John Trapp on Nahum 3:14

Verſe 14. Draw the waters, for the ſiege, &c. A moſt bitter and biting taunt, or mock:Sarcaſmus. whereby the Prophet laugheth to ſcorn the fortifications of the Ninevites, and their diligence and providence in defending themſelves, which ſhall nothing avail them, becauſe God will curſe their enterpriſes, Pſal. 127.1, 2. See the like Sarcaſme chap. 2.1. In thoſe Eaſtern countries there was great ſcarcity of water. Draw thee good ſtore for the better holding out the ſiege: for if water fail thee, thou muſt needs yeeld.

fortifie thy ſtrong-holds] But they ſhall ſoon fail thee, verſe 12. as the tower of Shechem did thoſe that fled to it, and as the ſtrong-hold of Zion did the braving Jebuſites, 2 Sam. 5.7. If God bee againſt us, no other help can relieve us. Braſſe and iron can fence a man againſt a ſword, but not againſt fire.

go into clay and tread the morter] viz. to make brick of. For in maritine, and mooriſh places, where ſtones are not to be had, they uſed to wall their cities, and make their munitions with brick. This, proud Nineveh is commanded here to do, by an Irony, as Theophylact noteth: but ſhe ſhall but labour in the very fire, take pains to no purpoſe: for God will deſtroy the works of her hands, Eccleſ. 5.6.

make ſtrong the brick-kilne] Or, repair it, that all may be ready. And theſe things they did no doubt very diligently: neither were they for that to be blamed. But this was their fault; as it was alſo the fault of the Jews in like caſe, Eſay 22. that they looked not to the Maker of all, neither had reſpect unto him that faſhioned it long ago. See. verſe 8, 9, 10, 11. This, if they had done ſeriouſly, though they had made leſſe preparation, the enemy might have been daunted, and diſmayed as much, as that Duke of Saxony was; who having proclaimed warre againſt the Biſhop of Magdeburg, and underſtanding by his intelligencers, that the Biſhop levied no army, made no preparation, but onely gave out, that he would commit his cauſe to God, who would not fail to take up arms for him; Inſaniat alius, Bucholcer. Chronol. ſaid the Duke, It were a mad prank in me to make warre upon ſuch an one as truſteth in God to right and revenge him. Let who will meddle with ſuch a man: I will not.