Nahum lived about 2600 years ago. He was a native of Elkosh (about 20 miles southwest of Jerusalem). The Bible's book of Nahum is short in length and consists almost entirely of a prophecy of Nineveh's destruction. It is believed that Nahum wrote his book about two years before Nineveh was destroyed in 612 BC.
Nineveh at that time was the capital of the Assyrian Empire, which was one of the most powerful empires of the ancient world. The Assyrians conquered the kingdom of Israel in about 722 BC, about 2700 years ago. The conquest was as ruthless and cruel as it was devastating.
Nahum explains that because of Assyria's pride and cruelty in their destruction of Israel, and because of their idolatry, treachery, superstition, and injustice, their empire would be destroyed as punishment. In 612 BC (about 2600 years ago), a coalition of Babylonians, Scythians and Medes conquered Nineveh.
Although we do not know exactly when the book of Nahum was written, we do know that it contains some long-term prophecies that we can see as being fulfilled even today. For example, Nahum said that Nineveh's destruction would be final, and that the city would never again regain the greatness that it once had, and that Nineveh would never again be able to cause problems for Israel.
As we can see today, Nahum was right. Nineveh was never again a world power. And today, it is little more than an archaeological site. In contrast, Israel is again a nation, and a relatively prosperous one at that.
God's holiness, justice and power are the foundation of the Nahum's prophetic book. God rules over all the earth, even over those who do not acknowledge Him. Along with Nahum's writings about the destruction of Nineveh, there is also a message of hope shines through. God is slow to anger (Nahum 1:3) and good (Nahum 1:7) and offers good tidings to those who want His blessings (Nahum 1:15).
Nahum, means "Comforted". His book is the seventh of the twelve minor prophets.
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