Matthew Poole and continuators on Nahum 2

1 HE that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face : keep the munition , watch the way , make thy loins strong , fortifie thy power mightily.

Some by mistake refer this to Sennacher[illegible: 1 letter]ib; 'tis more rightly refer'd to the Medes or Scythians, or to the Chaldeans all which did somewhat against the Assyrians.

That as a heavy and strong hammer breaks into pieces, and then with his arm scattereth the broken pieces, so shall the destroyer of Nineveh do, as a Maul (so the word Prov. 25.18.) or as the wind scatters smoke, so the word Psal. 68.2.

Against thee, and is within sight, from thy Watch-Towers on thy Frontiers thou mayest descry his Avant Guards.

The Prophet derides Nineveh, and foretels all will be to no purpose; she shall never be able to withstand, so as to conquer, re-enforce thy Garrisons, yet they shall fall.

Know which way he comes, that thou may'st barricado the way, or set Ambushes.

Encourage thy Souldiers, and make them valiant as thou canst, choose out the ablest and most undaunted.

Gather up all thou canst for the War, increase thy Armies, fill up thy Companies, engage assistance from abroad, nothing shall avail thee.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 paragraph]

2 For the LORD hath turned away the excellency of Jacob , as the excellency of Israel : for the emptiers have emptied them out , and marred their vine-branches .

Laid low, or captivated, as no doubt Sennacherib did when he took so many fenced Cities, he did not slay all, he sent many into Captivity, and threatned Ierusalem, her Citizens with the like, I[illegible: 1 letter]a. 36.17.

[illegible: 1 paragraph]

The Wealth, the Valiant Men, the Wise Men, all that Iacob could (with any colour of reason,) and had (with sin more than enough) gloried in.

The two Tribes.

This confirms the Prophets Threat, either declaring that now, since God had sufficiently punisht Iacob and Israel ▪ he would next punish the proud Assyrian, as Isa. 10.12. or else, 'tis a confirmation by argument from the greater to the less; Israel and Iacob were more to God, yet he did punish them, much more will he punish Nineveh.

The ten Tribes spoiled, conquered, and captivated by Salmaniser.

Assyria[illegible: 2 letters] who invaded, plundred, and robbed them, both Israel, and Iacob.

Quite exhausted them:

Either corrupted them in Religion and manners, as 2 Kings. 17.24, &c. or destroy'd, and cut up, the race of Israel to destroy them utterly.

It may literally be meant that the Assyrians did cut up the Vines to impoverish the Vine-dressers, or else figuratively for the Nation which is often compared to a Vine, so the branches are Men and Women.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 paragraph]; This confirms the Prophets Threat, either declaring that now, since God had sufficiently punisht Iacob and Israel ▪ he would next punish the proud Assyrian, as Isa. 10.12. or else, 'tis a confirmation by argument from the greater to the less; Israel and Iacob were more to God, yet he did punish them, much more will he punish Nineveh.; [illegible: 1 paragraph]

3 The shield of his mighty men is made red , the valiant men are in scarlet : the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation , and the [illegible: 1 word], sha[illegible: 2 letters] be terribly shaken .

One part [illegible: 1 letter]or the whole of the Armour, and Furniture, or Harness.

Medes or Chaldea[illegible: 1 letter]s.

Souldiers more particularly the brave, and stout ones, who were the choice men of the Army.

Either coloured red by the Dyer, or else dyed red with the blood of the slain.

This [illegible: 1 letter]x[illegible: 1 letter]lains the former, they used this colour much, either to terrific the Enemy, o[illegible: 1 letter] to conceal their own wounds when the Blood on other colour would have disclosed them.

Much used in the Wars of those Countreys, and the great men usually fought in them▪ [illegible: 1 letter]n those dayes.

Either because they did force fire out of the stones, by their swift motion over them, or rather because there were Torches alwayes carryed in them, to light them that rode in them by night, and to be in readiness to fire the houses of Cities, or Tents in the Camp they did break into.

When he shall muster his Armies, and bring together his Magazines, and prepare his Engines.

By Axes cutting them down for several uses in the War, for Torches, for Lances, for Building Forts, and many other uses. This parallel with Isa. 14.8. whole Forests sometimes destroyed by great Armies, which cut them down for their service.

Marginal references: Or, [illegible: 1 span]; [illegible: 1 paragraph]

4 The chariots shall rage in the streets , they shall justle one against another in the broad wayes , they shall seem like torches , they shall run like the lightnings .

