מַשָּׂ֖א נִֽינְוֵ֑ה סֵ֧פֶר חֲז֛וֹן נַח֖וּם הָאֶלְקֹשִֽׁי׃ A pronouncement on Nineveh: The Book of the Prophecy of Nahum the Elkoshite.

אֵ֣ל קַנּ֤וֹא וְנֹקֵם֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה נֹקֵ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה וּבַ֣עַל חֵמָ֑ה נֹקֵ֤ם יְהֹוָה֙ לְצָרָ֔יו וְנוֹטֵ֥ר ה֖וּא לְאֹיְבָֽיו׃ The ETERNAL is a passionate, avenging God;
GOD is vengeful and fierce in wrath.
GOD takes vengeance on opponents,
And rages against foes.

יְהֹוָ֗ה אֶ֤רֶךְ אַפַּ֙יִם֙ (וגדול) [וּגְדׇל־]כֹּ֔חַ וְנַקֵּ֖ה לֹ֣א יְנַקֶּ֑ה יְהֹוָ֗ה בְּסוּפָ֤ה וּבִשְׂעָרָה֙ דַּרְכּ֔וֹ וְעָנָ֖ן אֲבַ֥ק רַגְלָֽיו׃ GOD is slow to anger and of great forbearance,
But GOD does not remit all punishment.
[God] travels in whirlwind and storm,
With clouds the dust on divine feet.

גּוֹעֵ֤ר בַּיָּם֙ וַֽיַּבְּשֵׁ֔הוּ וְכׇל־הַנְּהָר֖וֹת הֶחֱרִ֑יב אֻמְלַ֤ל בָּשָׁן֙ וְכַרְמֶ֔ל וּפֶ֥רַח לְבָנ֖וֹן אֻמְלָֽל׃ [God] rebukes the sea and dries it up,
And makes all rivers fail;
Bashan and Carmel languish,
And the blossoms^ablossoms Lit. “bud.” of Lebanon wither.

הָרִים֙ רָעֲשׁ֣וּ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ וְהַגְּבָע֖וֹת הִתְמֹגָ֑גוּ וַתִּשָּׂ֤א הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ מִפָּנָ֔יו וְתֵבֵ֖ל וְכׇל־י֥וֹשְׁבֵי בָֽהּ׃ The mountains quake because of [God],
And the hills melt.
The earth heaves^bheaves Meaning of Heb. uncertain. before [God],
The world and all that dwell therein.

לִפְנֵ֤י זַעְמוֹ֙ מִ֣י יַעֲמ֔וֹד וּמִ֥י יָק֖וּם בַּחֲר֣וֹן אַפּ֑וֹ חֲמָתוֹ֙ נִתְּכָ֣ה כָאֵ֔שׁ וְהַצֻּרִ֖ים נִתְּצ֥וּ מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ Who can stand before God’s wrath?
Who can resist such fury?
God’s anger pours out like fire,
And rocks are shattered as a result.

ט֣וֹב יְהֹוָ֔ה לְמָע֖וֹז בְּי֣וֹם צָרָ֑ה וְיֹדֵ֖עַ חֹ֥סֵי בֽוֹ׃ GOD is good to [those who have hope],
And is a haven on a day of distress—
Being mindful of those seeking refuge.

וּבְשֶׁ֣טֶף עֹבֵ֔ר כָּלָ֖ה יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה מְקוֹמָ֑הּ וְאֹיְבָ֖יו יְרַדֶּף־חֹֽשֶׁךְ׃ And with a sweeping flood
[God] makes an end of her place,^cher place Meaning of Heb. uncertain; emendation yields “those who oppose [God].”
And chases enemies into the darkness.

מַה־תְּחַשְּׁבוּן֙ אֶל־יְהֹוָ֔ה כָּלָ֖ה ה֣וּא עֹשֶׂ֑ה לֹא־תָק֥וּם פַּעֲמַ֖יִם צָרָֽה׃ Why will you^dyou I.e., Assyria, whose capital is Nineveh; cf. v. 1. plot against GOD ?
Utter destruction is the outcome:
No adversary^eadversary Cf. Ugaritic ṣrt. opposes [God] twice!

