Albert Barnes Commentary Nahum 2:1

"He that dasheth in pieces is come up against thee: keep the fortress, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily." — Nahum 2:1 (ASV)

He that dasheth in pieces - Rather, “the Disperser,” the instrument of God, by which he would “break her in pieces like a potter’s vessel, or should scatter” her in all lands, has come up against your face, O Nineveh, that is, either, “over against you,” confronting her, as it were, face to face, or directed against you. From the description of the peace of Judah, the prophet turns suddenly to her oppressor, to whom, not to Judah, the rest of the prophecy is directed.

Jacob and Israel are spoken of, not addressed. The destroyer of Nineveh “went up against the face of Nineveh,” not in the presence of Judah and Jacob, who were far away and knew nothing of it.

Keep the munition. While all in Judah is now peace, all in Nineveh is tumult.

God whom they had defied, saying that Hezekiah could not turn away the face of one captain of the least of his servants (Isaiah 36:9), now bids them prepare to meet Him whom He would send against them. Gird up thy loins now, like a man (Job 40:7).

You who would lay waste others, now, if you can, keep yourself. The strength of the words is the measure of the irony. They had challenged God; He in turn challenges them to put forth all their might.

Fence your defenses - we might say. Their strong walls, high though they were, unassailable by any then known skill of besiegers, would not be secure.

The prophet uses a kindred and allusive word, that their protection needed to be protected itself; and this, by continued watchfulness.

He adds, Watch the way; spy out (as far as you can) the coming of the enemy; strengthen the loins, the seat of strength.

Elsewhere they are said to be girded up for any exertion. Fortify thy strength exceedingly. The expression is rare: commonly it is said of some part of the human frame—knees, arms, or mind—or of man by God.

The same words are strong mockery to those who resist God, good counsel to those who trust in God.

Keep the munition, for He who keepeth thee will not sleep (Psalms 121:3); watch the way, by which the enemy may approach from afar, for Satan approaches, sometimes suddenly, sometimes very stealthily and subtly, transforming himself into an angel of light.

Jerome says: “Watch also the way by which you are to go, as it is said, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein (Jeremiah 6:16), so that, having stood in many ways, we may come to that Way which says, I am the Way.”

Then, make thy loins strong, as the Savior commands His disciples, Let your loins be girded about (Luke 12:35), and the Apostle says, Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth (Ephesians 6:14); for nothing so strengthens as the Truth.

For Christ being the Truth, the one who with his whole heart has believed in Christ is strong against himself, and has power over the loins, the seat of the passions.

Then, since this warfare is hard, he adds, be strong, fortify thy power mightily; resist not listlessly, but vehemently; and that, in His strength who has strengthened our nature, taking it to Himself and uniting it with the Godhead. For without Him, strong though you are, you will avail nothing.