or why not?
(8) How utter will the destruction of Nineveh be? (v. 14)
(9) Why does the Lord specifically target their idols and the temple of their gods?
(10) The good news of the complete destruction of the enemies:
a. It is given within the framework of their celebration of festivals and the fulfillment of their vows to God: Why is that?
b. What is the ultimate good news being proclaimed? (v. 15a)
c. What does this good news of “shalom” ultimately point to? (see Isa. 52:7; Rom. 10:15)
(11) What is the message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
今天開始研讀那鴻書。請細心慢慢讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反複思考問題。
那鴻書
我們對先知那鴻這人所知不多，除了他的名字是安慰或安慰者的意思，和他是伊勒歌斯人。雖然在亞述（即現在的伊拉克）Mosul附近有一座稱為那鴻的墳墓，被當地基督徒和回教徒所尊崇；一般認為猶太傳統的說法較可靠，指伊勒歌斯是加利利的一個城市。第四世紀教父Cyril支持這說法。
雖然書中的信息主要針對亞述的京城尼尼微，同時也是要給猶大的安慰，再次肯定神必審判那邪惡的敵人。從書中的內容所顯示，寫作的日期該是在十支派被擄後，和亞述王西拿基立在希西家作猶大王時，攻耶路撒冷城失利後(見賽37，特別是36-38節)這段時間寫的。論到亞述完全傾覆的預言，則在主前612年，藉著巴比倫聯軍的手得到應驗。
1:1-5—引言
(1) 耶和華是誰(1:2-3a)
a. 神在這裡怎樣介紹自己？(1:2)
b. 這句話的對象是誰？
c. 神的屬性的兩面：
i. 祂一面的屬性是什麼？(1:3; 見出34:6-7)
ii. 另一面的屬性是單施予以色列嗎？為什麼？
(2) 天地的主宰(1:3b-5)
a. 旋風、暴風和雲(1:3b)
這一節要表達什麼？（參詩104:3-4; 78:26）
b. 海和江河(1:4a)
i. 神在古時如何彰顯這節所說的大能？（見出14:21； 書3:14ff）
ii. 主耶穌又如何彰顯掌管海與風的大能？(見太8:23ff)
c. 巴珊，迦密與利巴嫩(1:4b)
i. 這些以肥美出產著稱的地方將會變成怎樣？
ii. 在那鴻時代，這些前北國的屬土已落入亞述手中(見王下15:29)：這預言對猶大有什麼安慰？
d. 大小山，地與世界(1:5)
i. “大山因祂震動”：這話讓讀者想起以色列人那一經歷？(出19:16-18)
ii. 綜合以上所論到的，這引言的目的是什麼？（1:5b）
1:6-11—神按屬性而行
(3) 祂要怎樣施行祂的忌邪與施報的屬性？(1:6)
(4) 但對信靠祂的人，祂會怎樣？(1:7)
(5) 你曾經歷過神那一方面的屬性？
(6) 尼尼微—神的敵人(1:8-11)
a. 祂以什麼喻作尼尼微所得的審判？(1:8)
b. 圖謀攻擊耶和華的是誰？(1:11; 參賽36:1)
c. 他的計謀有什麼結果？（1:10）
d. 這信息如何成就？(見賽37:36-38)
1:12-15—猶大的好信息
(7) 面對如此邪惡的強敵，猶大需驚怕嗎？為什麼？(1:12-13)
(8) 尼尼微遭到的毀滅會有多徹底？(1:14)
(9) 為何特別針對其神廟與偶像？
(10) 好信息：
a. 好信息與守節和還願有何關？
b. 所報的是稱為什麼好信息？(1:15a)
c. 這”平安/shalom”信息的真義是什麼？（可參賽52:7；羅10:15）
(11) 今天你得到的主要提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
“Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your festivals, Judah, and fulfill your vows. No more will the wicked invade you; they will be completely destroyed.” (Nah. 1:15)
While Nineveh is the target of the prophetic warnings and rebukes in Nahum, the message of the book is directed primarily to Judah. Since this is the case, it is safe to assume that the Northern Kingdom by then is no more, while Assyria is still a dominating world power. That fits quite clearly into the latter part of the reign of the Judean king of Hezekiah in Isaiah 36-37 during which time the Assyrians, under king Sennacherib, besieged Jerusalem only to be defeated by the Lord and Sennacherib was soon assassinated in the temple of his god (Isa. 37:38). Internal strife ensued which led to their defeat by the Babylonians and their allies in B.C. 612. As a result, after the invasion in the time of Hezekiah, the Assyrians posted no significant threat to Judah, fulfilling Nahum’s prophecy that “Whatever they plot against the LORD He will bring to an end; trouble will not come a second time.” (1:9).