כִּ֚י עַד־סִירִ֣ים סְבֻכִ֔ים וּכְסׇבְאָ֖ם סְבוּאִ֑ים אֻ֨כְּל֔וּ כְּקַ֥שׁ יָבֵ֖שׁ מָלֵֽא׃ ^fMeaning of verse uncertain. For like those besotted with drink,
They are burned up like tangled thorns,
Like straw that is thoroughly dried.

מִמֵּ֣ךְ יָצָ֔א חֹשֵׁ֥ב עַל־יְהֹוָ֖ה רָעָ֑ה יֹעֵ֖ץ בְּלִיָּֽעַל׃ {ס}         ^gVerses 11–14 would read well after 2.1. The base plotter
Who designed evil against GOD
Has left you.^hyou I.e., the kingdom of Judah.

כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה אִם־שְׁלֵמִים֙ וְכֵ֣ן רַבִּ֔ים וְכֵ֥ן נָג֖וֹזּוּ וְעָבָ֑ר וְעִ֨נִּתִ֔ךְ לֹ֥א אֲעַנֵּ֖ךְ עֽוֹד׃ Thus said GOD:
“Even as those daysⁱthose days Of your affliction; Heb. “they.” were full and many,
Even so are they over and gone;
As surely as I afflicted you,
I will afflict you no more.^jEven as … no more Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

וְעַתָּ֕ה אֶשְׁבֹּ֥ר מֹטֵ֖הוּ מֵעָלָ֑יִךְ וּמוֹסְרֹתַ֖יִךְ אֲנַתֵּֽק׃ And now
I will break off his^khis I.e., Assyria’s. yoke bar from you
And burst your cords apart.”

וְצִוָּ֤ה עָלֶ֙יךָ֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה לֹא־יִזָּרַ֥ע מִשִּׁמְךָ֖ ע֑וֹד מִבֵּ֨ית אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ אַכְרִ֨ית פֶּ֧סֶל וּמַסֵּכָ֛ה אָשִׂ֥ים קִבְרֶ֖ךָ כִּ֥י קַלּֽוֹתָ׃ {פ}
GOD has commanded concerning him:^lhim Heb. “you”; cf. v. 9.
No posterity shall continue your name.^mNo posterity shall continue your name Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
I will do away with
The carved and graven images
In the temples of your gods;
I will make your grave
Accord with your worthlessness.ⁿAccord with your worthlessness Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

הִנֵּ֨ה עַל־הֶהָרִ֜ים רַגְלֵ֤י מְבַשֵּׂר֙ מַשְׁמִ֣יעַ שָׁל֔וֹם חׇגִּ֧י יְהוּדָ֛ה חַגַּ֖יִךְ שַׁלְּמִ֣י נְדָרָ֑יִךְ כִּי֩ לֹ֨א יוֹסִ֥יף ע֛וֹד (לעבור) [לַעֲבׇר־]בָּ֥ךְ בְּלִיַּ֖עַל כֻּלֹּ֥ה נִכְרָֽת׃ Behold on the hills
The footsteps of a herald
Announcing good fortune!
“Celebrate your festivals, O Judah,
Fulfill your vows.
Never again shall scoundrels invade you,
They have totally vanished.”

עָלָ֥ה מֵפִ֛יץ עַל־פָּנַ֖יִךְ נָצ֣וֹר מְצוּרָ֑ה צַפֵּֽה־דֶ֙רֶךְ֙ חַזֵּ֣ק מׇתְנַ֔יִם אַמֵּ֥ץ כֹּ֖חַ מְאֹֽד׃ ^aThis verse would read well after v. 3. A shatterer has come up against you.^byou I.e., Nineveh; cf. 1.1.
Put up the guard posts,
Watch the road;
Steady your loins,
Brace all your strength!

