Nahum

Nahum, book of

Nahum, book of Nothing is known about the author whose book is included among the Minor Prophets, except that he was born in Elkosh; but the single theme—the fall of the Assyrian capital Nineveh (612 BCE)—permits an approximate date. The prophet is exulting about the impending doom of the empire which more than any other neighbour had heaped sufferings on Judah and its northern relation Israel; but one section at the end (3: 18–19) is a tauntsong which seems to be celebrating the news that Nineveh has already just fallen. These verses might therefore have been added by an editor to the earlier part of the book which anticipates the fall. The mention of the fall of Thebes (663 BCE) gives the earliest possible date of composition. The revolt of King Manasseh and his subsequent pardon (2 Chron. 33) suggests a weakening of Assyria and a climate in which Nahum with his powerful images celebrating God's vengeance over Judah's merciless foe would have escaped retribution.

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W. R. F. BROWNING. "Nahum, book of." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

W. R. F. BROWNING. "Nahum, book of." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-Nahumbookof.html

W. R. F. BROWNING. "Nahum, book of." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-Nahumbookof.html

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Nahum

Nahum , 7th of the books of the Minor Prophets of the Bible. It contains oracles of doom against Nineveh, capital of the Assyrian Empire, delivered by one Nahum of Elkosh, who is otherwise unknown. The book can be divided into two sections: an acrostic announcing the coming of divine vengeance on Nineveh; and a vivid description of the city's destruction. Nineveh fell in 612 BC, and scholars differ as to whether the book was written before the event or after it. It engages in satire and mockery and is unashamedly exultant at Nineveh's downfall, which is viewed as divine intervention. Nineveh is likened to a prostitute alluring the nations, an image applied to Rome in the Book of Revelation.

Bibliography: For bibliography, see Old Testament. See also E. Achtemeier, Nahum-Malachi (1986); J. J. Roberts, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah (1990).

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"Nahum." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Nahum." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Nahum.html

"Nahum." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Nahum.html

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Nahum

Nahum ♂ Biblical name (meaning ‘comforter’ in Hebrew), borne by a prophet of the 7th century bc. He was the author of the book of the Bible that bears his name, in which he prophesies the downfall of Nineveh, which fell in 612 bc. This is a well-established Jewish name, which was also used by 17th-century Puritans. It was borne by the minor Restoration dramatist Nahum Tate (1652–1715), who rewrote Shakespeare's King Lear with a happy ending.

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PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Nahum." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Nahum." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Nahum.html

PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Nahum." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Nahum.html

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Nahum, Book of

Nahum, Book of. Minor Prophet. It predicts the fall of Nineveh (c.612 BC), which is regarded as so imminent that the Book is usually dated shortly before this event. The psalm at the beginning (1: 2–9 or 1: 2–2: 2) may come from an independent source.

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E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Nahum, Book of." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Nahum, Book of." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-NahumBookof.html

E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Nahum, Book of." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-NahumBookof.html

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Nahum, Book of

Nahum, Book of. One of the Minor Prophets of the Hebrew Bible and Christian Old Testament. Nahum seems to have been active in the late 7th cent. BCE, probably just before the final destruction of Nineveh.

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JOHN BOWKER. "Nahum, Book of." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN BOWKER. "Nahum, Book of." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-NahumBookof.html

JOHN BOWKER. "Nahum, Book of." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-NahumBookof.html

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Nahum

Nahum (in the Bible) a Hebrew minor prophet. Also, a book of the Bible containing his prophecy of the fall of Nineveh (early 7th century bc).

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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Nahum." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Nahum." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Nahum.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Nahum." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Nahum.html

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Nahum

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"Nahum." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Nahum." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Nahum.html

"Nahum." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Nahum.html

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