ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN DECEMBER
Saints celebrated on the 1st of December
SAINT NAHUM, PROPHET
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| Nahum, Prophet |
Nahum is one of the Prophets of the Old Testament, the seventh in the traditional list of the twelve Minor Prophets.
The Hebrew name, probably in the intensive form, Nahhum, signifies primarily "full of consolation or comfort", hence "consoler" (Saint Jerome: consolator), or "comforter".
The little we know touching the Prophet Nahum must be gathered from his book, for nowhere else in the canonical Scriptures does his name occur, and extracanonical Jewish writers are hardly less reticent. From its title we learn that Nahum was an Elcesite (Elqoshite). On the true import of this statement commentators have not always been of one mind. In the prologue to his commentary of the book, Saint Jerome informs us that some understood Elqoshite as a patronymic indication: "the son of Elqosh"; he, however, holds the commonly accepted view that the word Elqoshite shows that the Prophet was a native of Elqosh.
The Book of Nahum contains only three chapters and may be divided into two distinct parts.
After the twofold title indicating the subject-matter and the author of the book, the writer enters upon his subject by a solemn affirmation of what he calls the Lord's jealousy and revengefulness, and a most forceful description of the fright which seizes all nature at the aspect of Yahweh coming into judgment. Contrasting admirably with this appalling picture is the comforting assurance of God's loving-kindness towards His true and trustful servants; then follows the announcement of the destruction of His enemies, among whom a treacherous, cruel city, no doubt Ninive (although the name is not found in the text), is singled out and irretrievably doomed to everlasting ruin; the glad tidings of the oppressor's fall is the signal of a new era of glory for the people of God.
The second part of the book is more directly than the other a "burden of Ninive"; some of the features of the great Assyrian city are described so accurately as to make all doubt impossible. The bloodthirstiness, greed, and crafty and insidious policy of Ninive are the cause of her overthrow, most graphically depicted. Her empire is about to crumble, and its fall will be hailed by the triumphant applause by the whole universe.
Little will be found in the teaching of the book of Nahum that is really new and original. The originality of Nahum is that his mind is so engrossed by the iniquities and impending fate of Ninive, that he appears to lose sight of the shortcomings of his own people. The doom of Ninive was nevertheless in itself for Juda an object-lesson which the impassioned language of the Prophet was well calculated to impress deeply upon the minds of thoughtful Israelites.
Despite the uncertainty of the text in several places, there is no doubt that the book of Nahum is truly "a masterpiece" (Kaulen) of literature. The vividness and picturesqueness of the Prophet's style; his few short, flashing sentences, most graphic word-pictures, apt and forceful figures, grand, energetic, and pathetic expressions rush in, thrust vehemently upon one another, yet leaving the impression of perfect naturalness. Withal the language remains ever pure and classical, with a tinge of partiality for alliteration, and the use of prim and rare idioms; the sentences are perfectly balanced; in a word Nahum is a consummate master of his art, and ranks among the most accomplished writers of the Old Testament.
(Excerpts from Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913)
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