כִּ֣י שָׁ֤ב יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־גְּא֣וֹן יַעֲקֹ֔ב כִּגְא֖וֹן יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּ֤י בְקָקוּם֙ בֹּֽקְקִ֔ים וּזְמֹרֵיהֶ֖ם שִׁחֵֽתוּ׃ For GOD has restored the Pride^cPride Emendation yields “vine.” of Jacob^dJacob…Israel Respectively, the northern kingdom (cf. Amos 6.8; 8.7) and the southern kingdom. The latter is regarded as the remnant of Israel after the fall of the northern kingdom (cf. Mic. 1.13–15).
As well as the Pride^ePride See first note at this verse. of Israel,
Though marauders have laid them waste
And ravaged their branches.

מָגֵ֨ן גִּבֹּרֵ֜יהוּ מְאׇדָּ֗ם אַנְשֵֽׁי־חַ֙יִל֙ מְתֻלָּעִ֔ים בְּאֵשׁ־פְּלָדֹ֥ת הָרֶ֖כֶב בְּי֣וֹם הֲכִינ֑וֹ וְהַבְּרֹשִׁ֖ים הׇרְעָֽלוּ׃ His^fHis I.e., the shatterer in v. 2. warriors’ shields are painted red,
And the soldiers are clothed in crimson;
The chariots are like flaming torches,^gtorches Understanding peladoth as equivalent to lappidoth.
On the day they are made ready.
The [arrows of] cypress wood are poisoned,^hThe [arrows of] cypress wood are poisoned Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Emendation yields “The cavalry charge”; cf. 3.3.

בַּחוּצוֹת֙ יִתְהוֹלְל֣וּ הָרֶ֔כֶב יִֽשְׁתַּקְשְׁק֖וּן בָּרְחֹב֑וֹת מַרְאֵיהֶן֙ כַּלַּפִּידִ֔ים כַּבְּרָקִ֖ים יְרוֹצֵֽצוּ׃ The chariots dash about frenzied in the fields,
They rush through the meadows.
They appear like torches,
They race like streaks of lightning.

יִזְכֹּר֙ אַדִּירָ֔יו יִכָּשְׁל֖וּ (בהלכותם) [בַּהֲלִיכָתָ֑ם] יְמַֽהֲרוּ֙ חֽוֹמָתָ֔הּ וְהֻכַ֖ן הַסֹּכֵֽךְ׃ ⁱMeaning of verse uncertain. He commands his burly men;
They stumble as they advance,
They hasten up to her wall,
Where wheeled shelters^jwheeled shelters To protect the crews that swung the battering rams. are set up.

שַׁעֲרֵ֥י הַנְּהָר֖וֹת נִפְתָּ֑חוּ וְהַהֵיכָ֖ל נָמֽוֹג׃ The floodgates are opened,
And the palace is deluged.^kThe floodgates are opened, / And the palace is deluged I.e., the walls are breached and the palace is overrun.

וְהֻצַּ֖ב גֻּלְּתָ֣ה הֹֽעֲלָ֑תָה וְאַמְהֹתֶ֗יהָ מְנַֽהֲגוֹת֙ כְּק֣וֹל יוֹנִ֔ים מְתֹפְפֹ֖ת עַל־לִבְבֵהֶֽן׃ And Huzzab is exiled and carried away,^lAnd Huzzab is exiled and carried away Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Emendation yields “And its mistress is led out and exiled.”
While her handmaidens escort [her]^mescort [her] Emendation yields “moan.”
As with the voices of doves,
Beating their breasts.

וְנִֽינְוֵ֥ה כִבְרֵכַת־מַ֖יִם מִ֣ימֵי הִ֑יא וְהֵ֣מָּה נָסִ֔ים עִמְד֥וּ עֲמֹ֖דוּ וְאֵ֥ין מַפְנֶֽה׃ Nineveh has been like a [placid] pool of water
From earliest times;ⁿFrom earliest times Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
Now they flee.
“Stop! Stop!”—
But none can turn them back.

בֹּ֥זּוּ כֶ֖סֶף בֹּ֣זּוּ זָהָ֑ב וְאֵ֥ין קֵ֙צֶה֙ לַתְּכוּנָ֔ה כָּבֹ֕ד מִכֹּ֖ל כְּלִ֥י חֶמְדָּֽה׃ “Plunder silver! Plunder gold!”
There is no limit to the treasure;
It is a hoard of all precious objects.

