Nahum 1:9 - The Oracle of Nineveh

Audio Bible

Context

The Oracle of Nineveh
…8But with an overwhelming flood He will make an end of Nineveh and pursue His enemies into darkness. 9Whatever you plot against the LORD, He will bring to an end. Affliction will not rise up a second time. 10For they will be entangled as with thorns and consumed like the drink of a drunkard—like stubble that is fully dry.…

Cross References

Isaiah 14:24-27
The LORD of Hosts has sworn: “Surely, as I have planned, so will it be; as I have purposed, so will it stand. / I will break Assyria in My land; I will trample him on My mountain. His yoke will be taken off My people, and his burden removed from their shoulders.” / This is the plan devised for the whole earth, and this is the hand stretched out over all the nations. ...Isaiah 10:23
For the Lord GOD of Hosts will carry out the destruction decreed upon the whole land.Isaiah 46:10-11
I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’ / I summon a bird of prey from the east, a man for My purpose from a far-off land. Truly I have spoken, and truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, and I will surely do it.Isaiah 31:8-9
“Then Assyria will fall, but not by the sword of man; a sword will devour them, but not one made by mortals. They will flee before the sword, and their young men will be put to forced labor. / Their rock will pass away for fear, and their princes will panic at the sight of the battle standard,” declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, whose furnace is in Jerusalem.Isaiah 37:26-29
Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it; in days of old I planned it. Now I have brought it to pass, that you should crush fortified cities into piles of rubble. / Therefore their inhabitants, devoid of power, are dismayed and ashamed. They are like plants in the field, tender green shoots, grass on the rooftops, scorched before it is grown. / But I know your sitting down, your going out and coming in, and your raging against Me. ...Jeremiah 51:58
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Babylon’s thick walls will be leveled, and her high gates consumed by fire. So the labor of the people will be for nothing; the nations will exhaust themselves to fuel the flames.”Jeremiah 50:45
Therefore hear the plans that the LORD has drawn up against Babylon and the strategies He has devised against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the little ones of the flock will be dragged away; certainly their pasture will be made desolate because of them.Jeremiah 4:27-28
For this is what the LORD says: “The whole land will be desolate, but I will not finish its destruction. / Therefore the earth will mourn and the heavens above will grow dark. I have spoken, I have planned, and I will not relent or turn back.”Ezekiel 21:25-27
And you, O profane and wicked prince of Israel, the day has come for your final punishment.’ / This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Remove the turban, and take off the crown. Things will not remain as they are: Exalt the lowly and bring low the exalted. / A ruin, a ruin, I will make it a ruin! And it will not be restored until the arrival of Him to whom it belongs, to whom I have assigned the right of judgment.’Ezekiel 38:10-11
This is what the Lord GOD says: On that day, thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will devise an evil plan. / You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will come against a quiet people who dwell securely, all of them living without walls or bars or gates—Psalm 33:10-11
The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples. / The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart to all generations.Psalm 2:1-4
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? / The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One: / “Let us break Their chains and cast away Their cords.” ...Psalm 21:11
Though they intend You harm, the schemes they devise will not prevail.Proverbs 19:21
Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.Job 9:12
If He takes away, who can stop Him? Who dares to ask Him, ‘What are You doing?’

Nahum 1:11
There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counseller.

Psalm 2:1-4
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? …

Psalm 21:11
For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform.

he.

1 Samuel 3:12
In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.

1 Samuel 26:8
Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.

2 Samuel 20:10
But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.

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Nahum 1

Whatever you plot against the LORD
This phrase addresses the futility of opposing God. In the context of Nahum, it refers to the Assyrians, particularly Nineveh, who were known for their cruelty and opposition to God's people. Historically, the Assyrians were a dominant power, often plotting against other nations, including Israel and Judah. This phrase serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and the ultimate failure of any plans against Him. It echoes Psalm 2:1-4, where the nations' plots against the Lord are met with divine derision.

He will bring to an end
This assures that God's justice will prevail. The Assyrian Empire, despite its might, was destined to fall. This reflects the biblical theme of divine retribution, where God intervenes to stop the wickedness of nations. The fall of Nineveh in 612 BC is a historical fulfillment of this prophecy, demonstrating God's control over history. It also connects to the broader biblical narrative of God bringing an end to evil, as seen in Revelation 21:4, where God promises to end all suffering and sin.

