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Nahum | 1 | 2 | 3 | PDF |

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These small group Bible studies of Nahum 2 contain commentary, discussion questions, and practical application. Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group.

Nahum 2 Bible Study Guide – Human Kingdoms will Fall

I. The Destruction of Nineveh (1-13)

Discussion Questions

• What is the key theme of Nahum 2?
• Who is the “you” in verse 1?
• How did Nineveh’s destruction affect Israel?
• What imagery stands out to you in this chapter?
• Why are lions associated with Nineveh (11-12)?
• Why was God “against” them?
• What is the deeper warning in this passage?
• What will be the end of human kingdoms? Which one will endure?
• How does the destruction of so many kingdoms in history inform the present and the future?
• Which kingdom will not have the same fate?
• Seeing the temporary nature and final destruction of Assyria, how does that affect you personally?
• How can you invest your time in a kingdom that will endure?

Cross-References

Isaiah 10:5-6 – Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hands is my fury! Against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I command him, to take spoil and seize plunder, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

Isaiah 14:1-2 – For the Lord will have compassion on Jacob and will again choose Israel, and will set them in their own land, and sojourners will join them and will attach themselves to the house of Jacob. And the peoples will take them and bring them to their place.

Galatians 6:7 – Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

Romans 12:2 – Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Matthew 6:19-21 – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Verse by Verse Commentary

1. Judgment pronounced on Nineveh –

In this chapter, Nahum pronounces God’s righteous judgment on Nineveh. Their sin and idolatry had gone on long enough. God had sent Jonah to preach to them and there was a brief repentance. But that turning toward God was long gone.

Even God’s longsuffering and patience have a limit.

Verse 1 – “The scatterer has come up against you.”

God is sending someone to scatter Nineveh.

Verse 4 – “The chariots race madly through the streets; they rush to and fro through the squares.”

Nineveh will hastily make preparations to try to fend off the attacks that are coming.

Verse 5 – “He remembers his officers; they stumble as they go, they hasten to the wall; the siege tower is set up.”

The Assyrian army hastens to defend the city, but the officers are stumbling as they go. It shows their fear and weakness.

Verse 6 – “The river gates are opened; the palace melts away.”

Historical accounts are not 100% clear on how Nineveh fell to Babylon. But a historical tradition says that the water system was related to Nineveh’s fall. Nineveh had an elaborate system of dams, canals, reservoirs, and sluice gates. This verse shows that the palace itself would be deluged. The very stronghold of the Assyrian king would be defeated.

Verse 7 – “Its mistress is stripped; she is carried off, her slave girls lamenting.”

Nineveh is pictured as a woman being stripped and carried away. As Assyria had plundered and taken captive other people, so this time, they would experience this humiliation themselves.

The conqueror would be conquered.

Verse 8 – “Nineveh is like a pool whose waters run away “Halt! Halt!” they cry, but none turns back.”

Nahum uses vivid imagery. Imagine you are thirsty and protecting a pool in the desert. The water starts seeping away. You try to plug the holes and keep the water, but it keeps streaming away until it is gone. Your best efforts to preserve the pool amount to nothing. So Nineveh would be. Its people would flee from the breaches in the wall like water from a reservoir.

Verse 9 – “Plunder the silver, plunder the gold!”

The plunderer would be plundered. Invaders would steal Nineveh’s treasures and wealth.

Verse 10 – “Desolate! Desolation and ruin! Hearts melt and knees tremble.”

Assyria would be destroyed to the point of desolation and ruin. This is exactly what happened. Eventually Nineveh was abandoned, became a ruin, and was buried for centuries.

2. Assyria and lions –

Nahum 2:11-12 – Where is the lions’ den, the feeding place of the young lions, where the lion and lioness went, where his cubs were, with none to disturb? The lion tore enough for his cubs and strangled prey for his lionesses; he filled his caves with prey and his dens with torn flesh.

Lions were closely associated with Assyria. Multiple lion-hunt reliefs have been discovered at Ashurbanipal’s palace at Nineveh. Assyrian kings apparently went on lion hunts. It was not only a form of entertainment, but a demonstration of royal power and courage. The King of Assyria could subdue the king of the animals.

Isaiah, like Nahum, compares Assyria to lions.

Isaiah 5:29 – Their roaring is like a lion, like young lions they roar; they growl and seize their prey; they carry it off, and none can rescue.

It was an image they would have been very familiar with. He mentions the lion’s den, which is perhaps a reference to Nineveh. The lion left its place to go and destroy and kill and bring back spoils to its family. That is what Assyria used to do. Assyria was like the lion, killing and stealing.

But he asks, “Where is the lion’s den?” It means, “Where is Assyria?” The lion used to go out and plunder. Now its place of safety is gone. No more will the lion go out and plunder. Its home is gone.

In the next verse, Nahum brings this point home.

Nahum 2:13 – And the sword shall devour your young lions.

The Assyrians who went out and, with the sword, devoured others would now be devoured by the sword.

