“Author & Date of Nahum”

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 12/04/2025/9:30 AM

My Worship Time                                                                    Focus: “Author & Date of Nahum”

            This morning I continue to quote from the introduction to John MacArthur’s commentary on the book of Nahum.  I have just finished a couple of days ago on my study of Jonah and have mentioned that Nahum is written about the same city, the city of Nineveh, but some 100 years later, and things have changed a lot since Jonah visited that city.  I begin this morning’s SD by quoting from MacArthur’s commentary where he writes about the author.

 

AUTHOR

            “The author of the book is God’s prophet Nahum the Elkoshite (Nah. 1:1).  Nahum came from Elkosh, a town whose location is unknown.  Three possible locations have been proposed: 1) Al Qosh, located in Northern Iraq, and potentially suggesting that Nahum came from a city taken captive by Assyria in 722 BC; 2) Capernaum (ie., “Village of Nahum”), which is mentioned in the New Testament (e. g., Matt. 4:13; 8:5; 11:23; 17:24); and 3) a general geographical location in Judah, important to the prophet since he mentioned it in Hahum 1:15. The reference to Nahum as an Elkoshite indicates that Nahum was a specific historical figure, associated with his hometown, and therefore having a distinct identity.  Scripture similarly refers to Amos of Tekoa (Amos 1:1), Jeremiah of Anathoth (Jer. 1:1), and Joseph of Arimathea (Matt. 27:57; Mark 15:43; Luke 23:51; John 19:38).  By introducing himself with such specificity, Nahum demonstrated that he was willing to be held accountable for the message he preached (cf. Deut. 18:22).  His prophecy reveals that he was zealous to see the Lord’s righteous justice prevail against the wickedness of God’s enemies.”

 

DATE

            “The prophecy of Nahum is typically dated to a time between 663 BC and 627 BC.  Since the destruction of Thebes (No-amon) in 663 BC was fresh in Nahum’s mind (cf. Nahum 3:8-10), he must have received this prophecy not long after that date.  Inasmuch as Nahum envisioned Assyria to be a prominent nation still, his message would have been most relevant prior to the weakening of the empire with the death of Ashurbanipal around 627 BC.  Most notably, because Nahum made no mention of the restoration of Thebes in 654 BC, he likely delivered the prophecy between 663 BC and 654 BC.  In light of this Nahum would have preached long after the fall of Nineveh took place in 612 BC, which demonstrates that his prophecy was indisputably predictive.

Spiritual Meaning for My life Today: It is important to understand the background of the books in the Bible that I am studying and I appreciate that John MacAruhur takes the time to set the stage of the books that he writes to include the background of those books.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Continue to trust that the Lord’s will will be done in my wife’s fighting of her battle with cancer.  She is a very brave woman who can handle the Kemo she is receiving and I am proud of this and thankful that the Lord is using this to help rid her body of cancer.  My prayer for both of us is that we will learn what the Lord desires for us to learn as we go through this difficult trial.

12/4/2025 9:54 AM