Nahum 1:1

burden . Compare Isaiah 13:1 Isaiah 27:13 . See the Structure, p. 930), and Habakkuk. = A prophetic oracle: or, the prophetic doom of Nineveh, written about ninety (603-514 = B.C.) years before Nineveh's doom; and while the Assyrian Empire was at its height. The doom of Nineveh came therefore 176 years after Jonah's mission. The prophecy was addressed to Nahum's own People, but as a menace to Nineveh.

Nineveh . This heading is not "undoubtedly by a later hand", as alleged. The words "the place thereof" (Nahum 1:8 ) would be unintelligible without it. Nineveh is not mentioned again until Nahum 2:8 ; and is only hinted at elsewhere (Nahum 3:1 , Nahum 3:18 ). The Structure below is the best commentary.

vision . Like Isaiah, always one whole. Not written before or separately from, its deliverance.

Nahum = the compassionate, or consoler. The name refers back to Jehovah's compassion connected with Jonah's mission eighty-seven years before. Nothing is known of Nahum beyond his book.

Elkoshite . Hebrew. 'Elkoshi. A village of this name exists to-day, twentyfour miles north of Nineveh (now Konyunjik). See Layard's Nineveh and its Remains, i. p. 233.