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"Fortify your strongholds"

Text: Nahum 3:14

A LAST-MINUTE DEFENCE ATTEMPT

When Assyria realized the threat of being conquered by the Babylonians they tried to defend themselves desperately. But this attempt was too little and too late. A brief analysis of the failure of the Assyrians was attempted.

“Draw your water for the siege!
Fortify your strongholds!
Go into the clay and tread the mortar!
Make strong the brick kiln!
There the fire will devour you,
The sword will cut you off;
It will eat you up like a locust.
Make yourself many- like the locust!
Make yourself many- like the swarming locusts!”
Nahum 3:14-15

1. The ancient siege

a) This was a common tactic employed by many armies.

b) The siege was an effective way of forcing the enemy to surrender.

c) There was a minimum loss of lives for the attacking army.

d) Most cities cannot hold out for very long.

2. The siege of the strongholds of Assyria

a) There was a desperate attempt by the Assyrians to defend their cities.

b) What they attempted:

i) Make sure there was sufficient water supply.

ii) Fortifying of the strongholds.

iii) Make the stronghold stronger by making strong bricks.

iv) But how could these be done effectively if the siege had already begun?

c) Seeking to find enough people to man the strongholds.

i) They would need many people.

ii) They need to have as many people as locust swarms.

iii) But where would they find the people?

iv) The strongholds had not been adequately manned.

v) It was too late to start recruiting soldiers to defend the cities!

d) The fire and the sword

i) The Assyrians had used fire and sword once before.

ii) They were now going to be destroyed by the same means. Assyria was doomed!