John Calvin Commentary Nahum 1:11

"There is one gone forth out of thee, that deviseth evil against Jehovah, that counselleth wickedness." — Nahum 1:11 (ASV)

The Prophet now shows why God was so exceedingly displeased with the Assyrians: it was because He, as a protector of His Church, would defend the distressed against those who unjustly oppressed them. The Prophet, therefore, intended here to give the Jews a firm hope, so that they might know that God cared for their safety.

For if He had only threatened the Assyrians without expressing the reason, what good could this have been to the Jews? It is indeed gratifying and pleasing when we see our enemies destroyed. But this would be a cold and barren comfort unless we were persuaded that it is done by God’s judgment, because He loves us and would defend us, having embraced us with paternal love.

When we know this, we then triumph even in great evils. We are indeed certain of our salvation when God testifies, and also truly proves, that He is not only gracious to us, but that our salvation is an object of His care. This is the Prophet’s purpose when he addresses Nineveh in this way.

From you has come forth a deviser of evil against Jehovah, an impious adviser. The manner of speaking is much more emphatic when he says that the Assyrians plotted against God, than if he had said that they had plotted against the Jews, or plotted against the chosen people of God.

But though this was said of the Jews, let us still remember that it also applies to us. The Prophet confirms the doctrine to which I recently alluded: that whenever the ungodly cause us trouble, they carry on war with God Himself; that whenever they devise any evil against us, they run headlong against Him.

For God sets Himself up as a shield and declares that He will protect under the shadow of His wings all those who commit themselves to His protection. If we then are hidden under the guardianship of God, flee to Him in all our adversities, and, while patiently enduring all wrongs, implore His protection and help, whoever then rises up against us will have God as their enemy.

Why? Because that person plots against Him. And this reason shows that whatever the Prophet has previously said against the Assyrians should be extended without distinction to all the enemies of the Church.

For why did God threaten the Assyrians with a sudden inundation and with perpetual darkness? The reason is added here—because they plotted against Him and His Church. The same thing then will also happen to our enemies, provided we remain quiet, as has been said, under the protection of God.

But when he says that one had gone forth from that city who contrived evil against Jehovah, this should not be confined to Sennacherib, but must instead be viewed as common to all the Assyrians.

It is as if he said, “You produce the fruit which you shall eat, for from you will arise the cause of your ruin. There is no reason for you to remonstrate with God, as if He cruelly raged against you.

For from you has gone forth he who devised evil against Jehovah; you reap now the reward worthy of what you have brought forth. For where have plots against the Church of God originated, except in your own bosom and in your own innermost being? The evil then which has come from you shall return on your own head.”

He then adds, An impious counselor, or counselor, בליעל יועף, ivots beliol. Respecting the word בליעל, beliol, the Hebrews themselves do not agree. There are those who suppose it to be a compound word, בל יעל, 'It profits not'; and they think that it is used to designate worthless things as well as worthless men.

There are others who, like Jerome, render it, 'Without a yoke,' but without good reason. Then Belial is properly a vain thing, which is wholly unsubstantial, and so it designates a man in whom there is no integrity.

It is also applied to all the wicked and to their crimes; hence a thing or work of Belial is said to be any heinous sin or a detestable crime, and the man who acts perversely and wickedly is called Belial.

And Paul takes Belial simply as the personification of Satan and of all the wicked, for he opposes Belial to Christ (2 Corinthians 6:15). We now therefore understand the Prophet's meaning to be this: God denounces war on the Assyrians because they made war unjustly on His people and plotted not only against the Jews but also against God, who had taken them, as has been stated, under His own keeping and protection.