en_tn_condensed/nam/02/01.md

# General Information:

Nahum often wrote prophecy in the form of poetry. Hebrew poetry uses different kinds of parallelism. Here he begins to describe the destruction of Nineveh. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/writing-poetry]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism]])

# The one who scatters

Nahum speaks of an army or military leader destroying Nineveh as if he were to break Nineveh apart as one would shatter a clay pot and scatter the pieces around. Alternate translation: "The one who will destroy you" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])

# is coming up against you

The idiom to "come against" means to attack. Alternate translation: "is preparing to attack you" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom]])

# Guard the city wall, watch the road, strengthen your loins, pull together all your strength

Nahum speaks to the people of Nineveh. He tells them to prepare for battle although he knows that the enemy will destroy the city. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-irony]])

# watch the road

This refers to having soldiers watch the roads leading to the city so that they can keep track of the enemy's approach.

# strengthen your loins

The loins are a synecdoche for the whole body. Alternate translation: "make yourselves strong" or "prepare for battle" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche]])

# pull together all your strength

This is an idiom that means to prepare oneself for action. Here it applies to military action. Alternate translation: "prepare yourselves for battle" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom]])