Nahum 1:8
"But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof,.... Of Nineveh, against whom this prophecy was, and upon whom it lay as a burden, Nah 1:1 ; and now though the Lord was good to them that trust in him, and a strong hold to them in a time of trouble; yet he was determined to destroy their enemies the Assyrians, and Nineveh their chief city; and that by the means of a powerful army, which, like a flood or inundation of water breaking in, overruns and carries all before it; and very fitly may the Medes and Babylonians, who joined together in an expedition against Nineveh, be compared to such a flood for their number and force; since,

as the historian tells (y) us, they were no less than four hundred thousand men: though this may be literally understood; for as the same writer (z) observes, "there was an oracle received by the Ninevites from their ancestors, that Nineveh could never be taken by any, unless the river (on which it stood) first became an enemy to it; and so it was, that, in the third year of the siege, the river, being swelled with continual rains, overflowed part of the city, and broke down the wall for the space of two and half miles; hence the king concluded the oracle was fulfilled, and gave up all hopes of safety; and through the breach of the wall the enemy entered, and took the city;'' and an "utter end" was made of it, and of the place of it, insomuch that historians and geographers disagree about it; some say it was situated upon the river Euphrates, others upon the river Tigris, which is the most correct; some say on the east of that river, others on the west; some will have it to be above the river Lycus, and others below it; so true is that of Lucian (a), that Nineveh is now entirely lost, and no traces of it remain; nor can one easily say where it once was; and travellers in general, both ancient and modern, agree that it lies wholly in ruins, and is a heap of rubbish. Benjamin Tudelensis (b), who travelled into these parts in the twelfth century, relates, that between Almozal or Mosul, and Nineveh, is only a bridge, and it (Nineveh) is a waste; but there are villages, and many towers. Haitho, an Armenian (c), who wrote more than a hundred years after the former, says, "this city (Nineveh) at present is wholly destroyed; but, by what yet appears in it, it may be firmly believed that it was one of the greatest cities in the world.'' Monsieur Thevenot (d), who was upon the spot in the last century, observes, "on the other side of the river (Tigris from that on which Mosul stands) at the end of the bridge begins the place, where, in ancient times, stood the famous city of Nineveh. --There is nothing of it, (adds he) now to be seen, but some hillocks, which (they say) are its foundations, the houses being underneath; and these reach a good way below the city of Mosul:'' and darkness shall pursue his enemies; the enemies of God and his people, who would make such a devastation of Nineveh; even he would cause all manner of calamities, often signified in Scripture by darkness, to follow and overtake them; so that they should be brought into the most uncomfortable and distressed condition imaginable. (y) Diodor. Sicul. l. 2. p. 111. Ed. Rhodum. (z) Ibid. p. 113, 114. (a) sive, "contemplantes", in fine. (b) Itinerarium, p. 62. (c) Apud Bochart Phaleg. l. 4. c. 20. p. 255. (d) Travels, par. 1. B. 1. c. 11. p. 52.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (8 words)

H7858 שֶׁטֶף
Definition:

8flood; — absoluteשֶׁ֫טֶףNahum 1:83t.; construct׳שֶׁProverbs 27:4,׳שֵׁPsalm 32:6; —flood, figurative of׳יs judgement,עֹבֵר׳שׁNahum 1:8, compareDaniel 9:26,זְרֹעוֺת׳הַשּׁDaniel 11:22(compare Dr); of ca 8flood; — absoluteשֶׁ֫טֶףNahum 1:83t.; construct׳שֶׁProverbs 27:4,׳שֵׁPsalm 32:6; —flood, figurative of׳יs judgement,עֹבֵר׳שׁNahum 1:8, compareDaniel 9:26,זְרֹעוֺת׳הַשּׁDaniel 11:22(compare Dr); of ca

H5674 עָבַר
Definition:

A primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation) -- alienate, alter, A primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation) -- alienate, alter,

Possible Meanings:
  • region across (semantic_range)
  • beyond (semantic_range)
H3617 כָּלָה
Definition:

completely, altogetherGenesis 18:21(J; readכֻּלָּםOl Kau Buhl),Exodus 11:1(si vera lectio)2complete destruction, consumption, annihilation:a.almost always by God, especially׳עָשָׂה כIsaiah 10:23(+וְנֶ completely, altogetherGenesis 18:21(J; readכֻּלָּםOl Kau Buhl),Exodus 11:1(si vera lectio)2complete destruction, consumption, annihilation:a.almost always by God, especially׳עָשָׂה כIsaiah 10:23(+וְנֶ

Possible Meanings:
  • daughter-in-law (semantic_range)
  • bride (semantic_range)
H6213 עָשָׂה
Definition:

A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application (as follows) -- accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, X certainly, A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application (as follows) -- accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, X certainly,

Possible Meanings:
  • press (semantic_range)
  • squeeze (semantic_range)
H4725 מָקוֹם
Definition:

Places Chosen by God• From Creation onward, God orders space. “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered into one place” (Genesis 1:9).• After the flood, mountains of Ararat become a place of rest Places Chosen by God• From Creation onward, God orders space. “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered into one place” (Genesis 1:9).• After the flood, mountains of Ararat become a place of rest

Possible Meanings:
  • standing-place (semantic_range)
  • standing-place (semantic_range)
  • station (semantic_range)
  • post (semantic_range)
H0341 אֹיֵב
Definition:

Or (fully) owyeb {o-yabe'}; active participle of'ayab; hating; an adversary -- enemy, foe.see HEBREW'ayabNAS Exhaustive ConcordanceWord Originactive participle ofayab, q.v.Topical LexiconConcept and S Or (fully) owyeb {o-yabe'}; active participle of'ayab; hating; an adversary -- enemy, foe.see HEBREW'ayabNAS Exhaustive ConcordanceWord Originactive participle ofayab, q.v.Topical LexiconConcept and S

Possible Meanings:
  • be hostile to (semantic_range)
H7291 רָדַף
Definition:

16+; 1 singularוְרָדַפְתִּ֫יJeremiah 29:18, etc.;ImperfectיִרְדֹּףDeuteronomy 19:6+,ִ˜ירַדֹּףPsalm 7:6(apparently to give choice of Qal or Pi, Ki JHMich Bae and others; Ges§ 63nexplanation as develope 16+; 1 singularוְרָדַפְתִּ֫יJeremiah 29:18, etc.;ImperfectיִרְדֹּףDeuteronomy 19:6+,ִ˜ירַדֹּףPsalm 7:6(apparently to give choice of Qal or Pi, Ki JHMich Bae and others; Ges§ 63nexplanation as develope

Possible Meanings:
  • pursue (semantic_range)
  • chase (semantic_range)
  • persecute (semantic_range)
  • pursue (semantic_range)
  • put to flight (semantic_range)
H2822 חשֶׁךְ
Definition:

21darkness, obscurity— absoluteחשֶׁךְGenesis 1:275t. (+Ezekiel 8:12strike out Co A B etc.); constructid.Exodus 10:22; suffixחָשְׁכִּיPsalm 18:29=2 Samuel 22:29; —1darkness(opposed toאוֺר) literalGenes 21darkness, obscurity— absoluteחשֶׁךְGenesis 1:275t. (+Ezekiel 8:12strike out Co A B etc.); constructid.Exodus 10:22; suffixחָשְׁכִּיPsalm 18:29=2 Samuel 22:29; —1darkness(opposed toאוֺר) literalGenes

Possible Meanings:
  • obscure (semantic_range)
  • low (semantic_range)

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