Nahum 3

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Nahum 3
CodexGigas 114 MinorProphets.jpg
The whole Book of Nahum in Latin as a part of Codex Gigas, made around 13th century.
BookBook of Nahum
CategoryNevi'im
Christian Bible partOld Testament
Order in the Christian part34

Nahum 3 is the third and last chapter of the Book of Nahum in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.[1][2] This book contains the prophecies attributed to the prophet Nahum, and is a part of the Book of the Twelve Minor Prophets.[3][4] This chapter describes the cause of the destruction of Nineveh.[5]

Text[]

The original text was written in Hebrew language. This chapter is divided into 19 verses.

Textual witnesses[]

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes the Codex Cairensis (895), Aleppo Codex (10th century), Codex Leningradensis (1008).[6]

Fragments cumulatively containing all verses of this chapter were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls, including 4QpNah, known as the "Nahum Commentary" (1st century BCE) with extant verses 1–5, 6–9, 10–12, 14;[7][8] 4Q82 (4QXIIg; 1st century BCE) with extant verses 1‑3, 17.[9][10][11] and Wadi Murabba'at MurXII with extant verses 1‑19.[9][12]

There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BC. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: S; 4th century), Codex Alexandrinus (A; A; 5th century) and Codex Marchalianus (Q; Q; 6th century).[13] Some fragments containing parts of this chapter (a revision of the Septuagint) were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls, i.e., Naḥal Ḥever (8ḤevXIIgr; 1st century CE) with extant: verses 3, 6‑17.[9][14]

Simplified plan of ancient Nineveh, showing city wall and location of gateways.

Structure[]

NKJV groups this chapter:

Verses 5–7[]

Further information: Rape in the Hebrew Bible § Nahum 3

According to Susanne Scholz (2021), the Israelite god Yahweh appears to threaten Nineveh (who is portrayed as a woman) with sexual violence in verses 5–7, as she translated:[15]

I am against you, says Yahweh of hosts.
I will take off [gālâ] your skirts over your face.
I will let nations look at your genitals [ma'ar],
and kingdoms at your disgrace [qālôn].
I will throw filth at you,
I will sexually violate you [nibbēl piel],
I will make you a gazing stock.
Then all who see you will shrink from you
and they will say:
"Wasted is Nineveh;
who will bemoan her?"
Where shall I seek comforters for you?[15]

Scholz reasoned: 'The sentence "I will sexually violate you" uses the Hebrew verb nābal piel, which appears also in rape narratives such as Gen 34:7, Judges 19–21, and 2 Sam 13:12.'[15]

Verse 8[]

Are you better than No Amon
That was situated by the River,
That had the waters around her,
Whose rampart was the sea,
Whose wall was the sea?[16]
  • "No Amon" is translated from Hebrew word: נא אמון nō-’ā-mō-wn,[17] (Jeremiah 46:25; Ezekiel 30:15-16)[5] that is ancient Thebes,[18] referring to the Egyptian name Niwt-Imn, the "City of Amun" that was used for the city from the end of the New Kingdom period. The well-fortified Thebes in Egypt fell to Ashurbanipal in 663 BC, and here is used as a "solemn warning to proud Niniveh" that would fall despite its excellent defenses (vv. 14-19.).[5]

The New King James Version notes that "River(s)" is plural in the Hebrew text and refers to the River Nile and its surrounding canals.[19]

Verse 9[]

Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength,
And it was boundless;
Put and Lubim were your helpers.[20]

Verse 19[]

Your injury has no healing,
Your wound is severe.
All who hear news of you
Will clap their hands over you,
For upon whom has not your wickedness passed continually?[22]

The message in this final verse of the Book of Nahum gives a positive encouragement and "message of comfort for Israel, Judah, and others who had experienced the "endless cruelty" ("wickedness passed continually") of the Assyrians."[23]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Collins 2014, p. 343.
  2. ^ Hayes 2015, 18. Judean Prophets: Micah, Zephaniah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Jeremiah.
  3. ^ Metzger, Bruce M., et al. The Oxford Companion to the Bible. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993.
  4. ^ Keck, Leander E. 1996. The New Interpreter's Bible: Volume: VII. Nashville: Abingdon.
  5. ^ a b c d The Scofield Study Bible, Oxford University Press. 2003. ISBN 9780195278583. pp. 1185-7.
  6. ^ Würthwein 1995, pp. 35–37.
  7. ^ VanderKam, James C., The Dead Sea Scrolls Today, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994. pp. 10-11.
  8. ^ Fitzmyer 2008, p. 49.
  9. ^ a b c Dead sea scrolls - Nahum
  10. ^ Ulrich, Eugene, ed. (2010). The Biblical Qumran Scrolls: Transcriptions and Textual Variants. Brill. pp. 617. ISBN 9789004181830. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  11. ^ Fitzmyer 2008, p. 39.
  12. ^ Fitzmyer 2008, pp. 140–141.
  13. ^ Würthwein 1995, pp. 73–74.
  14. ^ Fitzmyer 2008, p. 127.
  15. ^ a b c Scholz, Susanne (2021). Sacred Witness. Rape in the Hebrew Bible. Fortress Press. p. 233–234. ISBN 9781506482033. (E-book edition)
  16. ^ Nahum 3:8
  17. ^ אָמוֹן
  18. ^ Targum and Vulgate read populous Alexandria. New King James Version
  19. ^ Footnote at Nahum 3:8
  20. ^ Nahum 3:9
  21. ^ כּוּשׁ
  22. ^ Nahum 3:19
  23. ^ Michael D. Coogan, A Brief Introduction to the Old Testament, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009) 297–298.

Sources[]

External links[]

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