In this message James continues the message from the book of Nahum where we see Nahum writing the most troublesome words from God, "I am against you, says the Lord of hosts." The Assyrians would become utterly destroyed. "Woe" is used to foreshadow the fall of Nineveh, with details of complete and utter destruction. The Lord condemns the Assyrians for three sins: their cruel atrocities, their greedy exploitation of others, and their delusion that they could insulate themselves from destruction.