LEB by section NAH 2:3

⌂ ← NAH 2:3–2:10 → ║ ©

The Enemy Army Conquers the City of Nineveh

3 are dyed red; The powerful men are dressed in scarlet.

The metal of the chariots[fn] shines like fire[fn]
- and their spears quiver.
- 4 [fn] race madly through the streets; they rush back and forth in the public squares.
Their appearance like lightning bolts,
- they dart about like flashes of lightning.
- 5  they stumble as they march;
they rush to her wall;
- they set the covering[fn] in place.
- 6  the palace trembles.
- 7 [fn] her maidservants moan like doves;
  - they beat on their breasts.
- 8 is like a pool of water without its water.[fn][fn] she cries, “Stop! Stop!”
  - But there is no one who turns back.
- 9  There is no end to the spoils,[fn]
  - an abundance of[fn]
- 10  Their hearts faint and their knees tremble,[fn]
  - [fn] and all their faces[fn] pale.

?:? Hebrew “chariot”

?:? Literally “on the day of his preparation”

?:? Hebrew “chariot”

?:? The Hebrew word describes a small portable roof to protect siege warriors from arrows and debris hurled at them from the fortified city wall

?:? Literally “It is decreed that she be exiled and led away.” MT reads the very enigmatic “And he is placed, she is sent into exile, she is taken up.” The BHS editors suggest the conjectural emendation “And her goddess = the idol of the patron deity of Nineveh is taken and taken into exile.” This is adopted in the translation on the basis of internal evidence

?:? MT reads “from her days.” Greek LXX and Syriac Peshitta reflect “from her waters”

?:? Literally “And they flee away”

?:? Literally “the supply”

?:? Literally “every kind of desirable object”

?:? Or “totter”

?:? Literally “And shaking of all loins”

?:? Literally “gather”

NAH C1 C2 C3