“What became
Of the lions’ den?
What became
Of the cave
Of the young lions?
There the lion goes.
There his cubs were,
With none to disturb them.
The lion has torn enough
For his whelps.
He strangled prey
For his lionesses.
He has filled his caves
With prey.
He has filled his dens
With torn flesh.
‘See!
I am against you!’
Says Yahweh of hosts!
‘I will burn
Your chariots
In smoke.
The sword shall devour
Your young lions.
I will cut off
Your prey
From the earth.
The voice
Of your messengers
Shall be heard no more.’”
Assyria was considered a lion or a destroyer. Nahum wanted to know what had happened to this proud lion’s den or his cave. There his young cubs would be undisturbed. He had gathered enough prey for these lionesses, as well as their cubs. This lion of Assyria had filled his caves and dens with torn flesh. All this would be gone. Yahweh has issued an oracle against Assyria. Yahweh would burn their chariots as they would go up in smoke. Their young lions would die by the sword. They would lose all their prey. The voice of their messengers would not be heard anymore. The end of Nineveh and Assyria was near.