Indeed, the message of deliverance by Nahum fits perfectly the meaning of his name, the “comforter”. However, the Lord makes it clear that the “peace” that will be brought upon Judah because of His deliverance is not just the absence of wars or enemies but the “shalom” that comes from the celebration of their festivals and the fulfillment of their vows before the Lord (1:15). This points to the ultimate meaning of peace, which is a restored relationship with their God.
These days, people hunger for freedom and world peace, but the peace and freedom they pursue is one that will enable them to live as they please, to pursue all kinds of indulgence and licentiousness, and worse, to worship whatever gods and idols they prefer, including atheism. Such peace will certainly not last. What is worse is that their peace is only an illusion that ushers them “into the realm of darkness”, following the footsteps of the Assyrians (1:8).
「看哪，有報好信傳平安之人的腳登山，說：「猶大啊，可以守你的節期，還你所許的願吧！因為那惡人不再從你中間經過，他已滅絕淨盡了。」(鴻1:15)
雖然那鴻書的信息主要是針對亞述的京城尼尼微，卻同時要給猶大帶來安慰。當時的以色列北國，明顯已被亞述所滅，而亞述繼續雄霸當時的世界。這正是猶大希西家作王後期的時代（見賽36-37）。亞述王西拿基立曾圍困耶路撒冷，卻遭神所擊退；及後西拿基立在自己的神廟中，被刺身亡。亞述繼而陷入內亂中，最後在主前612年被巴比倫的強大聯軍所滅。故此，在圍困耶路撒冷失敗之後，正如那鴻的預言所說，尼尼微不再興起—trouble will not come a second time(1:9; 英譯本NIV)。
這樣的信息正符合那鴻名字的意思—安慰者，因為他為猶大帶來和平的好消息。但神的信息卻清楚的表示，這和平的好信息不單在乎再沒有戰爭；這和平(shalom)是要叫他們 “可以安守節期，還所許的願” (1:15)。這句話充份表明這和平的真義，在乎他們與神重修關係。
今日世人大談世界和平，但他們所追求的和平，只是叫他們能享有自由去追求富貴、和放縱各樣的情慾；更可惜的，是去敬拜各樣的偶像、假神。這些所謂的和平或平安當然是不會持久的。事實上更糟的，是把他們，像昔日的亞述一樣，“驅逐進入黑暗”(1:8)。
The second chapter continues with a vivid portrayal of both the attacking army of the Babylonians and their allies, and the destruction of Nineveh:
2:1—Taunting the Assyrians
(1) The Lord is obviously taunting the Assyrians:
a. How did they taunt Hezekiah and his people before? (see Isaiah 36:4-10; 37:8-13)
b. Is it not appropriate for the Lord to taunt them in return? Why or why not?
2:2—The Comfort to Israel
(2) What has happened to the Northern Kingdom in the hands of Assyria? (2 Ki. 17:5-6)
(3) What promise does the Lord make to them now?
2:3-4—The Splendor of the Invading Army
(4) What does the description of the colors of the shields, armors and chariots seek to depict about the invading Babylonians and their allies?
(5) What does the movement of the chariot depict?
2:5-10—The Defenseless Assyrians
(6) What resistance will the Assyrians put up? (v. 5)
(7) Will they be able to resist the invading armies? (v. 6)
(8) Why is their fate unavoidable? (v. 7)
(9) What does the imagery of a pool seek to portray of its destruction? (v. 8)
(10) What will happen to the huge wealth of Assyria? (v. 9)
(11) How does v. 10 depict the horror of her destruction?
2:11-13—Mocking Nineveh
(12) What is Nineveh likened to?
(13) How fitting is it given the long and dominating history of Assyria? (see note below)
(14) Why does the Lord specifically make mention about their messengers? (v. 13b; see Isa. 36:11-12)
(15) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Note:
Assyria is one of the dominating world powers in the ancient Near East, from as early as the 25th century to the end of the 7th century B.C. At its height, the Empire encompassed the whole of the modern nations of Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Palestine and Cyprus, together with large swathes of Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Sudan, Libya, Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan.
