Isaiah chapter 34 - Nahum

Let’s begin with five short statements from Isaiah chapter thirty-four.

“For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations” v2a

“And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled
together as a scroll:” v4a

“The sword of the LORD is filled with blood” v6a

“For it is the day of the LORD's vengeance” v8a

“It shall not be quenched night nor day” v10a

There is no ambiguity here as to the subject. The entire chapter is a prophecy about THE DAY OF THE LORD, the time period when the King of kings and Lord of lords returns to Earth to judge the unbelieving world. Indeed, verse four immediately brings to mind the words of Revelation 6:14:

“And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.” (Revelation 6:14)

The opening verses of chapter one of the the book of Nahum present the subject matter for the entire book, and that subject is the same as Isaiah chapter thirty-four.

“The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite. God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.
The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth. The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.” (Nahum 1:1-6)

It is always easiest for me to make the connection when the theme in a chapter from the book of Isaiah is the same as the theme of the corresponding book. In that case, it’s just right there in front of me, and it’s not only easy for me to see it, but it is also easier for me to explain it to someone else, as is the case above.

However, I don’t want to overlook the two ‘word’ links that I found between the book of Nahum and the thirty-forth chapter of Isaiah. Here they are. They are pairs of words, and both words in each pair occur in individual verses is Isaiah’s chapter, as well as in the book of Nahum.

“For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.”
(Isaiah 34:2)

“Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.” (Nahum 1:6)


“Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.” (Isaiah 34:3)

“The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering spear: and there is a multitude of slain, and a great number of carcases” (Nahum 3:3a)

In each case, just two words found in the same verse; AND NOWERE ELSE are they found in the same verse other than in Isaiah chapter thirty-four and the book of Nahum.
Nahum is the thirty-forth book in the Bible. They are connected.