Bible Figure
Nahum
biblical prophet associated with the Book of Nahum
Nahum was a prophet whose book announces the fall of Nineveh and celebrates God's justice against the brutal Assyrian power that had oppressed nations including Israel and Judah.
Biography
Nahum is identified as the Elkoshite, but Scripture gives no further personal biography. His prophecy focuses on Nineveh, capital of Assyria, portraying the Lord as jealous, avenging, slow to anger, and great in power. Nahum vividly depicts Nineveh's coming siege and destruction and explains its downfall as divine judgment for violence, cruelty, deception, and exploitation. For Judah, Assyria's fall meant relief from a terrifying imperial oppressor.
Biblical Significance
Nahum complements Jonah by showing that God's earlier mercy toward Nineveh did not mean permanent immunity from judgment. The book affirms both God's patience and His ultimate justice against persistent national violence and oppression.