“Your shepherds
Are asleep!
O king of Assyria!
Your nobles slumber!
Your people are scattered
On the mountains!
There is no one
To gather them!
There is no assuaging
Your hurt!
Your wound is mortal!
All who hear
The news of you,
Clap their hands
Over you.
Who has ever escaped
Your endless cruelty?”
It almost seems like Yahweh, via Nahum, was sorry about the situation in Assyria. Nahum has a lament for their situation. Nahum said that all their leaders or shepherds were asleep, while their nobles also slumbered. The people had been scattered to the mountains, with no one to gather them back. They had suffered a mortal wound. Unfortunately, everyone who heard the news about them were clapping their hands in joy. Assyria would never escape from its cruel position. Ding dong, Assyria was dead.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 