Nahum 3:10Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Instead, they falsely believed that with the support of numerous men, they could vanquish the Babylonians and triumph over their foes, despite God’s refusal to assist them. Consequently, they allied with multiple neighboring nations, sending envoys to both the Egyptians and what is referred to as Og or Amon, now known as Alexandria. They made promises of alliance and encouraged the Israelites to believe that expelling the Babylonians would be effortless, claiming that even in the absence of God's aid, they could achieve victory independently.

Yet when Nebuchadnezzar conquered Judah, with God empowering him and subduing opposition, he subsequently turned his attention to Egypt (as ordained by divine wrath). He defeated it entirely, along with Og or Amon itself—a city renowned among others in Egypt for its formidable defenses and safe harbor, as it is encircled by water: the sea on the north, a vast lake similar to another sea on the south, known as Mareotid, and surrounded by various rivers and marshes. He also received aid from the inhabitants of neighboring Libya, extending towards Ethiopia in the west and south, including the Garamantes dwelling behind the Afras. Additionally, he was supported in arms by some Ethiopians from the east and south, who had established the city of Meroe within a wild and foreboding land. This is what history recounts.

Now, let us explore the meaning behind the words we have read. “Prepare,” he says, “a portion,” indicating: O wretched Nineveh, select for yourself a fate akin to that of the ruined lands that surround you — this despite your false sense of security, believing yourself safe due to your imposing walls and numerous allies. Even with your vast resources, making you appear invincible, he points out, you are still vulnerable. “Set up a string,” that is, may you yourself become a subject of song and melody for cities and nations, for you have suffered at the hands of the Persians and Medes, just as you inflicted suffering upon others. “Prepare a portion for Amon,” he declares; may you experience the same fate as Amon. What was Amon, or “dwelling in the rivers”? It represents a city well defended by seas and rivers, bolstered by the Egyptians and proud of the Ethiopian archers, with many brave Libyans at her command. Despite her strong position and support, she fell to captivity in a foreign land, her children slain, and her leaders were chosen by lot for the victors, becoming prisoners in fetters.

Thus, as you have subdued Amon, once deemed invulnerable due to external support and strategic location, so too will you be delivered into the hands of your enemies. Your confidence in the multitude of your soldiers and walls will prove futile, for God has forsaken you.

