Nahum

Author: The author of the Book of Nahum identifies himself as Nahum (in the Hebrew “Consoler” or “Comforter”) the Elkoshite (1:1). There are many theories as to where that city was though there is no conclusive evidence. One such theory is that it refers to the city later called Capernaum (which literally means “the village of Nahum”) at the Sea of Galilee.

Date of Writing: Given the limited amount of information that we know about Nahum the best we can do is narrow the timeframe the Book of Nahum was written to between 663 and 612 B.C. Two events are mentioned that help us to determine these dates. First Nahum mentions Thebes (No Amon) in Egypt falling to the Assyrians (663 B.C.) in past tense so it had already happened. Secondly, the remainder of Nahum's prophecies came true in 612 B.C.

Nineveh once had repented and served the Lord God Jehovah. That had changed over the course of 150 years. They had turned away from God and so God was judging them. The same holds true for us today. God is patient. He gives every country time to proclaim Him as their Lord. But He is not mocked. Any time a country turns away from Him to serve it’s own motives He steps in with judgment. Almost 220 years ago the United States was formed as a Nation guided by principles found in the Bible. In the last 50 years that has changed and we are turning faster daily in the opposite direction. If we as a nation do not stand up and stop this liberal, God-denying, self-serving, live-for-the-moment attitude then we should not be surprised when God drops the hammer on us. As Christians it is our duty to stand up for Biblical principles and Scriptural truth. We are our country’s only hope.