John Trapp on Nahum 2:3

Ver. 3. The ſhield of his mighty men is made red] Panoplia terrorens auget. All was red a colour much affected by the Medes, Perſians and Caldees) to ſhew that they were a ſanguinary nation, and not more gold-thirſty, Eſai. 13.Herodot: Diod. Sic. Xenophon Curtius then blood-thirſty.

the valiant men are in ſcarlet] A colour affected by martiall men, that would ſeem to feare no colours. The Lacedemonians uſed it much, when they went to fight: that, if they ſhould be wounded, their blood might not appeare upon their apparrell, for the diſcouragement of themſelves, and encouragement of the enemy by ſuch a ſight. The Romiſh Cardinals are clothed in ſcarlet, and are created by a red hat which the Pope giveth them, in a token that they ſhould be ready to ſhed their blood for the Catholike faith: which if they ſhould do (as never any of them yet did) they would be no better then the Devils Martyrs: ſith it is the cauſe, and not the puniſhment, that maketh a true martyr. A Tiburn-tippet, (as plain Mr. Latimer was wont to ſpeake) would well become thoſe ſcarlet-Fathers: who, like bels will be never well tuned, till well hanged; for their blood-guiltineſſe, and ſoule-murther eſpecially. In the kingdome of Naples there were two notable theeves (the one named Pater-noſter, Reinold. de idol Rom. prafet. the other Ave-Maria) who at ſeverall times had murthered one hundred and ſixteen men, and were therefore deſervedly put to a cruel death. But nothing ſo cruel as the Pope and his Conclave deſerve, for their ſending of ſo many ſoules daily to that great red dragon; red with the blood of ſoules which he hath ſwallowed, as St. Peter hath it, 1 Pet. 5.8. Rev. 12.3.

the charrets ſhall be with flaming torches] Thoſe currus falcati charrets armed with ſithes and hookes, with, and in which, they were wont to fight: theſe ſhall be with flaming torches carried along in them, either to light them fighting by night, or elſe to fire the enemies houſes, and to terrify their hearts.

and the firr trees ſhall be terribly ſhaken] with the rattling of the charrets, and clattering of the armour. In a bloody fight between Amurath the third king of Turks and Lazarus Deſpot of Servia, the noiſe of warlike weapons, the neighing of horſes and outcries of men were ſo terrible, and great, that the wild beaſts in the woods ſtood aſtonied therewith, the trees ſeemed to be ſhaken, and the Turkiſh hiſtories to expreſſe the terrour of the day, vainely ſay,Turk. Hiſt. that the Angels in heaven, amazed with that hideous noiſe, for that time forgat the heavenly hymnes &c. The word here rendred terribly ſhaken is rather Chaldee, then Hebrew: as ſpoken of the Chaldees, comming againſt Niniveh.