SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:12
Así dijo el SEÑOR: Aunque más reposo tengan, y sean tantos, así serán talados, y él pasará. Bien que te he afligido, no más te afligiré.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Nahum 1:12
Verse 12. Though they be-many] Sennacherib invaded Judea with an army of nearly two hundred thousand men. Thus shall they be cut downl The angel of the Lord (a suffocating wind) slew of them in one night one hundred and eighty-five thousand 2 Kings xix. 35.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 12. Thus saith the Lord, though [they be] quiet, and likewise many , etc.] The Assyrian army under Sennacherib before Jerusalem, though they were quiet and secure and thought themselves out of all danger; not at all fearing that the besieged would sally out against them they being so numerous, and therefore betook themselves to sleep and rest: yet thus shall they be cut down ; or “shorn” f35 ; as the wool is shorn off the back of a sheep with sheers; or grass or corn is mowed with a scythe; or else as the hair of a man’s head and beard are shaved with a razor; which sometimes was done, not only in a way of ignominy and contempt, as David’s servants were served by Hanun, ( 2 Samuel 10:4); but as a token of servitude; hence those words of the poet f36 , “after thou art a servant, dost thou let thy hair grow?” upon which it is observed f37 , that it belongs to freemen to let the hair grow; and so the philosopher says f38 , to let the hair grow, or to nourish it, is commendable with a Lacedemonian, for it is a sign of liberty; for it is not for him who lets his hair grow to do any servile work; and it was usual with conquerors to shave the conquered, and such as were carried captives f39 , which some think is referred to in ( Deuteronomy 32:42); and render the latter clause of that verse, “and there shall be captivity, by reason of the head of nakedness of the enemy;” that is, there should be captives whose heads should be made bare, or shaved by the enemy the conqueror f40 ; hence the king of Assyria, when a conqueror, is compared to a sharp razor, that should shave the head, and feet, and beard, even all sorts of people, ( Isaiah 7:20); but now he and his army should be shaved themselves; that is, conquered, slain, or taken captives, and become slaves, and treated with contempt; all which may be taken into the sense of this phrase, and serve to illustrate it: when he shall pass through ; when the angel should pass through the camp of the Assyrians, then were they cut down by him in great numbers, a hundred and fourscore and five thousand slain at once, ( 2 Kings 19:35); though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more : or “any longer” f41 ; though the Lord had afflicted the people of the Jews by the Assyrian king, the rod of his anger, again and again, yet after this he would afflict them no more by him; for otherwise they were afflicted afterwards, yet not by the Assyrians, but by the Babylonians, Syrians, and Romans, Some understand this, as before, of the Ninevites and Assyrians, that should be utterly destroyed at once, and their affliction should not be a second time; (see Na 1:9); so Abarbinel: or, “I will not hear thee any more” f42 ; as he did formerly, when they repented at the preaching of Jonah.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 9-15 - There is a great deal plotted against the Lord by the gates of hell and against his kingdom in the world; but it will prove in vain. With some sinners God makes quick despatch; and one way or other, he wil make an utter end of all his enemies. Though they are quiet, and man very secure, and not in fear, they shall be cut down as grass and corn when the destroying angel passes through. God would hereby work grea deliverance for his own people. But those who make themselves vile by scandalous sins, God will make vile by shameful punishments. The tidings of this great deliverance shall be welcomed with abundant joy These words are applied to the great redemption wrought out by our Lor Jesus and the everlasting gospel, Ro 10:15. Christ's ministers ar messengers of good tidings, that preach peace by Jesus Christ. Ho welcome to those who see their misery and danger by sin! And the promise they made in the day of trouble must be made good. Let us be thankful for God's ordinances, and gladly attend them. Let us loo forward with cheerful hope to a world where the wicked never can enter and sin and temptation will no more be known __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
כה 3541 אמר 559 יהוה 3068 אם 518 שׁלמים 8003 וכן 3651 רבים 7227 וכן 3651 נגזו 1494 ועבר 5674 וענתך 6031 לא 3808 אענך 6031 עוד׃ 5750
