The Pulpit Commentary — Nahum — Section 44

'Keilinsohr.,' 195, et.o., 216, 283, eto.; comp. Knabenb11ucr r0m11rks, the Assyrians used lea. xxxiii. l). Septuagint, Ob ,j,71Aa.,P116~,,-.,,.a, no meretricious blandishmente to effect their 8~pa, whioh gives " sense contradictory to conquests, but the crnel arts of war and the the text, "Prey shall not be handled." stern ordeal of the sword. It is scarcely Ver. 2.-The noiae of a whip. The prophet probable that the prophet would omit desoribes the advance of the investing army. idolatry among the crimes of the Aesyriana He hears the cracking of the whips of the the.t called for vengeance, e.s all their wars oho.rioteers, and the rattling of the wheels were carried on in the name of their gods, of the chariots, and the galloping horses, e.nd the monarchs profeesed to he under and the chariots bounding over the plain. Divine protection and influence. The term Probably all the expressions in this verse "whoredom" is applied to the idolatry, not refer to chariots and to horses yoked to only of the Israeli tee, but to that of Jezebel them, which varied m number from one to (2 Kings ix. 22), who wae always e. heathen. three. The whip was a simple thong The idolatry of the Assyrians may very well atts.ohed to a short handle, Comp. Virg., be so called, because it wae a wilful ignoring • Georg.,' iii. 106, eto.- of the light of nature e.nd natural religion (see Wisd.;xiii. 1; Rom. i. 19, etc.). They " ... illi instant verbere torto were ce.refnl, too, wherever they carried their Et proni de.nt lore. ; vole.t vi fervid us axis: e.rme, to erect there symbole of their deitie3, Je.mque humiles, je.mque elati sublime vi- and to compel conquered nations to receive dentur them e.nd pay them Divine honour. With Aera per vacuum ferri, atque e.dsurgere in this idolatrous worship wae e.eeociated that auras." groes immore.lity which even Herodotus (i. Ver. 3.-The horsema.n lifteth up. The 199)termed utterly disgraceful (comp. Barach Hebrew is more vivid, the words standing in vi. 43). Rightly is Nineveh called the well- pairs, BB if describing the successive onsets favoured harlot; for her splendour and of the enemy. So Pusey. It is best to magnificence were uneurpe.ssed, dazzling all render, "horsemen making to rear: " or as beholders and hiding the rottenness that lay Septuagint, l'lrlrto,s li.va./3a.lvo.,.ros, " horseman below the eurface. The mistress of witch- mounting;" so the Vulgate; Henderson. orafts. She wae ekilful in employing every Horsemen are seen in the most ancient art to eeduce nations to her side. We hear sculptures of Nimroud, and.in.the bas-reliefs much of magic in connection with Babylon of Kouyunjik ( comp. Judith ii. 15; Ezek. and the Chaldeans, but not in reference xxiii. 6; La yard, • Nineveh,' ii. 356). Both especially to Assyria. The expression here the bright sword; better, and the flaming ie metaphorical, alluding to the secret 81.Dord (Gen. iii. 24); literally, the flame of practices which she employed to gain her the sword. And the glittering spear; Ii temlly, ends and to make her rule attractive (comp. the lightning flash of the spear (Bab. iii. 11). Rev. xviii. 2, 3). That selleth nations. These are the arms of the foot-soldiers. A Depriving them of freedom and making multitude of slain. '.!.'he effect of the assault them tributary, or, in eome caees, e.ctually ta described. So numerous are the corpses eelling the inhabit.ants as elaves (comp. that one cannot help stumbling over them ; Deut. x.xxii. 30; JuJg. ii. 14; Joel iii. 3; the inve.derY themselves are impeded by the Amos i. 6, 7). Families. Not only nations heaps of dead bodies which they have to in tl!e aggregate, but smaller bodies, indi- mount. The LXX. connects this verse with viduals, so that none eecape. Septuagint, the following, thus: "They shall grow weak .\aoris, "peoples." in their bodies by reason of the multitude of Ver. 5.-I o.m agaiust thee (see not.a ou their fornications." eh. ii. 13). The Lord will punish Nineveh Ver. 4.-The cause is given that has with the utmost ignominy, treating her orought this punishment. Because of the (" the whore," yer. 4) like a harlot or adul- multitude of the whoredoms, This term is teress. Thy skirts, Th" borders of tile long commonly applied to idolatry, the ewerving flowing dress which added to her pomp from the true God and turning to falee (oomp. Isa. xlvii. 2, etc.; Jer. xiii. 26; Le.m. deitiee; 1md it is thought that it cannot he i. 8). Upon (before) thy face. So that thou ueed in that senee here, e.s Assyria had mayst know thine own shame. I will show alwe.ye worsl!ipped idols, and couhl not be the nations. All men shall see what tholl said to have for~aken or proved false to the really art, like an adulteress ho.led before Lord. Hence Hitzig, Keil, o.nd others refe~ the congreg(\tion. the term to the treaoheroue friendship and Var. 6. - The metaphor is continued. orafty politics by which Nineveh enenared Nineveh shall be like e. vile woman cxposod other elates, seeking really only her own to the insults e.nd ill treLLtment of tl!e intereets (comp. lea. xxiii. 17). But thie rabble (comp. Ezek. xvi. 37, etc.). A habit of treachery !Jas been already men- gazing-stock. That all may see thee e.nJ tioned in ver. 1 (where see note); and, as take warning. LXX., .i.s 1r11pu6••-rl'-a.. " for  42 THE BOOK OF N AlttJM. [otr. m. 1-19.