Nahum 3:11

You too will act like drunkards; ¹  you will go into hiding; ²  you too will seek refuge from the enemy.

You too will become drunk; you will go into hiding and seek refuge from the enemy.

You too will become drunk, You will be hidden. You too will search for a refuge from the enemy.

And you, Nineveh, will also stagger like a drunkard. You will hide for fear of the attacking enemy.

Expect the same treatment, Nineveh. You'll soon be staggering like a bunch of drunks, Wondering what hit you, looking for a place to sleep it off.

And you will be overcome with wine, you will become feeble; you will be looking for a safe place from those who are fighting against you.

You also will be drunken, you will go into hiding; you will seek a refuge from the enemy.

You also will be drunk; You will be hidden; You also will seek refuge from the enemy.

You too will act like drunkards; ¹  you will go into hiding; ²  you too will seek refuge from the enemy.

¹ tc The editors of BHS suggest emending the MT reading, the Qal imperfect תִּשְׁכְּרִי (tishkÿri, “you will become drunk”) from שָׁכַר (shakhar, “to become drunk”; BDB 1016 s.v. שָׁכַר; HALOT 971 s.v. שׁכר). However, there is no external textual support for the emendation. The imagery of drunkenness is a common figure for defeat in battle.

tn Heb “you will be drunken.”

sn You…will act like drunkards. The imagery of drunkenness is frequently used to describe defeat in battle (Isa 49:26; Jer 25:27; 51:21). It is an appropriate use of imagery: Drunkards frequently pass out and wine drools out of their mouth; likewise, slain warriors lie fallen and their blood flows out of their mouths.

² tc The MT reads the Niphal participle נַעֲלָמָה (na’alamah) from I עָלַם (’alam, “to conceal”). This is supported by the Dead Sea Scrolls, נעלמה (4QpNah 3:11), and is reflected by the LXX. Several scholars suggest nuancing the Niphal in a passive sense: “you will be concealed” or “you will be obscured” (BDB 761 s.v. I. עָלַם 2). However, the reflexive sense “you will conceal yourself; you will hide yourself” (e.g., Ps 26:4) is better (HALOT 835 s.v. עלם). On the other hand, the BHS editors suggest emending to the Niphal participle נֶעֱלָפָה (ne’elafah) from עָלַף (’alaf, “become faint”): “you will become faint,” “you will pass out,” or “you will swoon” (HALOT 836 s.v. עלף; BDB 761 s.v. I. עָלַם 2). This is unnecessary and lacks textual support.

tn Heb “you will hide yourself.”