NAHUM (Hebrew for "rich in comfort [is God]"), an Old Testament Prophet. Of the Prophet himself, all that is known is the statement of the title that he was an Alkoshite. But the locality denoted by the designation is quite uncertain. The original heading of Nahum's prophecy is contained in the second part of the superscription: "(the book of) the vision of Nahum the Alkoshite." The first part ("Oracle concerning Nineveh") is a late editorial insertion, but correctly describes the main con tents of the little book.
Contents.—Chapters i. and ii. The prophecy against Nineveh in its present form really begins with chapter ii. 1, followed im mediately by v. 3, and readily falls into three parts, viz. (a) ii. 1, 3-10; (b) ii. 11-13; and (c) iii. Here (a) describes the assault on Nineveh. The city is mentioned by name in ii. 8 (9 Heb. text), its capture and sack; (b) contains an oracle of Yahweh directed against the king of Assyria ; (c) again gives a vivid pic ture of war and desolation which are to overtake and humiliate Nineveh, as they have already overtaken No-Amon (i.e., Egyptian Thebes, vv. 8-1o). The absence of distinctly religious motive is remarkable.
Chapter i. forms the exordium of the prophecy of doom against Nineveh. Its tone is exalted, and a fine picture is given of Yahweh appearing in judgment : The effects of the divine anger on the physical universe are forcibly described (vv. 3-6) ; on the other hand, God cares for those "that put their trust in Him" (v. 7), but overwhelms His enemies (vv. 8-12a). In the following verses (12b-15) the joyful news is conveyed to Judah of the fall of the oppressor.
Regarding Chapter i. and ii. 2 (=i. and ii. i, 3, Heb. Text) there has been much discussion in recent years. It was long ago noticed that traces of an alphabetic acrostic survive in this section of the book. In vv. 12b, 13 and (certainly) v. Is ( =ii. I Heb.) Judah appears to be addressed. The text of i. 1-15, ii. 1-2 has been reconstructed by H. Gunkel and G. Bickell so as to form a complete alphabetic psalm with contents of an eschatological character, and is regarded by them as a later addition to the book. It is generally held by scholars that i. 1-8, 13, 15, and ii. 2 certainly do not proceed from Nahum (i. 9-12 may, however, belong to the prophet). No satisfactory solution has been reached.
Date.—The date of the composition of Nahum's prophecy must lie between 612, when Nineveh was captured and destroyed by the Babylonians and Medes, and the capture of Thebes (No Amon), which is alluded to in iii. 8-1o, in 663 B.C. On the whole a date somewhat near 612 is more probable. The poetry of the book is of a high order.