Matthew Poole and continuators on Nahum 3:18

18 Thy shepherds slumber , O king of Assyria : thy nobles shall dwell in the dust : thy people is scattered upon the mountains , and no man gathereth them.

Subordinate Magistrates, Rulers, and Counsellors, or Officers set over the Kingdom.

Are remiss, or mistake, or are heartless or dead, they cannot, or will not mind the publick concerns,

His Name I meet not with, Asaradinus, or as the Scripture calls him Esarhaddon, may possibly be the Name and Man intended

The brave, valiant, and famous men.

Either be buried as dead, or ly on the dust as faint, and weary, or be trampled on as worthless and useless,

Thy Citizens, and Subjects in their great numbers.

Partly through fear, shame, and astonishment; partly by violence of the invading Enemy.

Where is neither safety nor provision against danger and want.

No one that will concern himself to preserve thy dispersed ones; so thou and they are left hopeless, and ruined, for the shepherds are some dead, and cannot, the rest slumber and will not, lay to heart their condition.

Marginal references: Or, valiant ones.