Like clouds (Nahum 1:3) and mountains (1:5), oceans and rivers are under God's control. The Old Testament prophets often recall God's actions against the seas and rivers during the exodus (Exodus 15:8–10; 2 Samuel 22:16; Psalms 66:6; 77:16; Habakkuk 3:15). God's power over the waters challenged the myths of the ancient Canaanites, who believed the sea-god Yam controlled the oceans and rivers.
Bashan, east of the Sea of Galilee, was known for its rich grasslands, ideal for raising cattle (compare Micah 7:14).
Carmel, a mountain region on the Mediterranean coast in central Canaan, was well known for its beauty and rich farmland (Song of Solomon 7:5; Jeremiah 50:19).
Lebanon was famous for its great cedars (1 Kings 5:6–18). Nahum lists these areas to show that even the most fertile and productive places on earth cannot withstand God's judgment.