Changes

*the writer abandoned halfway his undertaking to write acrostically

*the writer abandoned halfway his undertaking to write acrostically

*the parts were worked out separately from an unacrostic original

*the parts were worked out separately from an unacrostic original

*the upper margin was first used, and then the side margin, causing the text to become "overcrowded and blurred, this later on causing in the second part of the psalm an inextricable confusion from which the first was preserved"<ref>Souvay, Charles. [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10670a.htm "Nahum"] The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 10. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. Retrieved 28 July 2008.</ref>

*the upper margin was first used, and then the side margin, causing the text to become "overcrowded and blurred, this later on causing in the second part of the psalm an inextricable confusion from which the first was preserved"<ref>Souvay, Charles. [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10670a.htm "Nahum"] The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 10. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. Retrieved 28 July 2008.</ref> Some Jewish scholars have observed that "the prophecy reads quite as if some one had tampered with its original order. It may be that this apparent mixture is due to modern logical literary strictures. But the following order, which seems to follow modern methods of thought, may be suggested: (1) ch. i. 1-14; (2) ch. iii. 1-17; (3) ch. ii. 1-5, 13, 6-12; (4) ch. iii. 18, 19; i. 15."<ref>Hirsch, Emil G., Price, Ira Maurice ''Book of Nahum'' (1901) The Jewish Encyclopedia.</ref>

 

The book's composition is unusual in that while it contains "fierce denunciations of Judah's enemy" it lacks "many elements commonly ascribed to the Hebrew prophets, most particularly in any declaration of Judah's sin as seen in the light of covenant obligations."<ref>de Vries, S. J. ''The Acrostic of Nahum in the Jerusalem Liturgy'' Vetus Testamentum, Vol. 16, Fasc. 4 (October 1966), pp. 476-481.</ref>

The book's composition is unusual in that while it contains "fierce denunciations of Judah's enemy" it lacks "many elements commonly ascribed to the Hebrew prophets, most particularly in any declaration of Judah's sin as seen in the light of covenant obligations."<ref>de Vries, S. J. ''The Acrostic of Nahum in the Jerusalem Liturgy'' Vetus Testamentum, Vol. 16, Fasc. 4 (October 1966), pp. 476-481.</ref>

Rev. Ormond Odhner, in his notes on Pre-Advent Churches, says that Nahum's "work is unmitigated gloating over the fierce wrath that Jehovah has brought upon His enemies. But for all of that, it is a piece of exceptionally beautiful poetry, written in a quick and rapid [[meter (literary)|meter]], and at times throwing up one piece of sensual imagery after another in such quick succession that the prophet did not even bother to finish his sentence." The ''Interpreter's Bible Dictionary'' says: "Nahum's poetic genius ranks with the highest in the Hebrew Bible. He sketches scenes of warfare with the vivid sense of the picturesque or horrible detail. Nahum is different from the other literary prophets of the Old Testament." In ''A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on Micah, Zephaniah and Nahum'', J.M.P. Smith writes: "Though the rhythm and metre of Nahum are not smooth and regular as is the case with some Hebrew prophets, yet in some respects the poetry of Nahum is unsurpassed in the Old Testament. His excellence is not in sublimity of thought, depth of feeling, purity of motive, or insight into truth and life. It is rather in his descriptive powers. He has an unexcelled capacity to bring a situation vividly before the mind's eye. Accurate and detailed observation assists in giving his pictures verisimilitude."<ref>Rev. George McCurdy ''Minor Prophets: Major Messages'' (2006) Dove Press.</ref>

