NAHUM: INTRODUCTION TO THE LITERARY STRUCTURE

Below is an abstract from a chapter in my unpublished book The Structure of Scripture. For those wishing the complete chapter, please contact me at elmerphd21@hotmail. com and I will forward it to them.

In contrast to the translated name of the book (“comforter” or “comforted”), it deals mainly with foreboding prophecies, as indicated by the introductory description “an oracle” in 1:1.

Although directed primarily towards Assyria and its capital Nineveh, these pronouncements have broader implications, as we shall see. In regard to the literary qualities of this book, the strong opinion has been voiced that “as a literary craftsman Nahum has no superior and few peers among the Old Testament poets. His sense of the dramatic is felt throughout the book” and “Nahum is a neglected literary master.”  Unfortunately, one effect of the author’s lively style appears to be a rather loose structure. Thus, the conclusions reached below are voiced with less than surety.

This small book has attracted a rather large amount of controversy related to its composition. Most of the debate has raged around the first chapter, which may or may not contain remnants of an acrostic poem. Also confusing to the casual reader and scholar alike is the constant shift from one voice and audience to another as the book progresses. This latter feature has caused some to propose that the book was designed as a liturgy to be read responsively, although the passages do not seem to fit the liturgical mold one is accustomed to seeing in other biblical settings. 

In addition, there is a complicating factor in that Nahum-Habakkuk has been proposed as a combined work (see discussion in the chapter on Habakkuk). Lastly, and most germane to this study, there seems to be little agreement regarding the major divisions present in the book, as shown by some randomly selected examples below (omitting the heading for simplicity):

Divisions 

1:2-14      1:15-2:4     2:5-13      3:1-19

1:2-15          2:1-13                    3:1-19

1:2-8   1:9-2:2   2:3-3:194

1:2-14     1:15-2:13                   3:1-19

1:2-8  1:9-2:2   2:3-13            3:1-7   3:8-19

1:2-11  1:12-2:2 2:3-13          3:1-7   3:8-13    3:14-19

1:2-10   1:11-2:1 2:2-3:19

Some of this lack of consensus results from attempts to divide the book using mainly content as a criterion. David Dorsey applies structural tools to analyze Nahum, resulting in the identification of seven sections. The first three units (1:2-10; 1:11-15; 2:1-10) he tentatively labels as chiastic compositions while the remaining four (2:11-13; 3:1-7; 3:8-13; 3:14-19) each contain seven sub-units forming 3 + 4 patterns just as in the book as a whole. According to this analysis, the book’s structure thus imitates the Hebrew dirge rhythm – highly appropriate for the subject of Nineveh’s fall. In addition to this overall pattern, Dorsey detects hints of an overall chiastic arrangement for the seven sections, with a center point at 2:11-13, “a great interlude” in the book.

The many uncertainties voiced by Dorsey himself regarding the above conclusions and the lack of agreement of this scheme with other proposed divisions for the book prompt a new look into the whole subject. One simple approach, which appears to yield the most positive results, is to consider a new section beginning wherever there is a change in the speaker and/or audience. Thus, one of the puzzling features of the book can actually be used as a guide to its organization.

Speaker         Person             Audience             Verses

Nahum          3rd                  general                  1:2-8

Nahum          2nd                 Assyria                 1:9a

Nahum         3rd                  Assyria                 1:9b-10

Nahum         2nd                 Assyria                 1:11

God              2nd                 Judah                    1:12-13

God             2nd                  Assyria                 1:14

God             2nd                 Judah                     1:15

--- --- --- ---

Nahum      3rd*                  Assyria                 2:1-12

God          3nd*                  Assyria                 2:13-3:4

God          2nd                   Assyria                  3:5-19

        *primarily third person with some verses in second person

Ch. 1 begins in a relatively impersonal mode with Nahum talking about God in the third person. The speech then moves to the prophet addressing Assyria and Judah directly. Finally, God himself enters the scene and speaks to Assyria. The second part of the book as identified by this analysis consists of chs. 2-3, which repeat this general pattern of increasingly personal interaction of God with His audience.

Within the first major section of the book, three sets of three subsections each can be identified using the divisions above and the repetition of certain key phrases.

The end result of this analysis is shown below:

The Structure of the Book of Nahum

I. Applied Theology (1:2-15)

A. The Attributes of God (1:2-8)

1. “The LORD is a jealous God and avenging” (1:2)

2. “The LORD is slow to anger and of great might” (1:3-6)

1'. “The LORD is good” (1:7-8)

B. An Accusation (1:9-11)

1. question (1:9a)

2. statement (1:9b-10)

1'. question (1:11)

C. The Word of the LORD (1:12-15)

1. to Judah (1:12-13)

2. to Assyria (1:14)

1'. to Judah (1:15)

II. Theology Applied (2:1-3:19)

A. Nineveh the Lion (2:1-12)

                        B. Nineveh the Harlot (2:13-3:4)

                        C. Nineveh the Locust Swarm (3:5-19)