Nahum 3)
1 Woe to the city of great bloodshed! (Ezek. 22:2,3; 24:6;9. Hab. 2:12) it is all full of lies and robbery; the prey will not be lacking; (Captive princes were exposed to public contumely in cages, &c.)
(Between vv.1 & 2 supply the logical Ellipsis thus: "is not released. [Herk! the enemy is within your gates]...)
2 The noise of a whip, and the noise of the rattling of the wheels, and of the prancing horses, and of the bumping chariots. (Time is of the essence - it's happening.)
3 The horseman lifts up both the gleaming sword and the flashing spear: and there is a multitude of slain, and a great number of carcases; and there is none end of their corpses; [so that] they (i.e. the slayers) stumble over their corpses: (Cp. Ezek. 37:1.)
4 Because of the multitude of the idolatries of the wellfavoured harlot, the mistress of sorceries (see Ex. 22:18), that sells nations through her idolatries (Mystery Babylon), and families through her sorceries. (Cp. Isa. 47:9.)
5 Behold, I am against you, says the LORD of hosts (is the oracle of Yehovah Sabaioth); and I will discover (carrying out the symbol of whoredom for idolatry. Cp. 2:13; 3:5) your skirts upon your face, and I will show the nations your nakedness, and the kingdoms your shame. (Isa. 47:2,3. Jer. 13:22,26. Ezek. 16:37. Caught in the act of worshiping the false Messiah - antichrist. See Rev. 19:7,8.)
6 And I will cast abominable filth upon you, and disgrace you, and will set you as a gazing-stock. (See Rev. 9:6.)
7 And it shall come to pass, that all they that look upon you shall flee from you, and say, 'Nineveh is laid waste: who will bemoan her?' where shall I seek comforters for you?
8 Are you situated better than populous No (Satan's - devil city. = N'o-'Âmôn. 'Âmôn is not a Heb. word meaning "multitude, but an Egyptian word meaning the Egyptian god "'Âmôn". N'o = the Egyptian net, meaning the city; now know as "Thebes". Cp. Jer. 46:25. Ezek. 30:14,15,16), that was situate among the Nile streams (cp. Gen. 41:1 "flood" [Jer. 46:7,8. Amos 8:8.]; "brooks" Isa. 19:6,7,8; "streams" Isa. 33:21 ), that had the waters round about it, whose rampart was the sea (the Nile so called Job 41:31. Isa. 18:2; 19:5), and her wall was of (i.e. consisted of) the sea? (She could protect herself from any army; until God destroyed her.)
9 Ethiopia strengthened her; Egypt defender her with countless hosts (cp. 2:9; 3:3. Isa. 2:7); Put (Gen. 10:6, the 3rd son of Ham, next to Cush [Ethiopia] and Mizraim [Egypt]. Put was among the mercenaries of Tyre [Ezek. 27:10]. Cp. Jer. 26:9) and Lybians (cp. 2 Chron. 12:3. Dan. 11:43) were your helpers.
10 Yet was she carried away (the cuneiform monuments tell us that Thebes, the old capital of Egypt, was destroyed by Assyria about 663 B.C. Assurbanipal has recorded his conquest, Nahum, writing about 603 B.C., refers to this as a well-known event, and likely to be remembered. Nineveh fell later, just as Nahum had foretold. See 1:1. Yet Nahum refers to the Pentateuch!), she (i.e. Thebes) went into captivity: her young children also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the streets: and they cast lots for her honorable men, and all her great men were bound in chains.
11 You (i.e. Nineveh) also shall be drunken (i.e. with the cup of judgment, or, be stupified by your calamity): you shall hide yourself, you also shall seek a stronghold (or refuge) [in vain] because of the enemy.
12 All your strong holds shall be like fig trees with the firstripe figs: if they be shaken, they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater.
13 Behold, your people in the midst of you are women: the gates of your land shall be set wide open to your enemies: the fire shall devour your bars.
14 Draw for yourself waters for the siege, fortify your strong holds: go into clay, and tread the mortar, make strong the brick-work. (Fortifications built with bricks. See 2 Sam. 12:31. Jer. 43:9.)
15 There shall the fire devour you (Heb. 12:29. See Rev. 9); the sword shall cut you off, it shall eat you up like the young locust (see Joel 1:4): [though you be] numerous as the young locust, make yourself many as the young locusts. (It won't make a difference.)
16 Though you have multiplied your merchants above the stars of heaven: the young locust casts off the skin, and flees away. (The so-called "rapture" - Ezek. 13:18-22)
17 Your mercenary crowds (Heb. minzârim) are as the locusts, and your marshals (Heb. tiphsar. See Jer. 51:27. Like the Assyrian dupsarru = a tablet-writter) as the great grasshoppers, which camp in the lose stone walls in the cold day, but when the sun arises they are in flight (see Rom. 11:8), and their place is not known where they are.
18 Your leader (or rulers. Here = generals) slumber (see Amos 8:11. No leader out there), O king of Assyria: your nobles shall lie down (i.e. in death) in the dust: your people is scattered upon the mountains, and no man gathers them. (See Deut. 30:4.)
19 There is no alleviation of your breach (i.e. ruin); your wound is grievous (deadly wound, Rev. 13:3): all that hear the report (or tiding. Heb. shêma'. The English "bruit"; from the French bruire, to make a noise = rumor) of you shall clap the hands over you: for over whom has not your cruelty passed continually?" (God's elect will clap their hands with joy as he, Satan, goes into the pit)