Of the Chaldean Army, or the Riders in the Chariots by their fierceness, and carriage, by their cryes and calls heartning one another, and threatning the Assyrians.

Shall seem to be more like mad-men, than well order'd Souldiers, and act as if they were possessed with furies, do more than man can do.

Either of the Towns they pass through, or rather of Nineveh when taken.

By reason of their multitude, haste, and fury, they shall hit one against another.

Where is most room, shall be most of these Chariots, and yet scarce room for them to move in.

What with sparkling fire caused by their Horses and Chariots shod with Iron; and what with the glittering of the polish[illegible: 1 letter]d I[illegible: 2 letters]ns about the Chariots, and what with the light of flaming Torches carryed in them, the Chariots shall look like so many great Flambeaus, very dangerous, and terrible.

Both for speed, irresistibleness, and terrour against which no defence, from which no flight, or hiding.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 paragraph]

5 He shall recount his worthies ; they shall stumble in their walk; they shall make haste to the wall thereof, and the defence shall be prepared.

This verse may indifferently refer either to Nineveh and its King making their defence, or to the Chaldeans and their King, maintaining the siege, both act with vigour and diligence.

Muster, and give orders.

Approved Officers and Commanders.

Shew such forwardness, make such haste, that they shall not stand to pick their way, and there shall be so many, that they shall stumble for want of room.

The Assyrians to defend, the Chaldeans to assault the Walls of Nineveh.

What might defend the besieged, and what might defend the be[illegible: 1 letter]iegers; all-shall be ready on both sides, and what men can do, both will do.

Marginal references: Or, gallants.

6 The gates of the rivers shall be opened , and the palace shall be dissolved .

Of the City toward the River.

For River, or because of the greatness of Tigris, upon which Nineveh stood.

It is reported by Diodorus Siculus Biblioth: l. 3. c. 7. that when the Chaldeans besieged Nineveh, a mighty Deluge of Waters overthrew the Walls of Niniveh, by the space of twenty Furlongs, or two miles and half, through which breach the besiegers made their entrance; so chap. 1. ver. 8. Vsher Anual ad An. M. 3257. the overrunning flood may be literally understood; here the Prophet expre[illegible: 1 letter]ly declares how Nineveh shall be ruin'd.

Either the Royal stately Palace of the Assyrian Monarch, or the more stately Temple of Nisroch, or Iupiter Belus, or some mighty Bulwark raised there for defence.

As if melted, it shall drop to pieces, and they that were in, whether Servants of the Court, or Votaries to the Idol, or Souldiers for defence of the Fort, shall in haste, with fear of the danger fly away.

Marginal references: Or, [illegible: 1 word].

7 And Huzzab shall be led away captive , she shall be brought up, and her maids shall lead her, as with the voice of doves , tabering upon their breasts .

This is variously taken, but the most probable guess is, that, it is meant of the Queen, who kept close in the Palace, or Temple, as where she might be most safe in the strength, and supposed sacredness of the place.

Without due respect to her Royal Dignity shall be hurried into a strange Land with other Captives, and (as they▪) be exposed to danger and insolence.

Ladies that waited on her in her Royal State, now shall be her Companions in Captivity.

Support their sorrowful, weary, and fainting Queen, spent with such travel as she had not been used unto.

Sighing out the complaints they durst not speak out.

These maids of honour should now in Captivity strike on their breasts, but with such caution and fear of being discovered in their lamenting their state; as should be but like the noise of a Taber lightly strucken, or else instead of Musical Instruments on which they were used to play, and to which they were used to sing, now they strike their own breasts, and sigh out their sorrows.

Marginal references: Or, that which was e[illegible: 1 letter]tabli[illegible: 1 letter]hed, [illegible: 1 word], there was a [illegible: 1 word] and made.; Or, discovered.

8 But Nineveh is of old like a pool of water, , yet they shall flee away, Stand, stand , shall they cry; but none shall look back h.

A very antient City, of great renown and strength,

Very populous, like a Pool of Water which hath been long breeding of fish, and is full of them.

Yet these multitudes shall not be a safety, or protection to Nineveh, they shall flee away discomfited and terrified;

As Officers call to flying Souldiers, and 'tis doubled to shew the earnestness of the Commanders desiring the Souldier to stand and fight.

