“No Amon” in Nahum

[Nahum 3:8-10] “Are you better than Thebes [No Amon], which was situated by the Nile, with water around her, whose rampart was the sea, whose wall was the water? Ethiopia and Egypt were her boundless strength; Put and Libyans were your helpers. Yet she was carried away; she went into captivity; her little ones were […]

  Ancient Assyrian Prophecy

[Nahum 1:8] “But with an overwhelming flood he will make an utter end of Nineveh, and darkness will pursue his enemies.” [Nahum 2:6] “The river gates are opened; the palace is engulfed.” According to the ancient Greek historian Diodorus Siculus (90–30 BC) in his Bibliotheca Historica (Book II), the Assyrians had an ancient prophecy: “no […]

The Prophet Nahum

Tradition holds that the author of the Book of Nahum is Nahum, a prophet from the Southern Kingdom. Details of Nahum’s life are unknown, and the location of his hometown, “Elkosh,” remains unconfirmed to this day. Some suggest it was north of Nineveh, others south of Jerusalem, and still others Capernaum in Galilee (whose name […]

Historical Background of the book of Nahum

The Book of Nahum (נחום / Nakhum in Hebrew) is the seventh of the twelve Minor Prophets. It follows the Book of Jonah, which declares forgiveness for Nineveh, and precedes the Book of Micah, which addresses the discipline of Judah. Nahum delivers a message of comfort to God’s people by announcing the final judgment on […]

The Prophet Micah

Micah is a shortened form of “Micaiah” (Judges 18:2) and “Micaiah” (1 Kings 22:8). The name means “Who is like the Lord?” The prophet Isaiah and Micah were contemporaries, ministering during the same period. While Isaiah came from a wealthy, upper-class background, Micah was a simple countryman from Moresheth, a village located in the fertile […]

Historical Background of the Book of Micah

The Hebrew name for the Book of Micah is “Micah” (מיכה / Mikhah), and it is the sixth book among the Book of the Twelve Prophets. In the Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh, the Book of Micah is placed after the Book of Jonah, not purely for chronological reasons, but because of the message the Holy […]

The Miracle of Resurrection

In the Old Testament, God used many different prophecies and foreshadowings to help people understand the coming Christ and the salvation He would accomplish. But can we also grasp Christ’s redemption and God’s love through a runaway prophet? This is truly miraculous. God doesn’t only use those who are absolutely holy and flawless; He also […]

Background and Author Introduction to the Book of Jonah

The Hebrew name for the Book of Jonah is “Jonah” (יונה / Yonah), and it is the fifth book among the Book of the Twelve Prophets (תרי עשר / Trei Asar). Tradition holds that the author of the Book of Jonah is the prophet Jonah from the Northern Kingdom, whose name means “dove.” Jonah was […]

The Ancient City of Sela (Petra)

Israel’s neighbor, Edom, had two important cities: Bozrah and Sela. Sela is an ancient ruined city in Jordan, built into cliffs, located about 250 kilometers south of Amman. It’s hidden within a narrow canyon on the eastern side of the Arabah Valley. Petra is situated at a crossroads of the Middle East, where routes from […]

Background of the Book of Obadiah

The Book of Obadiah (Hebrew: עֹבַדְיָה) is the shortest book in the Hebrew Bible, consisting of only 21 verses. It is the fourth book in the Book of the Twelve Prophets. Obadiah’s birth, birthplace, tribe, and life story are all unknown. Clearly, the message itself is what’s important, not the prophet. Obadiah was the earliest […]