Isaiah 33:1 – Ah, you destroyer, who yourself have not been destroyed, you traitor, whom none has betrayed! When you have ceased to destroy, you will be destroyed; and when you have finished betraying, they will betray you.

Throughout Scripture, we learn that you reap what you sow.

Proverbs 22:8 – Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail.

This would be true of Assyria.

Reflect – What are you sowing? What are you known for? If those who knew you compared you to an animal, what animal would it be?

3. God’s kingdom vs Human Kingdoms –

The key point in this book is that the kingdom of Assyria was going to be destroyed. It would soon be buried in the sands of time, its power, influence, and culture all fading away into nothing. All of this came true even as Nineveh itself was lost and buried for over two thousand years until its discovery in the 1800s.

Assyria was one of the oldest and most powerful ancient kingdoms. Its kings pillaged and conquered across the lands. This kingdom was greatly feared.

But Nahum tells us that it would not last. This kingdom, like so many before and after, rose and then fell. That is the nature of human kingdoms. No matter how splendid and mighty, they will all fade away.

The Egypt, Persia, Babylon, Greece, Aztec, Inca, Hittite, Mali, and Songhai empires are all gone, leaving behind only artifacts and stories in history books.

God revealed this truth to the powerful Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar.

Daniel 2 records the story of the vision of the statue, with different metals representing Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome.

Gold, silver, and bronze are all shiny and attractive. These are valuable metals. And even in the dream, they were bright and inviting. Iron is known for its strength. From man’s standpoint, the world’s empires and kingdoms are incredible, rich, strong, and magnificent.

Tourists still flock to museums to inspect clay pots or weapons from these long-gone kingdoms.

Yet these human kingdoms, no matter how splendid, are temporary. They rise and fall. Each will be conquered and taken over by another. Finally, they will be scattered without a trace. Nothing will remain of these world powers. They are a visible testament to the fleeting nature of riches and power.

Their passing reminds us that the world and all that it offers are fading. Many people put their trust in governments. Some serve these governments out of conviction. More serve out of the desire for reward and power. All of those who link their futures and livelihood to the world will be disappointed. Just as Babylon the Great will fall in the end-times (Revelation 18), so will all kingdoms of the world.

1 John 2:15-17 – Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Application: Does the world look shiny and attractive to you? Are you pursuing the world for what it can offer you? Remember the words of Jesus, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words shall endure forever.” (Luke 21:33.)

Let’s say you are going to invest in the stock market. You are choosing between two companies. And you have critical information. One of these companies will go bankrupt and close its doors in ten years. The other company will continually increase its market share and become the most successful company the world has ever seen. Where are you going to invest your money? It’s an easy decision, right?

Likewise, build your treasure in heaven and not on earth.

In Nebuchadnezzar’s vision, the final and everlasting kingdom is also mentioned.

Daniel 2:44-45 – And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold.

This kingdom will be made “without hands,” a symbol of its divine origin. It will be an eternal and lasting kingdom. All other civilizations made use of the structures and peoples left behind when they were conquered and were, in turn, left for others. But not this one.

It will strike the feet of iron and clay. This end-times kingdom will set itself up in direct opposition to the Lord and everything good He stands for. Satan’s puppet, the antichrist himself, will be at its head. Promises of riches, peace, prosperity, utopia, and complete freedom to engage in sin of every kind will be used to lure people into its chains of bondage. The alliance of nations will go so far as to gather the world’s armies together to challenge the Lord of Hosts. They will gather at Armageddon to try to end God once and for all (Revelation 16-20).

Then Jesus will return. The rock will shatter this kingdom and its armies. And Jesus will set up a kingdom that will have no end.

4. Behold, I am against you –

Nahum 2:13 – Behold, I am against you, declares the Lord of hosts, and I will burn your chariots in smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall no longer be heard.

Struggle Between God’s Kingdom and the World’s Kingdoms

Assyria and its king came down on the wrong side of this cosmic conflict. Its people turned to idolatry and wickedness, rebelling against God. Whoever sets himself up against God will regret it, for no one can stand against His wrath.

Assyria is only one in a long line of empires that were outlasted by God’s enduring kingdom.

In the book of Revelation, John writes of a final kingdom that will set itself up against God. It is the pinnacle and culmination of all human kingdoms that have come before it. It will be grand, but vile. In Revelation 18, this is called “Babylon the great.” Like Assyria before it, it too will fall.

Revelation 18:1-2 – After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. And he called out with a mighty voice,
“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.

Babylon represents all the worldly kingdoms which set themselves up against God. Human civilizations have been doing this ever since the original Tower of Babel, where people refused to obey God’s command to go and “multiply.” Instead, they stayed and attempted to build a tower to the heavens, proclaiming the greatness of man.

Assyria, Babylon, Egypt, Rome, Hollywood – all of them make enticing offers to lure people away from God.

Human civilizations offer wealth, immorality, luxury, art, culture, and entertainment. They say, “I will make you rich.” “I will make you happy.” They promise more than they can deliver. Their culture is fallen and depraved. Look at the gladiators of Rome’s time. Are we far off? Look at UFC fighting today.

