Nahum 2:5

Old Testament Minor Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Nahum 2:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “He remembereth his nobles: they stumble in their march; they make haste to the wall thereof, and the mantelet is prepared.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

He remembereth his nobles: they stumble in their march; they make haste to the wall thereof, and the mantelet is prepared.
Nahum 2:5 — American Standard Version

Context — Nahum 2

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
5He remembereth his nobles: they stumble in their march; they make haste to the wall thereof, and the mantelet is prepared.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“He shall recount his worthies, etc.] Either the dasher in pieces, (<340201>Nahum 2:1), the kings of Babylon and Media, shall call together their general officers, and muster the forces under then, and put them in mind of their duty, and recount the actions of their ancestors in former times, in order to animate and encourage them to the siege and attack of the city of Nineveh; or the king of Assyria shall recount and muster up his nobles, and the troops under them, to sally out against the enemy, and meet him in the field, and give him battle: they shall stumble in their walk: being many, and in haste to obey the orders of their commander, shall stumble and fall upon one another; or else the…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“He shall recount his worthies - The Assyrian king wakes as out of a sleep, literally, “he remembers his mighty men” (as Nahum 3:18; Judges 5:13; Nehemiah 3:5); “they stumble in their walk,” literally, paths , not through haste only and eager fear, but from want of inward might and the aid of God. These whom God leads stumble not Isaiah 63:13. : “Perplexed every way and not knowing what they ought to do, their mind wholly darkened and almost drunken with ills, they reel to and fro, turn from one thing to another, and in all” labor in vain. They shall make haste to the walls thereof, and the defense - (literally, “the covering”) shall be prepared The Assyrian monuments leave no doubt that a…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“He - The king of Babylon. His worthies - Approved officers and commanders. Stumble - Shew such forwardness, that they shall not stand to pick their way. They - The Assyrians to defend, the Chaldeans to assault the walls of Nineveh. Nahum 2:6”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“recount: Isa 21:5; Jer 50:29, Jer 51:27, Jer 51:28 worthies: or, gallants they shall stumble: Nah 3:3; Isa 5:27; Jer 46:12 defence: or, covering, or, coverer Nahum 2:6”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“The Assyrian tries to repel this attack, but all in vain. Nah 2:5. "He remembers his glorious ones: they stumble in their paths; they hasten to the wall of it, and the tortoise is set up. Nah 2:6. The gates are opened in the rivers, and the palace is dissolved. Nah 2:7. It is determined: she is laid bare, carried off, and her maids groan like the cry of doves, smiting on their breasts." On the approach of the war-chariots of the enemy to the attack, the Assyrian remembers his generals and warriors, who may possibly be able to defend the city and drive back the foe. That the subject changes with yizkōr, is evident from the change in the number, i.e., from the singular as compared with the…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification