Nahum the Prophet

Nahum was a prophet in the Old Testament. He lived during a hard time in history. His people were small and weak. The world around them was ruled by strong armies and cruel kings. Nahum spoke about one of these great empires, the Assyrians. They had taken over many lands and caused much suffering. Nahum’s message was about their fall.

Nahum was not a famous man. He only wrote a short book. We do not know much about his life. But his message was strong. He said that God sees evil and will act against it. He said that the city of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, would be destroyed. And it was. This made his words important for his time.

He came from a small town called Elkosh. We do not know where it was. Some think it was in Judah, the southern kingdom of the Jews. Others think it was farther north. His name means “comfort.” That fits his message. He warned the proud and gave hope to the weak.

Nahum’s words were not soft. He did not speak gently to evil people. He warned that their time would end. But to those who suffered under Assyria, his words were like rest. He gave them peace, knowing that their pain would not last forever.

His book is short, only three chapters. But it has strong images. He speaks of storms, floods, lions, and fire. These images show the fall of a great city. His words remind us that no empire lasts forever. Only God stays the same.

Nahum was a man of courage. He trusted that God would not forget the cries of the poor. He believed that justice would come. Even when the wicked seemed strong, Nahum spoke with faith. He gave people hope when there seemed to be none.

Nahum lived when the Assyrian Empire ruled much of the Middle East. They were a strong and cruel people. Their army was feared by all. They destroyed cities, killed many people, and took others as slaves. The people of Israel and Judah were afraid of them.

The Assyrians had taken the northern kingdom of Israel. They had brought its people away and scattered them. They had also attacked the southern kingdom, Judah. The people of Judah were not free. They paid money to Assyria to stay alive.

The capital of Assyria was Nineveh. It was a large and rich city. It had strong walls and many people. But it was also a place of pride and cruelty. They worshipped false gods. They trusted in their own power. They thought they could never fall.

Nahum saw that this could not last. He lived during the reign of King Ashurbanipal or a little after. At that time, the power of Assyria was starting to break. Other nations were rising up. Babylon and the Medes would soon attack.

Nahum spoke during this time of change. He warned that Nineveh would fall. His message came true. In the year 612 BC, Nineveh was destroyed. The empire fell. It never rose again.

For the people of Judah, this was good news. They had lived in fear. Now they saw that the proud enemy had been beaten. This gave them hope. They saw that God had not forgotten them. The fall of Nineveh was a sign that justice still mattered.

We do not know much about Nahum’s life. He is only mentioned in his own book. There are no stories about him like there are about Elijah or Isaiah. But what he said tells us a lot about him.

Nahum was from Elkosh. We are not sure where that town was. It may have been in Judah. It may have been far to the north. Some say it could have even been near Galilee. Wherever it was, it was not a big place. Nahum came from a small town, not a city.

He was likely a simple man. He was not a king or a priest. He was not rich. But God gave him a message. And he spoke it. That makes him like many other prophets. They were chosen not because they were great, but because they were faithful.

Nahum did not travel like Jonah. He did not perform miracles. He did not speak to kings. But his words were clear. He knew that Nineveh would fall. He believed that God would act. And he trusted that this was the right time to speak.

We can guess that he lived near the time when Nineveh was destroyed. That means he was alive around 620 to 612 BC. He saw the evil of Assyria and how it hurt his people. And he knew that this evil could not go on forever.

Even though we know little about him, we can see his heart. He cared for his people. He wanted them to have peace. He spoke hard words to their enemies. But he gave comfort to those who were afraid. His name, which means “comfort,” truly fits him.

Nahum’s message was simple. He said that Nineveh would fall. He said that their sins had gone too far. They had hurt too many people. They had been proud for too long. Now their time was up.

His words came as a warning. But they were also a promise. He promised that those who did evil would not win forever. He promised that those who had suffered would see peace again.

He used strong images. He spoke of fire, flood, and war. He said Nineveh would be wiped away like dust. He compared them to drunkards and dry stubble. These were not gentle pictures. They were clear signs of an end.