בּוּקָ֥ה וּמְבוּקָ֖ה וּמְבֻלָּקָ֑ה וְלֵ֨ב נָמֵ֜ס וּפִ֣ק בִּרְכַּ֗יִם וְחַלְחָלָה֙ בְּכׇל־מׇתְנַ֔יִם וּפְנֵ֥י כֻלָּ֖ם קִבְּצ֥וּ פָארֽוּר׃ Desolation, devastation, and destruction!
Spirits sink,
Knees buckle,
All loins tremble,
All faces turn ashen.^oturn ashen Meaning of Heb. uncertain; cf. note at Joel 2.6.

אַיֵּה֙ מְע֣וֹן אֲרָי֔וֹת וּמִרְעֶ֥ה ה֖וּא לַכְּפִרִ֑ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָלַךְ֩ אַרְיֵ֨ה לָבִ֥יא שָׁ֛ם גּ֥וּר אַרְיֵ֖ה וְאֵ֥ין מַחֲרִֽיד׃ What has become of that lions’ den,
That pasture^ppasture Emendation yields “cave.” of great beasts,
Where lion and lion’s breed walked,
And lion’s cub—with none to disturb them?

אַרְיֵ֤ה טֹרֵף֙ בְּדֵ֣י גֹרוֹתָ֔יו וּמְחַנֵּ֖ק לְלִבְאֹתָ֑יו וַיְמַלֵּא־טֶ֣רֶף חֹרָ֔יו וּמְעֹנֹתָ֖יו טְרֵפָֽה׃ [Where is] the lion that tore victims for its cubs
And strangled for the lionesses,
And filled its lairs with prey
And its dens with mangled flesh?

הִנְנִ֣י אֵלַ֗יִךְ נְאֻם֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת וְהִבְעַרְתִּ֤י בֶעָשָׁן֙ רִכְבָּ֔הּ וּכְפִירַ֖יִךְ תֹּ֣אכַל חָ֑רֶב וְהִכְרַתִּ֤י מֵאֶ֙רֶץ֙ טַרְפֵּ֔ךְ וְלֹא־יִשָּׁמַ֥ע ע֖וֹד ק֥וֹל מַלְאָכֵֽכֵה׃ {פ}
I am going to deal with you
—declares GOD of Hosts:
I will burn down her chariots in smoke,^qher chariots in smoke Emendation yields “your thicket in fire.”
And the sword shall devour your great beasts;
I will stamp out your killings from the earth,
And the sound of your messengers^rmessengers Emendation yields “devouring.”
Shall be heard no more.

ה֖וֹי עִ֣יר דָּמִ֑ים כֻּלָּ֗הּ כַּ֤חַשׁ פֶּ֙רֶק֙ מְלֵאָ֔ה לֹ֥א יָמִ֖ישׁ טָֽרֶף׃ Ah, city of crime,
Utterly treacherous,
Full of violence,
Where killing never stops!

ק֣וֹל שׁ֔וֹט וְק֖וֹל רַ֣עַשׁ אוֹפָ֑ן וְס֣וּס דֹּהֵ֔ר וּמֶרְכָּבָ֖ה מְרַקֵּדָֽה׃ Crack of whip
And rattle of wheel,
Galloping steed
And bounding chariot!

פָּרָ֣שׁ מַעֲלֶ֗ה וְלַ֤הַב חֶ֙רֶב֙ וּבְרַ֣ק חֲנִ֔ית וְרֹ֥ב חָלָ֖ל וְכֹ֣בֶד פָּ֑גֶר וְאֵ֥ין קֵ֙צֶה֙ לַגְּוִיָּ֔ה (יכשלו) [וְכָשְׁל֖וּ] בִּגְוִיָּתָֽם׃ Charging cavalry,
Flashing swords,
And glittering spears!
Hosts of slain
And heaps of corpses,
Dead bodies without number—
They stumble over bodies.

