Nahum 1:11 expands on this plotting and suggests that the city of Nineveh has given birth to a particular leader who leads the plotting against the Lord. This is probably a reference to one of the kings of Assyria and most commentators agree that it is referring to Sennacherib who left Assyria to do battle in Judah.1 This ruler is described as a worthless counselor.
The Hebrew word used is belial
and its exact meaning is difficult to determine. Its use in Scripture points to a person who is evil and who leads people astray. Nahum uses it twice, here in Nahum 1:11 and again in Nahum 1:15 to refer to the king of Assyria. Sennacherib fits this description, but all those wicked kings and leaders of the enemies of God’s people who have come from Assyria, would fit this description. Belial becomes the name that is ultimately used to describe Satan in the New Testament. Behind the wicked rulers of Assyria is a more powerful and ominous enemy. The final and decisive conflict between Belial and the Lord takes place with the coming of Christ. Christ comes to finally conquer Belial as he dies and rises in victory.2
11 From you came one who plotted evil against the LORD, a worthless counselor.