In Nahum 1:15 Nahum spoke of a messenger who brought the good news to Judah, that the Lord is about to destroy the Assyrians. That same image is used here, except now it is the absence of a messenger. Never again will there be messengers bringing news to Nineveh of great victories won by the Assyrian army. Never again will messages of royal proclamation be sent out from Nineveh into the king’s realm.
13 Behold, I am against you, declares the LORD of hosts, and I will burn your chariots in smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall no longer be heard.