The Chieftains, and most valiant among the Ninevites:

A Panick fear shall so possess them, that non[illegible: 1 letter] of them shall dare to turn again, nor to look back upon the Enemy.

Marginal references: Or, from the [illegible: 1 word] that she [illegible: 1 letter]ath been.; Or, caus[illegible: 1 letter] them [illegible: 1 span].

9 Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold: for there is none end of the store , and glory out of all the pleasant furniture.

God speaks by his Prophet, commanding that it be done, and foretelling that it certainly shall be done, and Scythians, Medes and Chaldeans, or who ever else did associate in the War, and sacking of Nineveh, may be supposed to encourage one another in the plundering of the City,

conquering Souldiers, you that come together in hope of this booty.

Here's enough for you all, Nineveh hath been long gathering, and hath gathered much treasure, it is uncountable; therefore take all you can lay hands on, possibly it may be the foretelling of the chief Commander▪ his giving his Souldiers leave to take what they could, for so much as after all, they would leave enough, a great treasure for him.

Of all sorts, both for use and Luxury, both for necessity and superfluity.

Splendid and rich Furniture in their Temples, Palaces, publick Aedifices, and private Houses. Their rich Vessels, costly Hangings, and gaudy Apparel, in their Ward Robes, in their Closets, and in their Shops, all delightful to the eye, and rich in the real value.

Marginal references: Or, and their [illegible: 1 word] store.; Heb. vessels of [illegible: 1 word].

10 She is empty and void , and wast , and the heart melteth , and the knees smite together, and much pain is in all loins , and the faces of them all gather blackness .

Nineveh taken, and under the proud insultings of the barbarous Souldiers.

Though once full of all store, yet now she is empty enough, many hands have been employed to spoil her.

Citizens are either slipt away, or carried Captives,

desolate, and shall continue so. Here is a threefold expression to ascertain the thing, and to intimate the greatness of Nineveh's desolation.

This Devastation hath broken the hearts of the Ninevites,

Not able to go steddily, ready to fall through weakness, and faintness of Spirits.

Acute pains and griefes caused by their troubles, losses, dangers, and frights

Which in those that are well, are their strength, and which to diseased, and broken bodies are the seat of pains and griefs.

Which were wont to be haughty, and scornful, and as it were sparkle with briskness of Spirit.

Now are clouded, sorrowful, and dejected, every one may see their desperate state in this Symptom.

Marginal references: Isa. 13.7, [illegible: 1 letter].; Dan. 5.6.; Joel. 2.6.

11 Where is the dwelling of the lions , and the feeding place of the young lions ? where the lion, even the old lion walked , and the lions whelp, and none made them afraid.

It is the insulting, or deriding speech of all that see, and note it.

Nineveh compared to a Lions Den.

Tyrants and bloody Warriours, as P[illegible: 1 letter]l, Tiglath-Pileser, and Salmaneser.

Nineveh.

Princes the Children of those Tyrannical Kings.

The King of Assyria.

In his pride, in safety, and his Princes with his rapines about him, which none durst disturb.

12 The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps , and strangled for his lionesses , and filled his holes with prey, and his dens with ravine .

The Prophet continues the Metaphor, this Lion is the King of Assyria.

Formerly did fall upon his Neighbour Nations, broke their strength, and rob'd their Treasuries, and store-houses, and broke them in pieces.

The young brood of the Assyrian Royal Family.

Queens, Concubines, or Ladies in the Assyrian Court.

His Treasuries, Magazines, and Royal Seats, called Dens in a decorum to the speech he had used.

Ingeminating what was before spoken.

Spoils which his ravenous mind and hand could lay hold on; all was prey that he could take.

13 Behold I am against thee , saith the LORD of hosts , and I will burn her chariots in the smoke , and the sword shall devour thy young lions , and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard .

This calls for our attention.

The God of Israel, whom thou hast despised and blasphemed.

Assyrian Kingdom, and Nineveh,

whose command all must obey▪

Nineveh.

In wrath, or suddenly, or what if when the City first plundered, then burnt these Chariots, were burnt in that smoke.

Of the conquering Enemy.

Young Princes that either are found in Arms, or else are cut off in the places of their retirements for safety.

Cause thee to cease from making a prey any more, or destroy all thou hast gotten by thy prey.

Either Embassadors sent forth, or Tribute Gatherers, or Muster-Masters to list Souldiers, or Heralds to proclaim Edicts.

None shall concern themselves with one or other of them. None obey or fear thee.