Nahum and the Ninevites - Hardback

God Is Good. A Strong Refuge. And He Always Keeps His Promises — Including the Hard Ones.

Most children who have heard of Nineveh know it from the story of Jonah — the city that repented and was spared. But there is a second Nineveh story in the Bible. And it has a very different ending.

In the book of Nahum, God sends a prophet with a message of judgement for Nineveh — the capital of Assyria, a brutal empire that had been terrorising and oppressing God’s people. Nineveh had turned back to its old ways. It was full of murder and lies. And this time, God would not hold back his judgement. He would sweep away his enemies like a mighty flood and drive them into darkness.

But Nahum’s book is not only about judgement. It is also — remarkably — a book of comfort. Nahum’s very name means comfort. And the comfort he brings is this: God is good, a strong refuge in times of trouble, and he cares for those who trust in him. When his people are oppressed, he does not look away. He acts. He defeats his enemies. He protects those who are his.

And he sent his Son, Jesus, to win the greatest victory of all — defeating sin, death, and the devil — so that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

In Nahum and the Ninevites, Brian J. Wright and John R. Brown bring this profound and little-known book to life for children aged 4–6 in a colourfully illustrated retelling that makes Nahum’s major lessons genuinely accessible for young readers.

What This Book Covers

Brian J. Wright and John R. Brown work through the key themes and events of the book of Nahum:

• Who the Assyrians were — A clear, child-appropriate introduction to the brutal empire that had been oppressing God’s people and why God took their actions seriously
• Nineveh’s sin — What was happening in Nineveh — murder, lies, and oppression — and why God’s judgement was not arbitrary but just
• God’s warning through Nahum — The message God sent through his prophet: judgement is coming for those who oppress his people
• God’s judgement on Nineveh — How God kept his promise — sweeping away his enemies and destroying the city that had terrorised his people
• Nahum as comfort — Why a book of judgement is also a book of comfort — because the God who judges his enemies is the same God who is a strong refuge for those who trust in him
• How Nahum points to Jesus — How God’s ultimate defeat of his enemies came through Jesus — who defeated sin, death, and the devil at the cross and resurrection
• Everyone who calls on the Lord will be saved — The wonderful gospel promise woven through Nahum’s message

What Children Will Learn

• Who Nahum was and what his prophecy said about Nineveh and Assyria
• Why God’s judgement of Nineveh was an act of justice — and why it brought comfort to his suffering people
• That God is a strong refuge for those who trust in him — and that he cares deeply for those who are oppressed
• How Nahum’s name means comfort — and how a book of judgement can be deeply reassuring for God’s people
• How Nahum points to Jesus — who won the ultimate victory over God’s greatest enemies: sin, death, and the devil
• That everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved — a gospel promise rooted in the heart of this minor prophet
• That even the least familiar books of the Bible contain major truths — and that Nahum’s message speaks with power and relevance today

How to Use This Book

Nahum and the Ninevites is engaging, illustrated, and immediately usable:

• Family reading — A wonderful book to read together at home, opening up conversations about God’s justice, his comfort, and how he defeats his enemies through Jesus
• Sunday school and children’s ministry — An ideal resource for introducing children to the book of Nahum and its powerful themes of judgement, comfort, and gospel hope
• Bible survey for children — A natural companion to Joel and the Locusts, Jonah’s Journeys, and Malachi’s Final Message for families or churches working through the minor prophets with children
• Bedtime reading — Colourful and engaging enough to hold a young child’s attention, substantial enough to leave them with something genuinely worth thinking about
• Gift for children — A meaningful and attractively illustrated gift for any child ready to explore one of the Bible’s most remarkable and least-known books

Who Should Read This Book

This book is for:

• Children aged 4–6 who are ready to explore the minor prophets and discover the major truths they contain
• Parents wanting to help their children understand that God is both just and merciful — and that his judgement of evil is good news for those who trust in him
• Sunday school teachers and children’s ministry leaders looking for an attractively illustrated resource to introduce children to the book of Nahum and its gospel connections
• Churches wanting to help children engage with the full sweep of the Bible — including books they might never otherwise encounter
• Any family that wants their children to grow up knowing: God is a strong refuge — and he always defeats his enemies, including the greatest enemy of all

About the Authors

Brian J. Wright is a biblical scholar and author known for his careful attention to Scripture and his ability to make biblical content accessible and engaging for a wide range of readers. He brings to Nahum and the Ninevites both scholarly depth and a genuine desire for children to encounter the power, mercy, and gospel-pointing significance of the minor prophets.

John R. Brown brings complementary gifts to the project — combining biblical faithfulness with an accessible, story-driven approach that makes the book of Nahum come alive for young readers. Together, Wright and Brown have produced a retelling that is both theologically reliable and genuinely engaging for children aged 4–6 and beyond.

About the Minor Prophets Series

Nahum and the Ninevites is part of the Minor Prophets series — a collection of attractively illustrated retellings designed to introduce children to the often-overlooked books of the minor prophets. Each volume brings one of these ancient books to life in a way that is accessible, engaging, and theologically faithful — helping children discover that the minor prophets contain major lessons for the Christian life.