Who Wrote Nahum?
Quick Summary
The book of Nahum is attributed to the prophet Nahum of Elkosh, whose message centers on the impending fall of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria. While the book provides limited biographical detail, its vivid poetry and historical references situate it firmly in the seventh century BCE. Scholars widely agree that Nahum’s oracles originate with a historical prophet whose words were preserved and arranged as Scripture, offering a focused theological response to imperial violence.
Introduction
Nahum is one of the most concentrated prophetic books in the Old Testament. It contains no call narrative, no sustained appeal to repentance, and no extended promises of restoration for Israel. Instead, Nahum delivers a poetic proclamation of judgment against Assyria, the empire that had terrorized the ancient Near East for generations.
Because the book is so tightly focused, questions of authorship are unusually clear. Nahum’s message is anchored in a specific historical moment, and its literary unity suggests a single prophetic voice preserved with care. Understanding who wrote Nahum helps readers see how Scripture gives language to relief, justice, and the collapse of oppressive power.
Nahum of Elkosh: What the Text Tells Us
The book opens with a brief superscription: “An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh” (Nahum 1:1, NRSV).
Beyond this identification, the text offers no biographical details. The location of Elkosh remains uncertain, with proposals ranging from Judah to regions east of the Tigris. Most scholars, however, agree that Nahum was a Judean prophet whose message addressed both Assyria and the people who had suffered under its domination.
Duane L. Christensen notes that the absence of personal detail shifts attention entirely to the prophetic message rather than the prophet’s identity (Nahum, Word Biblical Commentary).
Historical Setting: The Fall of Assyria
Nahum’s prophecy is closely tied to the decline of the Assyrian Empire. The book alludes to the fall of Thebes (No-Amon) in Egypt, which occurred in 663 BCE (Nahum 3:8–10), and anticipates the destruction of Nineveh in 612 BCE.
Read: Where is Nineveh Today?
These references place Nahum’s activity firmly in the latter half of the seventh century BCE. John J. Collins emphasizes that Nahum reflects a moment when Assyria’s apparent invincibility was beginning to crack (Introduction to the Hebrew Bible).
The book’s confidence in Nineveh’s downfall suggests composition shortly before that event, when hope for imperial collapse became imaginable.
Literary Style and Unity
Nahum is renowned for its powerful poetry. Vivid imagery, wordplay, and tightly structured stanzas dominate the book. The opening hymn (Nahum 1:2–8) presents God as both slow to anger and irresistibly powerful, framing the judgment that follows.
Scholars consistently note the book’s literary cohesion. O. Palmer Robertson argues that Nahum’s carefully crafted poetry supports the view of a single prophetic author whose vision was preserved intact (Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah, NICOT).
The book’s unity contrasts with longer prophetic collections that show more extensive editorial layering.
Relationship to Other Prophetic Traditions
Nahum’s message stands in tension with books like Jonah, which portray Nineveh’s repentance and God’s mercy toward Assyria. This tension is not contradiction but theological breadth.
Nahum addresses a later historical moment, when Assyrian brutality had continued despite earlier reprieves. Marvin A. Sweeney notes that the Twelve Prophets together preserve diverse responses to foreign powers across time (The Twelve Prophets, Berit Olam).
Nahum’s focus is not vengeance for its own sake but the assurance that violent empires do not endure indefinitely.
Editing and Preservation
While Nahum’s oracles originate with a historical prophet, the book likely underwent minimal editorial shaping to preserve its message for later readers. The absence of narrative seams and the consistency of tone suggest faithful transmission rather than extensive reworking.
Brevard Childs emphasizes that the final form of prophetic books reflects theological intention, allowing historically situated messages to speak canonically (Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture).
Inspiration and Justice
Nahum raises difficult questions about divine justice. The book celebrates the downfall of an enemy, language that can unsettle modern readers. Yet within its historical context, Nahum offers hope to communities crushed by imperial violence.
The book insists that God is not indifferent to oppression. Nahum’s vision affirms that justice includes the dismantling of systems that thrive on cruelty.
Conclusion
The book of Nahum preserves the voice of Nahum of Elkosh, a seventh-century prophet who proclaimed the downfall of Assyria. Its authorship reflects a single prophetic vision carefully preserved as Scripture.
Nahum endures because it names the relief that comes when terror ends and reminds readers that no empire stands beyond accountability.
FAQ
Who was Nahum?
Nahum was a prophet identified as coming from Elkosh, active during the decline of the Assyrian Empire.
When was Nahum written?
Most scholars date Nahum to the late seventh century BCE, shortly before Nineveh’s fall in 612 BCE.
Why is Nahum so focused on judgment?
Nahum addresses a historical moment when Assyria’s violence demanded theological reckoning rather than calls to repentance.
