Are you better than(A) Thebes,(B)
    situated on the Nile,(C)
    with water around her?
The river was her defense,
    the waters her wall.
Cush[a](D) and Egypt were her boundless strength;
    Put(E) and Libya(F) were among her allies.
10 Yet she was taken captive(G)
    and went into exile.
Her infants were dashed(H) to pieces
    at every street corner.
Lots(I) were cast for her nobles,
    and all her great men were put in chains.(J)
11 You too will become drunk;(K)
    you will go into hiding(L)
    and seek refuge from the enemy.

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Footnotes

  1. Nahum 3:9 That is, the upper Nile region

Thebes: an Example of God’s Justice

“Are you any better than Thebes,[a]
    which sits by the upper Nile, surrounded by water?
The sea was her defense,
    the waters her wall of protection.[b]
Sudan[c] was her source of strength, along with Egypt—
    there were no limits.
Put and the Libyans were her allies.
10 But she, too, was exiled—
    she went into captivity!
Her young children were dashed to pieces
    at every crossroad of their streets,
and her famous citizens were sold by lottery,
    while all of her aristocrats were put in chains.
11 You will also become drunk.
    You will disappear,
        trying to hide from your enemies.

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Footnotes

  1. Nahum 3:8 Lit. than No-Amon; i.e. Thebes, capital of southern Egypt (cf. Jer 46.25)
  2. Nahum 3:8 The Heb. lacks of protection
  3. Nahum 3:9 Lit. Cush