The Other Voice to Nineveh: Best Commentaries on Nahum
This is a book that must be preached carefully and thoughtfully. It can be both a clear call for repentance and a balm to the suffering.
Nahum is an often-overlooked and little-understood minor prophet, likely because of its difficult subject matter. Nahum is a book of comfort and hope to those who have been victimized and oppressed. It is a book for survivors. This also makes it a book of judgement and justice for oppressors and those who refuse to repent of their wickedness.
In Nahum, God deals with Nineveh for its years of evil, cruelty, and oppression.
Readers will note that Nahum is a kind of second Jonah, sent to speak to Nineveh about its deeds. But unlike Jonah, Nineveh does not repent in sackcloth and ashes, and Nahum ends without any repentance.
This is a book that must be preached carefully and thoughtfully. It can be both a clear call for repentance and a balm to the suffering.
Note: I have organized the commentaries categorically in terms of commentary type or style (Academic/Scholarly, Verse by Verse/Accessible, Homiletical/Popular Level).
Academic/Scholarly – Commentaries that have extensive historical analysis and research behind them as they also deal extensively with the text in the original language, and have clearly consulted the bulk of the available and relevant literature, both critical and evangelical.
O. Palmer Robertson, The Books of Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah - The New International Commentary on the Old Testament
In this commentary, Robertson offers insight into the relevant background issues in Nahum, like redemptive-historical setting, theological perspective, date, and authorship, while also carefully exegeting verse by verse. The ability to read Hebrew is not required for this text, but would be an asset as Robertson does deal with some language/grammatical questions.
James Bruckner, Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah - The NIV Application Commentary
Though it is called an application commentary, Bruckner does a reasonably detailed analysis of each section of text, followed by suggestions of how to bridge contexts and apply each section to a congregation. I found Bruckner’s volume very helpful in preaching preparation and was my favourite commentary as I preached through Nahum.
Daniel C. Timmer, Nahum - Daniel - Malachi - ESV Expository Commentary
Timmer’s contribution is part of the larger ESV commentary, but he offers an excellent introduction to the book along with suggestions for how to preach the book. In each section, Timmer gives some comment on some of the verses while also offering a “response” section about how Christians and preachers can apply the text. It is a helpful addition.
Homiletical/Popular Level – Commentaries that provide summarizing insights that read more like a sermon and deal more with application than interpretation. These can be particularly helpful to reference toward the end of the sermon preparation process.
John L. Mackay - Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah - Focus on the Bible
Mackay’s contribution is very readable and soundly evangelical. He is very helpful in interpretation and application and offers study questions at the end of each section.