מֵרֹב֙ זְנוּנֵ֣י זוֹנָ֔ה ט֥וֹבַת חֵ֖ן בַּעֲלַ֣ת כְּשָׁפִ֑ים הַמֹּכֶ֤רֶת גּוֹיִם֙ בִּזְנוּנֶ֔יהָ וּמִשְׁפָּח֖וֹת בִּכְשָׁפֶֽיהָ׃ Because of the countless whoredoms of the whore,
The winsome mistress of sorcery,
Who ensnared^aensnared Meaning of Heb. uncertain. nations with her whoredoms
And peoples with her sorcery,

הִנְנִ֣י אֵלַ֗יִךְ נְאֻם֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת וְגִלֵּיתִ֥י שׁוּלַ֖יִךְ עַל־פָּנָ֑יִךְ וְהַרְאֵיתִ֤י גוֹיִם֙ מַעְרֵ֔ךְ וּמַמְלָכ֖וֹת קְלוֹנֵֽךְ׃ I am going to deal with you
—declares GOD of Hosts.
I will lift up your skirts over your face
And display your nakedness to the nations
And your shame to kingdoms.

וְהִשְׁלַכְתִּ֥י עָלַ֛יִךְ שִׁקֻּצִ֖ים וְנִבַּלְתִּ֑יךְ וְשַׂמְתִּ֖יךְ כְּרֹֽאִי׃ I will throw loathsome things over you
And disfigure you
And make a spectacle of you.

וְהָיָ֤ה כׇל־רֹאַ֙יִךְ֙ יִדּ֣וֹד מִמֵּ֔ךְ וְאָמַר֙ שׇׁדְּדָ֣ה נִֽינְוֵ֔ה מִ֖י יָנ֣וּד לָ֑הּ מֵאַ֛יִן אֲבַקֵּ֥שׁ מְנַחֲמִ֖ים לָֽךְ׃ All who see you will recoil from you
And will say,
“Nineveh has been ravaged!”
Who will console her?
Where shall I look for
Anyone to comfort you?

הֲתֵֽיטְבִי֙ מִנֹּ֣א אָמ֔וֹן הַיֹּֽשְׁבָה֙ בַּיְאֹרִ֔ים מַ֖יִם סָבִ֣יב לָ֑הּ אֲשֶׁר־חֵ֣יל יָ֔ם מִיָּ֖ם חוֹמָתָֽהּ׃ Were you any better than No-amon,^bNo-amon Amon was the tutelary deity of No (Thebes; cf. Jer. 46.25), which the Assyrians had sacked in 663 BCE.
Which sat by the Nile,
Surrounded by water—
Its rampart a river,^criver Heb. “sea.”
Its wall consisting of sea?

כּ֥וּשׁ עׇצְמָ֛ה וּמִצְרַ֖יִם וְאֵ֣ין קֵ֑צֶה פּ֣וּט וְלוּבִ֔ים הָי֖וּ בְּעֶזְרָתֵֽךְ׃ Populous Cush
And teeming Egypt,
Put and the Libyans—
They were her^dher Heb. “your.” helpers.

גַּם־הִ֗יא לַגֹּלָה֙ הָלְכָ֣ה בַשֶּׁ֔בִי גַּ֧ם עֹלָלֶ֛יהָ יְרֻטְּשׁ֖וּ בְּרֹ֣אשׁ כׇּל־חוּצ֑וֹת וְעַל־נִכְבַּדֶּ֙יהָ֙ יַדּ֣וּ גוֹרָ֔ל וְכׇל־גְּדוֹלֶ֖יהָ רֻתְּק֥וּ בַזִּקִּֽים׃ Yet even she was exiled,
She went into captivity.
Her babes, too, were dashed in pieces
At every street corner.
Lots were cast for her nobles,
And all her dignitaries were bound in chains.

גַּם־אַ֣תְּ תִּשְׁכְּרִ֔י תְּהִ֖י נַעֲלָמָ֑ה גַּם־אַ֛תְּ תְּבַקְשִׁ֥י מָע֖וֹז מֵאוֹיֵֽב׃ You too shall be drunk
And utterly overcome;^eovercome Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
You too shall seek
A refuge from the enemy.