Nahum also reminded the people that God is just. God is slow to anger, but He does not let evil go unpunished. He is strong. He protects those who trust Him. But He also breaks the power of the wicked.

Some parts of his book sound like a song. They have rhythm and power. It may have been written as a poem or hymn. This made his words easier to remember and share.

Even though he was speaking about a distant city, Nahum’s message mattered at home. It told the people that their suffering would not be forever. It told them that their enemies would fall. That message gave them hope and peace.

Nahum’s book is small, but it was not forgotten. The early Church read it with care. They saw that God had acted in history. He had brought down the proud. This helped Christians understand that God still rules over all nations.

Some Church Fathers saw Nineveh as a symbol. They believed it stood for all the powers that fight against God. When Nahum spoke of its fall, they saw it as a picture of what would happen to all who oppose goodness and truth.

His words were also seen as a warning. They remind us not to put our trust in armies, wealth, or pride. They show us that these things pass away. Only faith and goodness last.

In Christian tradition, Nahum is one of the twelve minor prophets. These prophets are not called “minor” because they are less important. They are called that because their books are shorter. But their messages are still strong.

Some early Christian writers said that Nahum’s words pointed to Christ. When he spoke of peace and justice, they saw signs of the coming Savior. This helped them see that all the prophets prepared the way for Jesus.

Nahum’s memory stayed alive in prayers and readings. Even though his life is mostly hidden, his voice was not lost. His warning and his comfort still speak.

Nahum is remembered by the Church as a man of courage. He saw the evil of his time and did not stay silent. He trusted that God would act. He gave hope to those who had lost it.

His feast day is kept on December 1 in the Roman Martyrology. On that day, the Church honors his witness. Though we do not know where or how he died, we know he was faithful to his call.

His message still has meaning today. He reminds us that evil does not win in the end. He shows us that the proud will fall. He teaches us to trust in God, even when the world seems dark.

Nahum’s name means “comfort.” That is what he gave to his people. He spoke hard truths, but they brought peace. He reminds us that truth and comfort can go together.

The Church values his words as part of the whole story of salvation. Each prophet shows a part of God’s plan. Nahum shows that justice matters, that God sees, and that He will act.

When we remember Nahum, we remember that history is not ruled by empires. It is guided by God. This gives us courage and peace, even in troubled times.

He wrote the Book of Nahum. It’s only three chapters long, but it packs a punch.

His name means “comfort” or “consolation,” which is ironic, because his prophecy is full of fire.

He lived sometime around the 7th century BC, after the fall of Israel but before the fall of Judah.

He came from a place called Elkosh. We’re not sure where that is. Some say Judah, some say Galilee, some say “who knows.”

His whole book is about the destruction of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria.

Nineveh was the same city that Jonah preached to earlier. Back then, they repented. Now? Not so much.

By Nahum’s time, the Assyrians were brutal. They crushed cities, deported nations, and boasted about it.

Nahum said, “God sees what you’re doing. And He’s not impressed.”

He described Nineveh’s fall in detail: floods, fire, swords, and panic in the streets. Not a good day to be an Assyrian general.

His language is vivid and poetic. He called Nineveh a “bloody city” full of lies and robbery.

He said God is slow to anger—but powerful and just. Basically: you had your chance.

His book includes roaring storms, crumbling mountains, and chariots racing through the streets.

Some people call him a “cheerful doomsday prophet” because his message gave hope to the oppressed.

He said the fall of Nineveh would be good news to God’s people: “Behold upon the mountains the feet of him who brings good news.”

That line was later echoed in the New Testament. Paul quoted it when talking about the Gospel.

We don’t know how he died, or exactly when. He left his message and vanished.

He is remembered as a prophet of justice, especially for the victims of violent empires.

His feast day is sometimes celebrated on December 1 in some church calendars.

He’s the patron of people who want justice without revenge, and anyone who speaks the truth clearly and boldly.

His symbols are a scroll, a broken city wall, or storm clouds—because his prophecy sounds like thunder.

He reminds us that God’s patience is great, but His justice never sleeps.