請細心慢慢讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反複思考問題。
第二章繼續生動的形容尼尼微的滅亡，加上對毀滅他的敵人同樣生動的形容：
2:1—奚落尼尼微
(1) 神在此明顯是在奚落尼尼微：
a. 亞述王曾怎樣侮辱希西家和猶大？(參賽36:4-10; 37:8-13)
b. 神以其人之道，還以其人之身。合理嗎？
2:2—安慰以色列
(2) 當時以色列(即北國)在亞述手下曾遭到什麼？(見王17:5-6)
(3) 現在神給予他們什麼應許？
2:3-4—來敵的威風
(4) 這樣給來敵(即巴比倫的聯軍)的盾牌等的形容，有什麼用意？(2:3)
(5) 給戰車的形容又有什麼用意？(2:4)
2:5-10—尼尼微的敗亡
(6) 尼尼微會怎樣抵抗？(2:5)
(7) 有效嗎？(2:6)
(8) 為何說是命定之事？(2:7)
(9) 2:8以什麼來比喻尼尼微的敗亡？
(10) 這裡如何形容它的富裕？(2:9) 這些能救它嗎？
(11) 2:10如何生動的形容城中人的慘況？
2:11-13—奚落尼尼微（續）
(12) 再以什麼來比喻尼尼微的敗亡？
(13) 從歷史的角度來看，這比喻貼切嗎？(可參下註)
(14) 為何神特別提到亞述使者的聲音？(參問題一的答案)
(15) 今天你得到的主要提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
註：亞述在古時近東有悠久的歷史(由主前廿五世紀至七世紀) 。在全盛時期，其版圖包括今日的伊拉克、埃及、利巴嫩，以色列，巴勒斯坦，約但，甚至伊朗，沙地亞拉伯，土耳其等地。
“I am against you…I will leave you no prey on the earth. The voices of your messengers will no longer be heard.” (Nah. 2:13)
In the study of the books of prophecy in the Old Testament, we are often confronted with the challenge to discern between prophetic words that speak to the near future and those that point to the End-times. In the book of Nahum, we do not have such a problem. The message deals primarily with the demise of Assyria which would take place within roughly a hundred years (between roughly 700-612 B.C.). As a result, we may find it less relevant to us. However, this is not true.
Apart from the fact that the message must have given great comfort to Judah who had been greatly humiliated by the Assyrians during the reign of Hezekiah (Isa. 36-37), and who had witnessed the total destruction of their Northern Kingdom at their hands (2 Ki. 17:5-6), it also carries a timely message for us today.
The immediate audience of Nahum is being comforted to know that as formidable an enemy as the Assyrians are:
- There are more glorious empires in the world whose splendors are depicted by the colors of their shields, armors and chariots (2:3);
- There are more potent powers in the world whose strength is demonstrated in their well-equipped and more efficient war machines (2:4); and thus,
- Even when Nineveh appears to be invincible and fearless like lions in the lions’ den, they will be plundered and obliterated to the point that they would cease to be a threat to others (with no prey for them on earth) and their bragging voices will be heard no more (2:13).
Such is the fate of Nineveh who has chosen to become an enemy of God. Likewise, to all dictators or world powers, to all extremely successful business entrepreneurs or conglomerates and to all successful sports teams: They should know that there are always powers, businesses or teams more glamorous, more powerful, and more gifted to overtake them. Should they choose to trust in themselves and become enemies of God, they will soon be obliterated from the face of the earth and their bragging voices will be heard no more.
「萬軍之耶和華說：「我與你為敵，必將你的車輛焚燒成煙，刀劍也必吞滅你的少壯獅子。我必從地上除滅你所撕碎的，你使者的聲音必不再聽見。」(鴻2:13)
我們讀到舊約先知的信息時，往往會遇到要把近處的預言與遠處末期的預言分別出來的難處。但那鴻書就沒有這樣的困難，因為書中的信息主要是針對亞述的審判，而這審判就在以後的一百年左右（即約在主前700-612年間）都應驗了。故此，有人只像閱讀歷史般的閱讀這書，這是不對的。
是的，那鴻當時的猶大百姓該從那鴻的信息得到立時的安慰，因為知道：
- 原來比亞述更威榮的霸權將要興起，其威榮可從那鴻給他們的盾牌、軍裝等閃耀的顏色可以看到(2:3)；
- 而且，他們的軍備、武器是銳不可擋的(2:4) ；
- 雖然，尼尼微雖看似像無敵、無懼的雄獅，卻會被吞滅，盪然不存，不能再成為列國的威脅；連自誇的聲音也“必不再聽見”(2:13)
這是選擇與神為敵的尼尼微的命運。照樣，今天世上掌權的、超級強國，極成功的集團、企業，歷史悠久、成功的球隊，他們需要知道，總有比他們強大、更成功和本事的對手會興起。若然他們狂傲、自大，目中無神，就要與神為敵，其終局與尼尼微相同—必會盪然不存，不能再成為別人的威脅，連自誇的聲音“必不再聽見”