Nahum 3:10

Translations

Modern

Yet she became an exile; she went into captivity. Her infants were dashed to pieces at the head of every street. They cast lots for her dignitaries, and all her nobles were bound in chains.

Traditional

Yet was she carried away, she went into captivity: her young children also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the streets: and they cast lots for her honourable men, and all her great men were bound in chains.

Literal

Yet she was as an exile; she went into captivity; even her infants were dashed to pieces at the head of every street, and over her honored ones they cast lots, and all her great ones were bound in chains.

Latin

Sed et ipsa in transmigrationem ducta est in captivitatem: parvuli ejus elisi sunt in capite omnium viarum, et super inclytos ejus miserunt sortem, et omnes optimates ejus confixi sunt in compedibus.

Original

Hebrew

English

Yet she became an exile; she went into captivity. Her infants were dashed to pieces at the head of every street. They cast lots for her dignitaries, and all her nobles were bound in chains.

Notes

Nahum 3:9–10

The Assyrians, led by King Ashurbanipal, conquered Thebes in 663 BC. Before this, Thebes seemed unbeatable with strong defenses and support from Egypt and its allies:
- Ethiopia,
- Put (possibly the legendary land of Punt, located near what is now coastal Somalia), and
- Libya.
However, these allies did not protect Thebes effectively.
infants were dashed to pieces: In the ancient world, conquering armies sometimes killed the infants of their enemies. This cruel practice was meant to wipe out a people completely and prevent future resistance (2 Kings 8:12; Psalm 137:9; Isaiah 13:16, 18).
Soldiers cast lots to divide the goods taken in war. At the same time, the leaders of the defeated people were tied with chains and taken away as prisoners (see 2 Kings 25:7; Jeremiah 40:1, 4; Joel 3:3; Obadiah 1:11).

Theme notes and profiles

Assyria

Events

Prophecies of Nahumc. 663 BC

Related verses

Isaiah 20:4
…so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old alike, naked and barefoot, with bared buttocks—to Egypt’s shame.
Hosea 13:16
Samaria will bear her guilt because she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to pieces, and their pregnant women ripped open.
Joel 3:3
They cast lots for My people; they bartered a boy for a prostitute and sold a girl for wine to drink.
Obadiah 1:11
On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gate and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were just like one of them.
Isaiah 13:16
Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes, their houses will be looted, and their wives will be ravished.
Lamentations 2:19
Arise, cry out in the night from the first watch of the night. Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to Him for the lives of your children who are fainting from hunger on the corner of every street.
2 Kings 8:12
“Why is my lord weeping?” asked Hazael. “Because I know the evil you will do to the Israelites,” Elisha replied. “You will set fire to their fortresses, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little ones to pieces, and rip open their pregnant women.”
Amos 1:13
This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of the Ammonites, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to enlarge their territory.
Isaiah 13:6
Wail, for the Day of the LORD is near; it will come as destruction from the Almighty.
Lamentations 4:1
How the gold has become tarnished, the pure gold has become dull! The gems of the temple lie scattered on every street corner.
Psalm 137:8
O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, blessed is he who repays you as you have done to us.
Psalm 33:16–17
No king is saved by his vast army; no warrior is delivered by his great strength.

Glossary

Assyria, Assyrians Book of Nahum

Topics

Nineveh: Predictions Respecting: Captivity of Its People War: Evils of

Nahum 3:10

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