Nahum 1:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

However, He does not command him in the way He addresses His saints and prophets; rather, He instills His will into him, motivating him to act in accordance with divine pleasure, even though Cyrus was impure and idolatrous. Just as He commanded the great fish to swallow Jonah, and instructed the plant to grow for Jonah's shade, similarly, He directed Cyrus. This conveys the historical significance of those words. God, the Father, might have spoken out to Jerusalem, or to Judah, which had become the slayer of the Lord, saying, ‘It shall become insatiable to its very core, consumed like a braided dish, and as dry reeds, it shall be parched. From you will arise wicked thoughts against the Lord, an unstoppable gathering,’ for it had been scorched and turned into a wasteland, like dry straw burned for daring to harbor evil thoughts against the Lord and uttering reckless words against Him. They accused Him of being a Samaritan (Jn. 8:48), or a glutton (Lk. 7:34), or regarded Him as one born of illicit union, or claimed He was misleading the people (John 7:12), despite the fact He was sent by God the Father to lead those wandering away from the truth back to God, and to restore the unfaithful through faith, to illuminate the darkened, and unite the divided. Nevertheless, because He did not completely annihilate Israel, as previously mentioned, a remnant remains. For among the Jews, many have believed and together with the Gentiles, they exalt Christ. Let those of the circumcision according to the flesh heed the words: ‘I will break his rod from thee, and I will loosen thy bonds: and the Lord shall command it of thee.’ What rod and what bonds does He refer to, and how can they not be acknowledged today? They were, in a sense, under a certain sceptre, burdened by the unreasonable will of the scribes and Pharisees, bound by their regulations, thus unable to accept the faith. However, the rod was shattered—meaning the authority; the bonds were loosed, and finally, with hearts unshackled, they sought Christ, calling out to one another, echoing the Psalmist, ‘Let us break their chains and cast away their cords from us’ (Psalm 2:3). Additionally, let those Gentiles who have turned to God also hear, ‘And now will I break his rod from thee, and break thy bonds: and the Lord shall command it of thee.’ Once under the devil's reign and enslaved by worldly pleasures, they worshipped the created rather than the Creator, remaining unaware of the true God, leading lives no different from mute animals, enslaved to bodily desires. But they too gained freedom after Christ shattered that ancient rod and released their chains, taking them from sin and falsehood, bringing them to the knowledge of God, justifying them through faith, and ultimately giving commands to the holy angels: for it is written, ‘He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty’ (Psalms 91:1); for He ‘commanded’ the holy angels to ‘guard us in all our ways,’ so that they bear us up ‘in their hands, lest we stumble upon a stone’ (Ps. 91:11-12). Undoubtedly, ‘the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and delivers them’ (Ps. 34:7).

The proclamation is directed to Judah and Jerusalem: "I have weighed you down, but I will no longer do so." This indicates a promise of temporary respite rather than permanent security, specifically from the enemies besieging them at that moment. The text continues, "Now I will shatter his scepter upon your back, and I will free you from your chains," which could refer metaphorically to his authority or to the instrument he sought to strike you with, as well as the bonds intended for captives. These bonds may also signify the people's confinement during the siege.

According to the LXX, the context shifts. The speech appears to address those earlier mentioned, who were plotting against the Lord, suggesting that an evil design will emerge from them against God. Therefore, the Lord, who reigns over the manifold waters, presides over those celestial powers commanded to glorify Him or over the divine understanding and wisdom. Just as from the womb of the righteous flow rivers and abundant springs leading to eternal life (John 4; John 7) through the diverse commands of God's Word, so do heresiarchs control their own currents, which originate from their source.

The phrase "and they shall be divided" can be interpreted as relating either to the heavenly authorities above or to the various forms of wisdom. This clarification prevents misunderstandings regarding the phrase "He who reigns over the waters of many," which suggests an array of distinct and indivisible thoughts, as each thought possesses its own meaning, objective, and foundations.

The declaration, “the rumor of you shall be heard no more,” serves as a warning to those who conspire against God, implying that once the hidden schemes and intrigues that ensnared God’s people are uncovered, their rhetoric will no longer resonate. Similarly, when the Lord states, “And now I will break his rod from you, and I will free you from your chains,” it is an assurance for those addressed: they will no longer endure the assault of the enemy nor remain subjugated to the machinations of their adversaries. Consequently, his hold over them will be shattered, and the bonds that trapped the souls of the unrighteous will be loosened, as the word of God calls to the captives, “Come out” (Isaiah 49:9).