Nahum 2

The Divine Warrior Will Attack Nineveh

¹One who shatters has come up against you![#Literally “a shatterer”]

²For Yahweh will restore the majesty of Jacob

for ravagers have ravaged them

The Enemy Army Conquers the City of Nineveh

³The shields of his warriors are dyed red;

The metal of the chariots shines like fire on the day of battle,

⁴The chariots race madly through the streets;[#Hebrew “chariot”]

Their appearance like lightning bolts,

⁵He calls his officers;

they rush to her wall;

⁶The gates of the river are opened;

⁷Her goddess is taken out and taken into exile;[#Literally “It is decreed that she be exiled and led away.” MT reads the very enigmatic “And he is placed, she is sent into exile, she is taken up.” The BHS editors suggest the conjectural emendation “And her goddess = the idol of the patron deity of Nineveh is taken and taken into exile.” This is adopted in the translation on the basis of internal evidence]

⁸Nineveh is like a pool of water without its water.[#MT reads “from her days.” Greek LXX and Syriac Peshitta reflect “from her waters”]

⁹Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold!

¹⁰Emptiness and plundering and devastation!

The Divine Warrior Will Hunt down the Mighty Lions

¹¹Where now is the den of the lions

There the lioness, the cub, and the lion once prowled,

¹²The lion tore apart enough prey for his cubs,

he filled his lair with prey

¹³“Look! I am against you!” declares Yahweh of hosts.[#Literally “a declaration of”]