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AUTHOR: A contemporary of Jeremias, virtually nothing is known about Naum's career. Other than the statement that he was an Elkosite (meaning probably that he was a native or citizen of Elkos, however, Elkos cannot yet be definitively identified.), no valid evidence has been presented to state that anyone else was the author of the Book. of Nahum.
ORIGIN OF NAME: Hebrew name meaning "the comforter".
THEME: The theme of Nahum is the destruction of Nineveh, capital of Assyria. The city, which a little over a century ago turned from its sins by the exhortations of the prophet Jonah, gave itself over to idolatry, cruelty and oppression. After 120 years, Nahum revealed in detail the divine plan to utterly destroy and devastate Nineveh. Though sin and violence may go unpunished for a time in the forbearance of God, yet they will not be forgotten.
COMPILATION: According to the best calculations, the book was written around the year 620 BC. It consists of 3 chapters and 47 verses.
CHRONOLOGY (ESTIMATED) | |
722 BC | Assyria Takes Israel Captive |
669 BC | Assurbanipal reigns in Assyria |
663 to 654 BC | Assyria occupies Thebes, capital of Egypt |
622 BC | Restoration in Jerusalem under Josiah |
612 BC | Nineveh falls to the Medes and Babylonians |
605 BC | Nebuchadnezzar's reign in Babylon begins |