Better than Populous No? Nahum 3:8

As the prophesy concerning Nineveh continued through the written words of Nahum the prophet, he told how their defeat would be so astonishing that “all they that look upon” them “shall flee from” them, “and say, Nineveh is laid waste: who will bemoan her?” and “where” shall “seek comforters for” them. In chapter three and verse eight of his prophesy, Nahum asked the city of Nineveh if they thought themselves “better than populous No” where we read:

Are you better than populous No, that was situate among the rivers,

that had the waters round about it, whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was from the sea?

The verse begins, “Are you better than populous No, that was situate among the rivers,...” Nahum began with the words, “Are you better” which means “are you good, pleasing, well and well placed” “than populous” or “an artificer, architect or master workman; a throng or multitude or Amon or Amun which was an Egyptian god, originally the local god of Thebes, and later the head of the Egyptian pantheon” “No” which means “disrupting” and was “the ancient capital of Egypt also known as Thebes”, “that was situate” or “dwelt by, remained, sat and abode” “among the rivers” which means “streams, canals or watercourses and shafts such as the Nile-canal”. Nahum desired to know if the city of Nineveh thought itself to be more “well-placed” than the Egyptian city of “No” which was located beside the Nile river.

The verse goes on to say, “...that had the waters round about it, whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was from the sea?” Nahum continued, “that had the waters” which means “water-springs, washings, watercourses and water-floods” “round about it” or “in a circuit around and from every side”, “whose rampart” or “fortress and wall” “was the sea” which means “a large river or the Mediterranean Sea”, “and her wall” or “wall of protection” “from the sea” which means “a large river or the Mediterranean Sea”. The city of “No” had the protection of the “seas” which served as a “fortress” and “wall” to ward off enemies who desired to conquer them.

When we think through these words of Nahum, we see how he challenged Nineveh as to whether they though themselves to be more greatly protected than the “ancient” city of “No” or “Thebes” which had the “seas” to protect them from their enemies. “Thebes” was “overcome” by Assyria, so Assyrian Nineveh, notwithstanding all her might, in her turn, shall be overcome by Babylon” The people of Nineveh would have know of the defeat of “No”, and when Nahum referenced their defeat of that city as their own fate, they knew exactly what he meant. There are countless examples of people and cities in the Bible who thought themselves to be protected by their own “fortresses” or means of defense, however, when the LORD comes against them, there will be nothing that can withstand Him. Those who are wise will align themselves in humility with the LORD Jesus, and those who are foolish will attempt to depend upon their “walls” and “sources of protection”. May all who read take heed.

Next time Nahum asks Nineveh, “are you better than populous No”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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