Who was Nahum? A wild but informed guess

Abstract

The book of Nahum gives only one, albeit enigmatic, clue for a biography of ‘Nahum’. I dare not present a biography but will instead try to draw a few lines which might point toward Nahum’s role. Noteworthy is the presence of a large number of Assyrian loanwords as well as the imagery of curses in the Assyrian Loyalty Oaths in Nahum’s text. Where and how did the writer become acquainted with them? I elaborate on the ideas of Parpola and Sano who made it clear that a selection of the elite of conquered areas were educated at the court of Assyria and made familiar with the Assyrian language, scribal tradition, and diplomacy. They were then sent back to their country of origin to act as pro-Assyrian deputies. There are known cases where these persons, however, turned against the Assyrian regime once back in their homeland. This role fits ‘Nahum’.