Your city lies in ruins, and with the fall of all the princes who might have resisted your enemies, the remaining people—feeble and scorned—are scattered across the hills, with no leader to unite them and form a new army. Your affliction is evident, and your wounds are beyond the healing touch of any physician. All who learn of the great destruction of Nineveh, the once-mighty city, and the defeat of its king, the former ruler of the world, will either be astounded by this momentous and unforeseen news or, filled with joy, will celebrate your downfall with loud praises. No one mourns your loss or laments your injuries, for there is none who has not been subjected to your relentless malice. It is beautifully stated that your cruelty will not go unchallenged, indicating that the malice of the Assyrian king towards his enemies cannot persist indefinitely.
While I have approached this through a historical lens, it is essential to elevate our understanding beyond the literal Hebrew text, illustrating that the last prophecy of Nahum serves as an address to the devil, depicted as the arrogant king of Assyria, who once arrogantly asserted, “I will build my fortress… I will, by my wisdom and understanding… remove the boundaries of the nations and shake the inhabited cities” (Isaiah 10:13-14). Yet it is declared to him, “How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations” (Isaiah 14:12). Nineveh, your once-glorious and formidable city, where you claimed an abundance of authority, even daring to tempt the Son of God with, “All this has been given to me, and I will give it to you if you fall down and worship me” (Matthew 4:9; Luke 4:6-7), has been laid waste. Your shepherds and subjugated kings, who neglected the people's salvation and instead offered them as sacrifices to boost your own appetites, have fallen into slumber. All of your nations that once served you have forsaken you and your city, taking refuge in the hills, aligning themselves with the apostles and teachers of Christ, yet no leader remains to regroup this once-loyal crowd.
Your sickness and wounds are known throughout the earth; all who were once beguiled by your deceptions rejoice in your downfall, for it is rare to find anyone whom you have not misled or upon whom your wickedness has not pressed. It is notable that those who harbor the devil's iniquity cannot celebrate your ruin and injury, as they remain part of the assembly of the Assyrian king; yet those liberated from your grasp will exult in your defeat and commend what is good and true. Although the Hebrew text primarily speaks of the world’s destruction to this point, it ultimately foretells the downfall of the devil himself, who was once the ruler of this world, as the world “lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). The Septuagint continues to communicate regarding the ‘mixture’ of the world, stating that its shepherds have succumbed to sleep at the hands of the Assyrian king. Thus, it portrays the actions of the Assyrian not concerning his own fate but rather how he affected others, neglecting the devil's defeat and afflictions.
Woe to those who serve as teachers of falsehoods in Nineveh! This is underscored by the phrase, “Your shepherds have fallen asleep,” for they have closed their eyes and dozed off, failing to find a place for the Lord or for the God of Jacob. They have not heard of Ephrath, the fruitful church, nor discovered her among the oaks (Psalm 131:4-6). Not only did the shepherds of this mixture fall asleep, but they were rendered unconscious by the Assyrian king, who knows well that he cannot mislead the sheep unless he first lulls the shepherds into slumber. The devil persists in his attempts to lull the vigilant to sleep. Consequently, during the Lord's passion, he plunged the apostles into deep slumber, whom the Savior stirred awake, saying, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation” (Mark 14:38) and “What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” (Mark 13:37).
As he tirelessly tries to put the alert to sleep, the Word of God awakens all who have been deceived, calling out as if to those lulled into slumber by the sweet yet dangerous melodies of the sirens: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you” (Ephesians 5:14). Thus, when Christ arrives and the Word of God and the doctrine of the Church prevail, Nineveh, once a beautiful harlot, will perish; then those who were once lured to sleep by the false teachers will swiftly awaken and ascend to the mountains of Scripture, discovering the mountains of Moses and Joshua, the prophetic heights, and the apostles and evangelists of the New Testament. If, in his pursuit of these mountains, one does not find a teacher—since “the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few” (Matthew 9:37)—his zeal for seeking truth will be validated, and the negligence of teachers will be revealed, for it is stated, “and there was no one to receive him.”
Hence, it follows: “there is no remedy for your brokenness; your sore festereth.” The wise of Nineveh remain unhealed, as they refuse to renounce their pride, and the wound is perpetually exacerbated by the blows dealt daily by the devil. Ultimately, there is no cure for their affliction, and although they may believe themselves whole, their souls are shattered by the relentless strikes of the oppressor and remain unhealed due to their unyielding pride. However, if they humble themselves and submit to Christ, “a broken and contrite heart God will not despise,” and “the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit” (Psalm 51:19). In conclusion, it is said, “all who hear of your fall will clap their hands.” For on whom has your malice not been incessantly directed? When you, O mixer, are reprimanded, all who hear the news shall join in a cacophony of rejoicing, expressing their delight in the sound of your defeat; for there is either no one at all, or very few, upon whom your malice has not sought to seize. If the city of Nineveh harbors mixers as shepherds and guardians, and if all false doctrine and erroneous teachings emanate from such a mix, then one could fearfully conclude that there is hardly anyone upon whom the malice of the mixer does not descend. Note, however, that it is stated, “against whom your malice has not surged, O mixer,” but “upon whom it has not attacked.” Often, the arrows of false doctrines are aimed at us, attempting to infiltrate the very depths of our souls; yet, when we secure our hearts, though the mixer may assail us with all his power and relentlessly attack, with the help of Christ and through vigilant guarding of our hearts (Proverbs 4), his attacks will not penetrate.
THEOSIS