Verse 1. Blood. Nemrod established his power by shedding blood. Genesis 10. Ninus, who built Ninive, and his successors were also bloody. After 1200 years the empire decayed under Sardanapalus, as historians agree. Yet it continued longer, according to the Scriptures and Ribera, till the Chaldees destroyed it, when it had subsisted about 1440 years. It was even possessed of great power after the return of the Jews from Babylon, as Eus. Saint Augustine V. Bede, and so forth write. Worthington.—Depart. Septuagint “be touched.” Bible.—He continues the metaphor of the lion seizing its prey. Here the last chapter should end.
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Verse 2. The noise. He has described the forces of Ninive, now he specifies those of Cyaxares and Nabopolassar.
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Verse 4. Harlot. Ninive is cruel and impure, engaging others in idolatry and witchcraft. Calmet.—Sold, forcing them to adopt her manners. Romans 7:14.
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Verse 7. Bemoan. Lit. “shake his head:” the latter words are not in Hebrew Bible.—Some supply, move his lips: but head will answer as well. This is a sign of derision or of pity. Job 42:11. Matthew 27:39. Calmet.
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Verse 8. Populous Alexandria. No-Amon. A populous city of Egypt, destroyed by the Chaldeans, and afterwards rebuilt by Alexander, and called Alexandria. Others suppose No-Amon to be the same as Diospolis. Challoner.—This seems preferable, as it was amidst waters and near the Mediterranean. Profane historians take little notice of it, as it was greatly reduced. Bochart fixes upon Memphis, others upon the temple of Ammon. But these were too remote from the sea. Calmet.—The former was however near the Nile, ( Bible.) which is sometimes called a sea. Calmet.—S. Jerom thinks that Alexandria stood on the ruins of No. Worthington.—Yet of this we have no proof. It is thought that Nahum alludes to the devastation caused by Nabuchodonosor. As Juda however was still in his kingdom, it seems rather that Assaraddon, (Isaiah 20) or his predecessor, Sennacherib, ( Calmet.) laid waste this city. 4 Kennicott. 18:21. Usher, A. 3292.
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Verse 9. Ethiopia; Chus, in Arabia, not far from Diospolis.
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Verse 10. Captivity. It was afterwards re-established and taken by Nabuchodonosor. Calmet.—Fetters, or stocks. Bible.
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Verse 11. Drunk, and be chastised by God. Ezekiel 23:32.—From, to escape.
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Verse 14. Water. This was a necessary precaution. 2 Chronicles 32:3.—Brick, to repair the breaches.
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Verse 15. Locust. Yet all will be in vain. Thy numbers will be cut off as easily as locusts.
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Verse 16. Away. Thus did the merchants, at the approach of the enemy.
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Verse 17. Guards. Hebrew “crowned” princes.—Little. Hebrew “satraps are like great locusts, which,” and so forth S. Jerom has read ( Calmet.) toppic instead of taphseraic, ( Bible.) which Septuagint neglect. Thapsar denotes an officer. Jeremiah 51:27. Calmet.—Of locusts. The young locusts. Challoner. Verse 18. Slumbered. They have not guarded the flock. Calmet.
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Verse 19. Hidden. Hebrew and Septuagint “irremediable.” Bible.—No one pities thy wound. Chal. Calmet.