A book of the Old Testament, written between 666 or 662 B.C., when Assurbanipal took Thebes, and the fall of Ninive (606). The author calls himself the Elcesite. The suggestion (since the 16th century) that Elcese, or Elcesai, was in Assyria, as well as the older theory that it was in Galilee are not very probable. The prophet was probably a Judean, living under Manasses. Israel was already destroyed, Juda humbled, Manasses probably a prisoner in Assyria (2Par., 33). To console his people he foretells the fall of Ninive, hence the title, "Burden of Ninive," a book of vision. It is a poetical masterpiece.