Rev. Ormond Odhner, in his notes on Pre-Advent Churches, says that Nahum's "work is unmitigated gloating over the fierce wrath that Jehovah has brought upon His enemies. But for all of that, it is a piece of exceptionally beautiful poetry, written in a quick and rapid [[meter (literary)|meter]], and at times throwing up one piece of sensual imagery after another in such quick succession that the prophet did not even bother to finish his sentence." The ''Interpreter's Bible Dictionary'' says: "Nahum's poetic genius ranks with the highest in the Hebrew Bible. He sketches scenes of warfare with the vivid sense of the picturesque or horrible detail. Nahum is different from the other literary prophets of the Old Testament." In ''A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on Micah, Zephaniah and Nahum'', J.M.P. Smith writes: "Though the rhythm and metre of Nahum are not smooth and regular as is the case with some Hebrew prophets, yet in some respects the poetry of Nahum is unsurpassed in the Old Testament. His excellence is not in sublimity of thought, depth of feeling, purity of motive, or insight into truth and life. It is rather in his descriptive powers. He has an unexcelled capacity to bring a situation vividly before the mind's eye. Accurate and detailed observation assists in giving his pictures verisimilitude."<ref>Rev. George McCurdy ''Minor Prophets: Major Messages'' (2006) Dove Press.</ref> Souvay, in ''The Catholic Encyclopedia'', says: "in his few short, flashing sentences, most graphic word-pictures, apt and forceful figures, grand, energetic, and pathetic expressions rush in, thrust vehemently upon one another, yet leaving the impression of perfect naturalness... Nahum is a consummate master of his art, and ranks among the most accomplished writers of the Old Testament."<ref>Souvay, Charles op cit.</ref>  

==Author==

==Author==

*Third, [[Jerome]] (ca 347-419) suggests that ''Elkosh'' was ''El Kause'' and is to be identified with Elkesi in [[Galilee]].  

*Third, [[Jerome]] (ca 347-419) suggests that ''Elkosh'' was ''El Kause'' and is to be identified with Elkesi in [[Galilee]].  

*Finally, there are still others who argue for a town in Judah called Elcesei - a town half way between [[Jerusalem]] and [[Gaza]]. This final interpretation has some merit for it seems that although the book of Nahum is directed against the Assyrians, it was written for the Jews in the south, in Judah. Further archaeological studies may confirm its location, but for now the information is too slight to be dogmatic.<ref>Herrick, G. quoted in McCurdy, op cit.</ref>

*Finally, there are still others who argue for a town in Judah called Elcesei - a town half way between [[Jerusalem]] and [[Gaza]]. This final interpretation has some merit for it seems that although the book of Nahum is directed against the Assyrians, it was written for the Jews in the south, in Judah. Further archaeological studies may confirm its location, but for now the information is too slight to be dogmatic.<ref>Herrick, G. quoted in McCurdy, op cit.</ref>

==Provenance==

==Provenance==

The date of authorship is placed between 663 B.C. and 612 B.C. based on the reference to the fall of Thebes, believed to have occurred in 663 BC. Nineveh fell to the combined forces of the Medes, Babylonians, and Scythians in 612 BC. The Oxford Annotated Bible places the date of writing to somewhere between 626 and 612 B.C. and most modern scholars believe 612 B.C. to be the correct date.

The date of authorship is placed between 663 B.C. and 612 B.C.<ref>Walter A. Maier, ''The Book of Nahum'' (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1959), 27-40, 87-139; W.C. van Wyk, ''Allusions to 'Prehistory' and History in the Book of Nahum''  De Fructo Oris Sui: Essays in Honor of Adrianus van Selms (Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1971), 222-32; Richard D. Patterson, ''Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah. The Wycliffe Exegetical Commentary'' (Chicago: Moody Press, 1991), 3-7.</ref> based on the reference to the fall of Thebes, believed to have occurred in 663 BC. Nineveh fell to the combined forces of the Medes, Babylonians, and Scythians in 612 BC. The Oxford Annotated Bible places the date of writing to somewhere between 626 and 612 B.C. and most modern scholars believe 612 B.C. to be the correct date.

==To whom written==

==To whom written==

 

==Message==

==Structure and content==

 

==External links==

==External links==

==References==

==References==