Those who chronicled Alexander's deeds regarded it as Egypt's foremost city. Furthermore, the prophet Jeremiah referred to Alexandria in a vision concerning Egypt, stating that it is ‘the adornment of Egypt’ and prophesied that ‘from the north shall come upon them’ (Jeremiah 46:20). He clarifies: ‘There is an Egyptian woman given into the hands of the people from the north, says the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel. Behold, I will exact judgment upon Amon,’ signifying the rebellious multitude of Alexandria because, as noted, ‘Amon’ means ‘the nations.’ The preposition ‘from’ relates to Alexandria’s origins. He continues, ‘And I will judge Pharaoh, Egypt, its gods, and its kings, delivering them into the hands of those who seek their lives, including Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and his servants’ (Jeremiah 46:24-26). Thus, Nineveh is questioned: Are you more populous or stronger than Alexandria? This paints a picture of Alexandria, nestled by the Nile and the sea, with waterways encasing it. ‘The waters are surrounding her; the sea is her wealth; the waters are her ramparts,’ as she is bordered by the Nile on one side, a lake on another, and the sea on the third. The presence of Ethiopia, Egypt, and Africa—where the Hebrew text has ‘Phut’—along with the Libyans, serves as an indicator of the geographic and political context. The prophet alludes to these elements in my discourse, revealing that they will be captured by Babylon's king, who will act as both conqueror and destroyer. According to Josephus, the historian, ‘Her infants shall be crushed at the crossroads; her nobles divided by the victors, while her once-mighty princes will be led away in chains.’ Alexandria will undergo a similar fate; likewise, you, Nineveh, will drink from the same cup and become hazy in your stupor, lying in disgrace, even to the point of seeking assistance from the Babylonians, or turning to your enemies against them. All your fortresses, high places, and formidable towers that currently seem unbeatable, along with your valorous warriors, will collapse like early figs that fall into the mouth of the one who has merely brushed against them. The Septuagint’s choice of words, ‘adjust’ or ‘tune the strings,’ harks back to Nineveh. It implies that you must address your chaos and dissonance, Nineveh, just as strings are tuned, for your beauty and grandeur, which you hold in esteem, will afford you no advantage unless you align yourself harmoniously. Consider how little the inheritance of the children of Amon and the privileges they claimed could protect them from captivity or save their children from death along the road. Did the rivers that surround Ammon assist them in any meaningful way? What aid did the once-favorable Ethiopia and Egypt provide? Therefore, just as they found no relief in their allies, your escape, Nineveh, will be endless, and you will face devastation on every side. What might we say of the Ephirian and Egyptian leaders who stood with the children of Ammon, even with the support of the Libyans? Consequently, they too will be captured, and their children, unable to walk, will be discarded and slain before their parents’ eyes, while all their riches will be distributed among the conquerors, and none of their nobles will evade capture, as they will be fettered with heavy chains. Thus, you, Nineveh, will become intoxicated, and although you were once opulent and admired, you will find only scorn in your plight, seeking solace amidst your enemies, yet failing to secure it. All of your resources and auxiliary forces will become prey for the enemy, taken effortlessly like ripe fruit from a fig tree that falls into the mouth of one who wishes to eat it without effort. We phrase this in a roundabout manner regarding the translation of the Septuagint, for we intend to adhere to standard interpretation, lest we provide grounds for accusations against those like Hydra and Sardanapalus. However, I believe that the downfall of Nineveh does not perfectly align with that of Lot's sons, who are referred to as the Ammonites. The text specifies Ammon, not Amman; moreover, Amman, now known as Philadelphia, is not located by rivers, nor does its wealth come from the sea; it exists within a harsh terrain where waters do not serve as protective barriers and lacks allies from Ethiopia, Egypt, Africa, and the Libyans. All these aspects—strength, locality, and friendly nations—fit Alexandria while not accurately representing mighty Nineveh. The prophet would not inquire ‘Are you better?’ of Nineveh when comparing it to its less significant counterpart, Philadelphia, since the one being questioned realizes its inferiority and should not resent its captivity when a greater and stronger city, fortified both naturally and by its people’s bravery, was overcome by the same adversary. Nineveh, representing this world, is thereby commanded to adjust and prepare its heart to mourn; for a segment of the children of Ammon, far more honorable than Nineveh and residing by the rivers, was judged for its wrongdoings, akin to one found in error. In terms of its literal meaning, we say that ‘Ammon’ signifies ‘the nations,’ while its allegorical significance reveals the church, which remains by the rivers of prophetic flow, surrounded by those whose teaching brings forth life. Through engagement with the law, which is bitter without the tree of Christ (Exodus 15:23), believers reach that enigmatic city strengthened by Ethiopia, as noted when ‘Ethiopia shall extend her hand to God’ (Psalm 67:32), and Egypt, where the Lord approaches in a radiant cloud (Isaiah 19:1), alongside the Libyans who transitioned from sand dwellers to supporters. Therefore, if the church does not heed her own state and guard her heart vigilantly, she risks being led away captive and lamenting for her children. Her young ones, still at the beginning of their journey, may face ruin at the outset of their paths, falling victim to cruel foes who will divide her treasures among themselves, while captives may refer to her leaders and rulers, burdened with iron chains. Likewise, you, Nineveh, representative of disbelief and worldly devotion, will face retribution and lapse into slumber from my cup, for those of my inheritance who fell due to their own transgressions also partook of it. I will scorn you: amid the vices and passions that lead to your decay, you will seek cessation but find no respite, as all that you desire—pleasures, worldly power, and doctrines you deemed secure—will be consumed by wickedness. This echoes the parable spoken by Samson, where from those who partake of venom shall arise sweetness from the strong (Judges 14:14); thus, all that seemed solid and promising will, upon the slightest disturbance, fall into the devourer’s mouth, who has always had dominion over Nineveh. Furthermore, the omitted phrase asserting ‘there shall be no end to your flight,’ applied to Nineveh yet appearing amid statements regarding Ammon, can be interpreted as directed toward Nineveh, clarifying that there will be ceaseless flight from God, for she continually escapes without pause, consistent with the declaration: ‘And those that flee shall not stand, nor those who look back’ (Nahum 2:8). Additionally, the Scriptures, particularly prophecies—rich in mystery and intricate in expression—are crafted in such a manner that they remain hidden from the unworthy, safeguarding precious truths. However, if we interpret Ammon as representing Lot’s offspring, we acknowledge Lot, through his two daughters, fathering Moab and Ammon—the former indicating ‘of the father,’ and the latter suggesting ‘the son of my kin’ or ‘our people’ (Genesis 19). Just as it was said of one born of Judah due to his sinfulness that ‘the tribe of Canaan, not of Judah’ (Daniel 13:56), and concerning faithless Jerusalem that ‘your root is from Canaan; your father is Amorite, and your mother Hittite’ (Ezekiel 16:3), we may figuratively designate those descending from the ancient Jewish covenant and the new covenant representatives as Moabites and Ammonites. Their departure from the guiding influence of their ancestor, for ‘Lot’ connotes ‘evasion,’ leads them toward judgment and the consequences we have described. If God’s severity is revealed, starting with those once deemed holy, how much more so will Nineveh, which had no law and disregarded the commandments of God, ultimately fall into ruin at the hands of the devourer?