conquered nations (' Records of the PBllt,' vol. i. 37, etc., 69, etc.). 6. The, oool,ation of tho scene. "Bhe is empty, and void, and WBSte" (ver. 10)---the effect of this description being heightened in Hebrew by the combination of three synonymous and similarly aoundi11g words, buqdh wmebhuq(),h 'IJITTlebuU(),g_dh. Emptied of her population and despoiled of her treasure, she became a total ruin. According to Strabo, when Cyaxares and his allies took the city, they utterly destroyed it (Layard's 'Nineveh,' ii.159, 204). 1. The horror of the vanquWl.ed. "The heart melteth and the knees smite together, and anguish is in all loins, and the faces of them all are waxed pale" (ver. 10). "Hence we may learn how foolishly men boast of their courage, while they seem to be like lions; for God can in a moment so melt their hearts that they lose all firmness " (Calvin). LEBB0NB. 1. The retributions of Divine providence (ver. 1). The destroyers of others may expect themselves to he destroyed (Isa. xxxiii. 1). 2. The hopelessness of defending one's self.against the invasions of Heaven (ver.1). "Who would set the thorns and briars against me in battle ? " (Isa. xxvii. 4 ; cf. 'l;[erod.,' ix. 16, " Whatever necessarily comes from God, it is impossible for man by any contrivance to turn aside"). 3. The true ideal of a nation's greatness (ver. 2)-the dwelling of Jehovah in her mid~t (Ps. xlvi. 5). 4. The utter vanity of all earthiy glory (ver. 8). The world's strength, riches, honours, are all destined to perish (1 John ii.17). 5.~The horrors of the wicked when the terrors of judgment come upon them (ver. 10). "Then shall they say to the mountains and the rocks, Fall on us," etc. (Rev. vi. 16). Vera. ll-13.-T71.e parable of the lion'a den. I. THE DESCRIPTION OP THE DEN. 1. Its site. Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian empire. (1) Old, extending over centuries at least. (2) Capacious, having caves in it for its prey, and room in it for the lion, lionesses, and lion's whelps to walk about. (3) Strong, surrounded on two sides by water and seemingly impregnable-a secure retreat, in which its inhabiting wild beasts felt themselves safe. 2. Its occupants. The lions above referre<l to. (1) The old lion-the King of Assyria. (2) 'l'h.i lionesses-the queens and concubines of the reig·ning prince. (3) The lion's whelps, or young lions-his sons, princes, nobles, and, warriors. 3. lta prey. The spoils of the nations. Syria, Phamicia, Philistia, Israel, Judah, and even Egypt ha.d felt the might of Assyria and contributed to swell the ravin she had stored in her cities. • II. THE DESTRUCTION OF THE, DEN. 1. Its certainty. According to Nahum, Jehovah was against Nineveh, and that was enough to secure its overthrow. "The face of the Lord is against them that do evil," etc. (Ps. :xxxiv. 16). Besides, his uttered threatening, "I will burn her chariots [i.e. all her military armament] in the smoke," rendered her doom inevitable. The word of Jehovah can as little fail in threatening as in promise. 2. .Its celerity. So little difficult would be the ta:;k to Jehovah, that he would not need fire, but only smoke, to consume the power of Nineveh. " In short, the prophet shows that Nineveh would be, as it were in a moment, reduced to nothing, as soon as it pleased God to avenge its wickedness" (Calvin). 3. Its completeness. (1) Her warriors should be destroyed: "The sword shall devour thy young lions." (2) Her spoliations should cease : " I will cut off thy prey from the earth." (3) Her emissaries should be silent : " The voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard," exactiag tribute from the nations thou hast conquered. Learn: 1. That Jehovah is against sin in nations no less than in individuals. 2. That national wickedness is the certain prelude to national ruin.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. V ers. 1, 2. - God the Vindicator of the oppressed. I. THE OPPRESSION OF THE CHOSEN PEOP.Li;l BY THE AssYRUN8, 1. This is ea;pressed figuratively. "The emptiers have eJDptied them out" (ver, 2), had exhausted their resources, as the contents of a vessel poured out until every drain had been withdrawn, so had both Israel and Judah been impoverished by the Assyrians. "And marrerl their vine branches." Ancient Israel wa~ often described as God's vineyard (Isa. v. 1 ; Ps. lxx.x. 9). This vineyard the foe bad ruthlessly invaded, casting down and injuring its fruit-bearing trees. 2. Thes6 82 THE BOOK OF NARUM .• [en. n. 1-13,