Nahum 2:12
The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled his holes with prey, and his dens with ravin.
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
Assyrian imperial economy was based on systematic plunder. Annual military campaigns extracted tribute, conquered cities were stripped of treasures, populations were enslaved and deported. Assyrian annals boast of enormous quantities of gold, silver, livestock, and goods taken from conquered peoples. Nineveh itself was a showcase of plundered wealth—palaces filled with treasures from Egypt, Babylon, Israel, and dozens of other nations. The 'lion filling his den' was literal: Nineveh's storehouses overflowed with stolen goods. But as Jesus taught: 'Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal' (Matthew 6:19). In 612 BC, Nineveh's accumulated plunder was itself plundered by Babylon.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the image of excess predation (filling dens beyond need) illustrate the sinful nature of greed and imperial exploitation?
- What does Assyria's fate teach about the futility of accumulating wealth through injustice and violence?
- How should believers examine their own lives for patterns of 'hoarding' or taking more than needed at others' expense?
Analysis & Commentary
The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps (aryeh toreph bedi gorotav, אַרְיֵה טֹרֵף בְּדֵי גֹרוֹתָיו)—continuing the lion metaphor, Nahum depicts Assyria as a predator tearing prey (taraph, טָרַף) sufficient (dei, דֵּי) for its cubs. The image is of a provider-predator hunting to feed its young, suggesting Assyria's systematic plunder of nations to enrich itself and its dependencies.
And strangled for his lionesses (umechannek lelvi'otav)—strangling (chanak, חָנַק) prey for the lionesses, depicting methodical killing beyond immediate need. And filled his holes with prey, and his dens with ravin (vayemale tereph chorav ume'onotav terefah)—filling caves (chor, חֹר) with prey (tereph, טֶרֶף) and dens (me'onot, מְעֹנֹת) with torn flesh (terefah, טְרֵפָה). This depicts hoarding and excess: not killing from necessity but from greed, stockpiling plunder, accumulating beyond need. Assyria didn't just conquer for security but for insatiable appetite for dominance and wealth.