כׇּ֨ל־מִבְצָרַ֔יִךְ תְּאֵנִ֖ים עִם־בִּכּוּרִ֑ים אִם־יִנּ֕וֹעוּ וְנָפְל֖וּ עַל־פִּ֥י אוֹכֵֽל׃ All your forts are fig trees
With^fWith Emendation yields “Your troops are”; cf. next verse. ripe fruit;
If shaken they will fall
Into the mouths of devourers.

הִנֵּ֨ה עַמֵּ֤ךְ נָשִׁים֙ בְּקִרְבֵּ֔ךְ לְאֹ֣יְבַ֔יִךְ פָּת֥וֹחַ נִפְתְּח֖וּ שַׁעֲרֵ֣י אַרְצֵ֑ךְ אָכְלָ֥ה אֵ֖שׁ בְּרִיחָֽיִךְ׃ Truly, the troops within you are women;
The gates of your land have opened themselves
To your enemies;
Fire has consumed your gate bars.

מֵ֤י מָצוֹר֙ שַֽׁאֲבִי־לָ֔ךְ חַזְּקִ֖י מִבְצָרָ֑יִךְ בֹּ֧אִי בַטִּ֛יט וְרִמְסִ֥י בַחֹ֖מֶר הַחֲזִ֥יקִי מַלְבֵּֽן׃ Draw water for the siege,
Strengthen your forts;
Tread the clay,
Trample the mud,
Grasp the brick mold!

שָׁ֚ם תֹּאכְלֵ֣ךְ אֵ֔שׁ תַּכְרִיתֵ֣ךְ חֶ֔רֶב תֹּאכְלֵ֖ךְ כַּיָּ֑לֶק הִתְכַּבֵּ֣ד כַּיֶּ֔לֶק הִֽתְכַּבְּדִ֖י כָּאַרְבֶּֽה׃ There fire will devour you,
The sword will put an end to you;
It will devour you like the grub.
Multiply like grubs,
Multiply like locusts!^gMultiply like grubs, Multiply like locusts Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

הִרְבֵּית֙ רֹכְלַ֔יִךְ מִכּוֹכְבֵ֖י הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם יֶ֥לֶק פָּשַׁ֖ט וַיָּעֹֽף׃ You had more traders
Than the sky has stars—
The grubs cast their skins and fly away.

מִנְּזָרַ֙יִךְ֙ כָּֽאַרְבֶּ֔ה וְטַפְסְרַ֖יִךְ כְּג֣וֹב גֹּבָ֑י הַחוֹנִ֤ים בַּגְּדֵרוֹת֙ בְּי֣וֹם קָרָ֔ה שֶׁ֤מֶשׁ זָֽרְחָה֙ וְנוֹדַ֔ד וְלֹא־נוֹדַ֥ע מְקוֹמ֖וֹ אַיָּֽם׃ Your guards were like locusts,
Your marshals like piles of hoppers
That settle on the stone fences
On a chilly day;
When the sun comes out, they fly away,
And where they are nobody knows.

נָמ֤וּ רֹעֶ֙יךָ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֔וּר יִשְׁכְּנ֖וּ אַדִּירֶ֑יךָ נָפֹ֧שׁוּ עַמְּךָ֛ עַל־הֶהָרִ֖ים וְאֵ֥ין מְקַבֵּֽץ׃ Your shepherds are slumbering,
O king of Assyria;
Your sheepmasters are lying inert;^hlying inert Lit. “dwelling”; emendation yields “asleep.”
Your people are scatteredⁱscattered Meaning of Heb. uncertain. over the hills,
And there is none to gather them.

אֵין־כֵּהָ֣ה לְשִׁבְרֶ֔ךָ נַחְלָ֖ה מַכָּתֶ֑ךָ כֹּ֣ל ׀ שֹׁמְעֵ֣י שִׁמְעֲךָ֗ תָּ֤קְעוּ כַף֙ עָלֶ֔יךָ כִּ֗י עַל־מִ֛י לֹא־עָבְרָ֥ה רָעָתְךָ֖ תָּמִֽיד׃ There is no healing^jhealing Heb. kehah, a variant of gehah; see Prov. 17.22. for your injury;
Your wound is grievous.
All who hear the news about you
Clap their hands over you.
For who has not suffered
From your constant malice?