Charles Ellicott Commentary Nahum 3:14

"Draw thee water for the siege; strengthen thy fortresses; go into the clay, and tread the mortar; make strong the brickkiln." — Nahum 3:14 (ASV)

Draw your waters. —In this desperate plight, Nineveh is mockingly advised to prolong her resistance. The outer walls are broken down; let her hold out in the citadel. No, let her begin again her preparations for defense. Let her store up water and provisions, and build new buttresses of brick. What good will it do her? In the middle of her preparations, fire and sword will again surprise her.

The account of this last struggle for existence is detailed. Nahum goes back to the repair of the brick-kiln, just as Isaiah, in his description of idol-worship, goes back to the smith working with the tongs, and the carpenter measuring with his rule (Isaiah 44:12 and following). In both cases, the irony gains force by a detailed and elaborate description of operations destined to be futile.