Ancient art is filled with nudity. Today it is too. Hollywood glorifies sin. Grotesque violence, drugs, sex. But “it’s art,” they say. Yes, it is a corrupted form of art from a corrupted system that is against God. Many sinful practices are excused by the phrase “it’s culture” or “it’s art.” Culture is fallen and depraved.

Human kingdoms promote indulgence and luxurious living. Wealth is not used to help others. There is no thought of frugality or generosity.

People make money because they want to spend it on lavish living. In such a world with no restraint, the more grandiose and absurd the purchase, the better. Vain people will compete with each other for new ludicrous ways to spend money.

Example: “Art”.

Absurd scribbles of art sell for vast amounts of money. I have seen “art” pieces that were literally scribbled circles of chalk on a blackboard sold for seventy million dollars.

Why do people spend money like this? I believe it is vanity. What better way to prove how rich you are than the ability to waste a large amount? (Like two rich guys burning two piles of money).

People zealously pursue lavish lifestyles, caring not how much money is wasted. It brings them pleasure.

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, for example, owns over 5000 luxury cars valued at 2.3 trillion.

Others buy yachts, mansions, and fashion clothes. One of my previous students, to whom I taught English, told me that her purse cost over $10,000. And she was quite proud of it.

AI companies are rushing forward headlong and often throwing guardrails and caution to the wind, because of a desire for more money and more power. Do five minutes of research about Sam Altman and you will find that (as of 2026, I hope in the future he will turn to Jesus) he is not someone who is seeking after God. He is fully representing human power and achievement.

To all of this worldly system, God says throughout Scripture, “I am against you.” Assyria felt the hammer blow. But it wasn’t the first and is not the last.

Near the end of this world as we know it, Babylon the Great will also be caught between God’s great hammer and anvil.

When it happens, it will happen quickly. In a single day. In a single hour. God is going to destroy it, burning it up with fire.

The ramifications of this will be seen across the globe. Its political allies will weep and mourn. Its merchant partners will wail and despair. Supply chains across the world will be broken. Ships and cargo will be stranded with no buyers. Businesses will be wrecked.

One doesn’t have to use very much imagination to understand how this will affect the global economy. In 2008, when just one important financial firm in the US went bankrupt (The Lehman Brothers), the stock market crashed. Not just on Wall Street. Across the world, one by one as markets opened, they all crashed. Sydney, Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Dubai, Berlin, and London. In a single day, the global economy crashed. Every person linked to this economy felt its effects.

On that day of reckoning for Babylon, the pain will be far worse. Every person who is connected to that evil system will feel it. The wailing and despair show how much they hope in and rely on that for their safety and security.

They chose the wrong way. And God’s Word says, “You reap what you sow.” They chose sin and pleasure and wealth and luxury instead of God. And in this chapter, we see that they will pay the price.

Application

1 John 2:16-17 – For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Look around you for a moment. What is going to last? Nothing. Nothing that you can see is eternal. The only thing that will last around you is the souls of the people next to you. That is what God’s kingdom is made up of. And that is where we should invest!

We know where the paths in front of us lead. We know where the path of human achievement and hedonism ends up. We know the end of human kingdoms. And we know which is the kingdom that endures forever. Which path will you follow? Where are you investing your time?

What Man Sees vs What God Sees

What man sees in human kingdoms:

•  Beauty
•  Pleasure
•  Riches
•  Power
•  Opportunity
•  Fun
•  Success

What God sees:

Desolation, ruin, anguish, lies, plunder, corpses, whorings, nakedness, waste (Nahum 2-3)

When God looks at the world’s corrupted system, that is what He sees. And because He sees the truth about this world, He gives those who belong to Him a clear command.

Revelation 18:4 – Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues.

The point is clear. God’s people must not align themselves with Babylon or any other worldly system. From this, we can find our main application for today.

Be salt and light. In New Testament times, the Christian faith was called “the Way.” It was called this because believers lived their lives a different way from those in the world. Their faith affected how they lived. The way they treated their family was different. The way they did business was different. And most importantly, they followed the true way to God through Jesus.

Follow God’s way, not the world’s way.

James 4:4 – You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Practical Applications

• Do not marry unbelievers. There is nothing that allies you so close to the world’s system than marriage!
• Consider where to send your kids to school. Would you send your child to Assyrian High? If not, should you send your child to a school that is run by the same worldly system today? It may be that your child can go to Babylon University or Assyrian University or Harvard and share the gospel, and be salt and light. If that is what God is calling you to do, OK. If so, you must prepare them first. Are your children prepared to face the immense pressure to conform to the system schools?
• Use your money to invest in God’s kingdom, not Babylon.
• Think of ways to redeem the culture around you.

Reflect –

How have you been influenced by “Babylon”? What practical steps can you take this week to be a citizen of God’s kingdom instead of worldly systems?

eBook and Paperback: You can get the full PDF digital download or the paperback Jonah and Nahum book on Amazon.