Nahum 3:5–6 is shocking in its severity. The metaphor of an evil woman from Nahum 3:4 is continued in these verses; only now the woman is exposed.1 These verses speak of the Lord revealing the truth about Nineveh by exposing her wickedness and deception.
The Lord pronounces that he is against Nineveh, as he did in Nahum 2:13. Nineveh’s great enemy is not the Babylonians, but the Lord who is using them to bring his judgment.
Seven times the Lord speaks in the first person in Nahum 3:5–7. He is the One who will personally expose Nineveh for what she truly is.
Five different ways are mentioned in which the Lord will expose Nineveh: he will lift your skirts;
the nations will stare;
he will throw filth at you;
he will treat you with contempt;
and he will make you a spectacle.
2
He will lift your skirts.
Nineveh had enticed others with flowing skirts but God will expose the prostitute for what she really is. He will reveal what lies beneath the charms and false promises of pleasure.
The nations will look at your nakedness.
Even as Nineveh’s brutal armies had marched across the borders of many nations, so now her shame will be displayed universally before all those nations. All her deception and wickedness will be exposed to everyone.
Throw filth at you.
The Lord will expose the uncleanness of Nineveh. She will be covered with outward filth that matches the filth within and she will no longer be able to hide what truly lies beneath.
Treat you with contempt.
The Lord will treat the people of Nineveh as their character deserves. Because of their wickedness, he will treat them lightly—as worthless.
Make you a spectacle.
Assyria often made a spectacle of their enemies by treating them in inhuman ways. In the same way the Lord will ridicule them in public. International shame will replace pride.
5 Behold, I am against you, declares the LORD of hosts, and will lift up your skirts over your face; and I will make nations look at your nakedness and kingdoms at your shame.