The Judean Problem in Nahum 1:9

Abstract This article investigates the socio-historical background of Nah 1:9 amidst seemingly contradictory scholarly claims that its addressees were skeptical about the power of YHWH in the face of the power of the Neo-Assyrian empire at a time that the same empire was weak. The research ends with two conclusions. First, the basis of the skepticism among the addressees was fear that the dying empire could recover with disastrous consequences for disloyal vassals who abandoned the empire in its time of weakness. Second, far from being timid Judeans, the skeptics had rationally defensible bases for their fear. They were simply being cautious. This was no cowardice.