To: Judah

From: Nineveh

Re: Nahum

Dear Judah,

You are probably surprised to be getting a letter from me, and, given everything you've heard about me, you might not think you can trust me. But I entreat you to listen to what I have to say. Both of our lives, and the lives of our children and of other women, depend on it.

I just read a copy of the letter that your prophet Nahum wrote to you about me. Perhaps I shouldn't have read it. It was intended for your eyes only, an insider communication meant to comfort you, make you feel safe. But it is a dangerous letter, not only for what it says about me, but also, indirectly, what it means for you.

Nahum is claiming that your god will soon defeat me in battle. He promises that your Yahweh will appear like a grand Warrior, shaking the earth, and that he will vindicate you by overrunning me with soldiers. You read the letter. You know that Nahum envisions the destruction of my streets, the mourning of my women, the plunder of my goods.

You indeed may find comfort in imagining my downfall, given the bad relationship between us. I confess that my own prophets speak the same way, claiming victory for our side. In war, opposing prophets can sound the same.

What concerns me and should concern you, however, is the way in which Nahum describes my defeat, what Nahum threatens your god will do to me.