Affliction will not rise up a second time
This phrase promises that the judgment will be complete and final. For the people of Judah, this was a reassurance that the Assyrian threat would not return. It highlights God's protection over His people and His ability to deliver them from their enemies. This can be seen as a type of Christ, who through His death and resurrection, provides a final victory over sin and death, ensuring that believers will not face eternal affliction. The concept of a final, decisive victory is also reflected in 1 Corinthians 15:54-57, where Paul speaks of the ultimate defeat of death through Christ.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Nahum
A prophet whose name means "comfort" or "consolation." He prophesied the downfall of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria.

2. Nineveh
The capital city of the Assyrian Empire, known for its great power and cruelty. It was a significant enemy of Israel.

3. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who is portrayed as sovereign and just, bringing judgment upon His enemies.

4. Assyria
A dominant empire during Nahum's time, known for its military might and oppression of other nations, including Israel and Judah.

5. Judgment
The event prophesied by Nahum, where God would bring an end to Nineveh's power and oppression.

Teaching Points

God's Sovereignty
Recognize that God is in control of all nations and their destinies. No plot against Him can succeed.

Assurance of Justice
Trust that God will bring justice to those who oppress and harm His people. His judgment is sure and final.

The Futility of Opposing God
Understand the futility of resisting God's will. Align your life with His purposes rather than opposing them.

Hope for the Oppressed
Find comfort in knowing that God sees the suffering of His people and will act in His perfect timing to deliver them.

Repentance and Humility
Reflect on areas in your life where you might be resisting God's will and seek to repent and submit to His authority.

(9-15) The first revelation of God's judgment, by the awful overthrow of Sennacherib's invading army in the reign of Hezekiah.

(9) Affliction--i.e., Nineveh's affliction of Israel, the same Hebrew word being used in Nahum 1:7 to denote Israel's "trouble" or "affliction" proceeding from Nineveh. (See also Nahum 1:12.) Nineveh shall not afflict Israel a second time. Applying the whole passage to the destruction of Sennacherib's host, we necessarily prefer this to the other possible interpretation--God will not have occasion to send affliction on Nineveh a second time, i.e., this visitation will be so exhaustive that there will be no need to repeat it. For the judgment on Sennacherib was not God's final visitation.

Verse 9. - The prophet suddenly addresses both Jews and Assyrians, encouraging the former by the thought that God can perform what he promises, and warning the latter that their boasting (comp. Isaiah 10:9, etc.; Isaiah 36:20) was vain. What do ye imagine against the Lord? Quid cogitatis contra Dominum? (Vulgate). This rendering regards the question as addressed to the Assyrians, demanding of them what it is that they dare to plot against God; do they presume to fight against him, or to fancy that his threats will not be accomplished? But the sentence is best translated, What think ye of the Lord? Τί λογίζεσθε ἐπὶ τὸν Κύριον; "What devise ye against the Lord?" (Septuagint). This is addressed not only to the Jews in the sense, "Do ye think that he will not accomplish his threat against Nineveh?" but to the Assyrians also. He will make an utter end. This denunciation is repeated from ver. 8 to denote the absolute certainty of the doom. Affliction shall not rise up the second time. The Assyrians shall never again have the power of oppressing Judah as they have ruined Israel there shall be no repetition of Sennacherib's invasion. Septuagint, Οὐκ ἐκδικήσει δὶς ἐπιτοαυτὸ ἐν θλίψει: Non vindicabit bis in idipsura (Jerome). From this text the Fathers take occasion to discuss the question how it is that God does not punish twice for the same sin. Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Whatever
מַה־ (mah-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

you plot
תְּחַשְּׁבוּן֙ (tə·ḥaš·šə·ḇūn)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun
Strong's 2803: To think, account

against
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the LORD,
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

He
ה֣וּא (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

will bring
עֹשֶׂ֑ה (‘ō·śeh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

to an end.
כָּלָ֖ה (kā·lāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3617: Completion, complete destruction, consumption, annihilation

Affliction
צָרָֽה׃ (ṣā·rāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6869: Tightness, a female rival

will not
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

rise up
תָק֥וּם (ṯā·qūm)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand

a second time.
פַּעֲמַ֖יִם (pa·‘ă·ma·yim)
Noun - fd
Strong's 6471: A beat, foot, anvil, occurrence

Links

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Nahum 1:9 Catholic BibleOT Prophets: Nahum 1:9 What do you plot against Yahweh? He (Nah. Na)