Clarke's Bible Commentary - Nahum 2:1
Verse 1. He that dasheth in pieces] Or scattereth. The Chaldeans and Medes. Keep the munition] Guard the fenced places. From this to the end of the fifth verse, the preparations made at Nineveh to repel their enemies are described. The description is exceedingly picturesque.
Watch the way] By which the enemy is most likely to approach.
Make thy loins strong] Take courage.
Fortify thy power] Muster thy troops; call in all thy allies.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 1. He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face , etc.] O Nineveh, or land of Assyria; for this is not to be understood of Sennacherib’s coming up against Jerusalem, as Kimchi; but of Nebuchadnezzar against Nineveh, as Aben Ezra; not Nebuchadnezzar the great, who, the Jewish chronologers say f51 , took Nineveh in the first year of his reign; but his father, Nebuchadnezzar the first, called Nabopolassar, who, with Cyaxares or Ahasuerus the Mede, joined their forces against Nineveh, and took it, see the Apocrypha: “But before he died he heard of the destruction of Nineve, which was taken by Nabuchodonosor and Assuerus: and before his death he rejoiced over Nineve.” (Tobit 14:15) and these together, the Chaldeans and Medes, are the “dasher in pieces”; or, “the hammer” f52 , as the word may be rendered; and so Babylon, over which one of these kings reigned, is called the hammer of the whole earth, ( Jeremiah 50:23) these came up openly, boldly, to the face of the king of Assyria, attacked him in his metropolis, not fearing his strength and numbers: keep the munition ; this and what follow are spoken ironically to the Assyrian king, and inhabitants of Nineveh, to take care of their towers and garrisons, and fortify them, and fill them with soldiers: and watch the way ; in which the enemy came; secure the passes and avenues that lead to their city; stop his march, and prevent his access: make [thy] loins strong ; put on armour, gird on the sword, prepare for war: fortify [thy] power mightily ; increase thine army, exert all thy strength and courage, and do all that is in thy power to do, to oppose the enemy, and defend thyself; and when all is done, it will be in vain.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-10 - Nineveh shall not put aside this judgment; there is no counsel of strength against the Lord. God looks upon proud cities, and brings the down. Particular account is given of the terrors wherein the invadin enemy shall appear against Nineveh. The empire of Assyria is represented as a queen, about to be led captive to Babylon. Guilt in the conscience fills men with terror in an evil day; and what wil treasures or glory do for us in times of distress, or in the day of wrath? Yet for such things how many lose their souls!
Original Hebrew
עלה 5927 מפיץ 6327 על 5921 פניך 6440 נצור 5341 מצרה 4694 צפה 6822 דרך 1870 חזק 2388 מתנים 4975 אמץ 553 כח 3581 מאד׃ 3966
