‘Nahum’ another of Isaiah’s names

by Damien F. Mackey

“Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion”. Isaiah 8:18 Isaiah, the prophet of meaningful names, both he and his children (Isaiah 8:18). These names could evolve in accordance with the socio-political situation in Israel, as in the case of Hosea’s children (cf. Hosea 1:4-9; 2:22-23). For Isaiah and Hosea were one and the same person. On this, see e.g. my article: Did Isaiah and Hosea ever meet? (3) Did Isaiah and Hosea ever meet? | Damien Mackey - Academia.edu Now, if I am correct in my view that Isaiah was also, by another one of his alter egos, the brilliant prophet Nahum: Not so obscure prophet Nahum (3) Not so obscure prophet Nahum | Damien Mackey - Academia.edu then could it be that the explanation for why Isaiah might have been given this other name was that it reflected one of those developments in the history of Israel for which Yahweh may again have bestowed upon the prophet Isaiah a fitting name? And, if so, what was that particular stage of development? Well, I think that it is abundantly reflected in the later part of the Book of Isaiah, when Israel, having served its period of hard “service” is about to be comforted. This is reflected, for instance, in Isaiah 40:1-11 and, again, in 51:3, where the Hebrew word for Comfort, naḥămū (נַחֲמ֥וּ), is of the very same root as the name, Nahum, naḥūm (נַח֖וּם), also meaning “comfort”. Thus: Isaiah 40:1-11: Your God says, ‘Comfort, comfort my people. [Cf. Hosea 2:23] Speak kindly to the people of Jerusalem. Tell them that their time of service is finished. Tell them that they have paid for their sins. Tell them that the Lord has punished Jerusalem twice for every sin they did’. This is the voice of a man who calls out: “Prepare in the desert the way for the Lord. Make the road in the dry lands straight for our God. Every valley should be raised up. Every mountain and hill should be made flat. The rough ground should be made level. The rugged ground should be made smooth. Then the glory of the Lord will be shown. All people together will see it. The Lord himself said these things.” A voice says, “Cry out!” Then I said, “What shall I cry out?” “Say all people are like the grass. And all their strength is like the flowers of the field. The grass dies, and the flowers fall. This is because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are like grass. The grass dies, and the flowers fall. But the word of our God will live forever.” Jerusalem, you have good news to tell. Go up on a high mountain. Jerusalem, you have good news to tell. Shout out loud the good news. Shout it out and don’t be afraid. Say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God.” Look, the Lord God is coming with power. He will use his power to rule all the people. Look, he will bring reward for his people. He will have their payment with him. The Lord takes care of his people like a shepherd. He gathers the people like lambs in his arms. He carries them close to him. He gently leads the mothers of the lambs. Isaiah 51:3: The LORD will comfort Israel again and have pity on her ruins. Her desert will blossom like Eden, her barren wilderness like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found there. Songs of thanksgiving will fill the air.