Plunder the silver, plunder the gold! There is no end of the treasure or of the wealth of all precious things.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This isn't just about soldiers being told to grab loot; God Himself is commanding the plunder, declaring that Nineveh's vast, desirable treasures, accumulated from all the nations, will ultimately serve as spoils for its conquerors, not as a lasting defense. It highlights how the very wealth a city hoards can become the ultimate prize for its downfall.
Plunder the silver, plunder the gold! There is no end of the treasure or of the wealth of all precious things.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Nahum dramatically portrays the impending fall of Nineveh, the opulent capital of the Assyrian empire. As the enemy army descends, the text shifts to directly commanding the conquerors to seize all the city's vast treasures, emphasizing that their accumulated wealth will be utterly plundered. This vivid scene sets the stage for the subsequent description of Nineveh's utter desolation and the inhabitants' fear.
Who is speaking in Nahum 2:9? Is it a general? A prophet? Or someone else entirely?
A Divine Decree
The verse opens with a powerful command: "Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold!" This isn't just a suggestion; it's presented as a divine command. While it might sound like a military leader rallying his troops, many scholars see the prophet Nahum speaking with God's authority. This emphasizes that the fall of Nineveh and the seizure of its treasures are not random events. God is orchestrating this judgment.
God's Sovereignty Over Nations
God uses nations and armies as instruments to carry out His will, even when those nations don't fully understand or intend to obey Him. The Babylonians and Medes are simply acting out God's judgment against Nineveh's cruelty and avarice.
Nineveh was famously wealthy. But where did all that treasure come from, and what does its abundance signify in this judgment?
A City Built on Greed
The text emphasizes the immense wealth of Nineveh: "for there is none end of the store and glory out of all the pleasant furniture." This wasn't just wealth; it was gathered wealth, often through conquest and oppression of other nations. Nineveh had spent generations accumulating treasures, luxurious goods, and desirable items.
Wealth as a Weight
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Instead of being a source of security or pride, this vast accumulation becomes the very target of God's judgment. The abundance that Nineveh boasted in is now what fuels the conquerors' greed. The "pleasant furniture" and "precious things" that represented their glory are now mere spoils to be plundered. Their wealth, gained through cruelty, ultimately becomes a burden and a sign of their coming ruin.
Understand the original words
bazaz · Hebrew Verb
The act of seizing property or wealth by force, often used in prophetic literature to describe the inevitable consequences of divine judgment upon a nation that has relied on ill-gotten gains.
kabod · Hebrew Noun
Earthly possessions and material assets; the Bible consistently warns that these are temporary and cannot protect against the judgment of God.
Nahum's prophecy unfolds against the backdrop of Assyria's long history of brutal conquest and immense wealth accumulation. The vivid imagery of plundering Nineveh's vast treasures reflects the same pattern of destruction the Assyrians themselves had inflicted on so many other cities.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire, under Shalmaneser V and then Sargon II, conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel and exiles its people. This event showcases Assyria's immense power and its pattern of brutal conquest and deportation.
c. 689 BC
Sennacherib Destroys Babylon
Assyrian king Sennacherib, in response to Babylonian rebellion, utterly destroys the city of Babylon. This act of extreme violence highlights the ruthless nature of Assyrian rule and the vast resources they could command.
c. 663 BC
Assyrians Sack Thebes
The Assyrian army under Ashurbanipal successfully plunders the wealthy Egyptian city of Thebes (called 'No' in Nahum 3:8). This illustrates Assyria's reach and the vast treasures they accumulated from conquered nations.
612 BC— this verse
Fall of Nineveh
A coalition of Babylonians, Medes, and Scythians successfully besieges and destroys the Assyrian capital, Nineveh. This event marks the end of the Assyrian Empire and is the direct context for Nahum's prophecy.
This verse mirrors the sentiment of Nahum, stating that the plunderer will ultimately be plundered, highlighting the cyclical nature of judgment on oppressive nations.
Jeremiah 51:13Jeremiah's prophecy against Babylon uses similar imagery of immense wealth and abundance, emphasizing the vast riches that will be seized from a powerful empire.
Zechariah 14:14This passage speaks of spoils being taken during a future judgment, connecting the theme of plunder to divine justice, albeit in a different eschatological context.
Proverbs 13:22This proverb offers a parallel concept, noting that the wealth of the sinner is reserved for the righteous, echoing the idea that Nineveh's ill-gotten gains will be taken by others.
barnesNahum 2:9: "Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold: for there is none end of the store and glory out of all the pleasant furniture."
Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold - Nineveh had not hearkened of old to the voice of the prophet, but had turned back to sin; it cannot hearken now, for fear. He turns to the spoiler to whom God's judgments assigned her, and who is too ready to hear. The gold and silver, which the last Assyrian King had gathered into the palace which…
calvinNahum 2:9: "Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold: for there is none end of the store and glory out of all the pleasant furniture."
- Diripite argentum, diripite aurum; et non finis (quia non est, copula debet resolvi in causalem particulam; quia nullus finis) praeparationis ejus (sic vertunt, sed proprie tkvnh significat locum;) gloria ex omni vase desiderabili.
Here the Prophet, as it were, by the command and authority of God, gives up Nineveh to the will of its enemies, that…
This isn't just about soldiers being told to grab loot; God Himself is commanding the plunder, declaring that Nineveh's vast, desirable treasures, accumulated from all the nations, will ultimately serve as spoils for its conquerors, not as a lasting defense. It highlights how the very wealth a city hoards can become the ultimate prize for its downfall.
The prophet Nahum dramatically portrays the impending fall of Nineveh, the opulent capital of the Assyrian empire. As the enemy army descends, the text shifts to directly commanding the conquerors to seize all the city's vast treasures, emphasizing that their accumulated wealth will be utterly plundered. This vivid scene sets the stage for the subsequent description of Nineveh's utter desolation and the inhabitants' fear.
The prophet Nahum dramatically portrays the impending fall of Nineveh, the opulent capital of the Assyrian empire. As the enemy army descends, the text shifts to directly commanding the conquerors to seize all the city's vast treasures, emphasizing that their accumulated wealth will be utterly plundered. This vivid scene sets the stage for the subsequent description of Nineveh's utter desolation and the inhabitants' fear.
"Plunder the silver, plunder the gold! There is no end of the treasure or of the wealth of all precious things." — This isn't just about soldiers being told to grab loot; God Himself is commanding the plunder, declaring that Nineveh's vast, desirable treasures, accumulated from all the nations, will ultimately se…
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Last reviewed October 2026