Nahum 2:4 (DBY)

Passage

The chariots rush madly in the streets, they justle one against another in the broad ways: the appearance of them is like torches, they run like lightnings.

Nearby Context

Nahum 2:2 For Jehovah hath brought again the glory of Jacob, as the glory of Israel; for the wasters have wasted them, and marred their vine-branches.

Nahum 2:3 The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots [glitter] with the sheen of steel, in the day of his preparation, and the spears are brandished.

Nahum 2:4 The chariots rush madly in the streets, they justle one against another in the broad ways: the appearance of them is like torches, they run like lightnings.

Nahum 2:5 He bethinketh him of his nobles: they stumble in their march; they make haste to the wall thereof, and the shelter is prepared.

Nahum 2:6 The gates of the rivers are opened, and the palace melteth away.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "light", "chariots", "rush", "madly", "streets", "justle", "against", and "another". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "light" and "chariots", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 3's "The shield of his mighty men is..." into verse 5's "He bethinketh him of his nobles they...", so "light" and "chariots" belong inside that flow. In Nahum context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "light" and "chariots" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.