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For the Lord will restore the splendor and majesty of Jacob
Like the splendor of [ancient and united] Israel,
Even though destroyers have destroyed them
And ruined their vine branches.(A)


The shields of his soldiers [of [a]Media and Babylon] are colored red;
The warriors are dressed in scarlet.
The chariots blaze with fire of [flashing] steel
When he is prepared to march,
And the cypress spears are brandished [for battle].

The chariots race madly in the streets;
They rush wildly in the broad plazas.
Their appearance is like torches;
They rush in various directions like forked lightning.

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Footnotes

  1. Nahum 2:3 The Medes were an ancient Iranian people who lived in the area that is now the northwestern part of modern day Iran. After they joined with the Chaldeans of Babylonia to defeat the Assyrians, they established their own empire. It was the largest empire of its day until Cyrus the Great united the Medes and the Persians to form the Archaemenid Empire which stretched over several million square miles.

The Lord will restore(A) the splendor(B) of Jacob
    like the splendor of Israel,
though destroyers have laid them waste
    and have ruined their vines.

The shields of the soldiers are red;
    the warriors are clad in scarlet.(C)
The metal on the chariots flashes
    on the day they are made ready;
    the spears of juniper are brandished.[a]
The chariots(D) storm through the streets,
    rushing back and forth through the squares.
They look like flaming torches;
    they dart about like lightning.

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Footnotes

  1. Nahum 2:3 Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac ready; / the horsemen rush to and fro.