1._The burden of Moab. _Here the Prophet prophesies against the _Moabites_, who were neighbors to the Jews and related to them by blood; for we know that the _Moabites _were descended from Lot, who was Abraham’s nephew. (Genesis 11:31.) Those nations being so closely related, humanity at least deman... [ Continue Reading ]
2._He shall go up into the house. _(236) So far as relates to the words, some pass by the Hebrew noun בית, (_baith_;) but as it signifies _a house _and _a temple_, it is probable that it was the word commonly used for _a temple_, as in many other passages _the house of God _means _the temple _(237)... [ Continue Reading ]
3._In his streets. _(239) He proceeds with the same subject, describing more fully the tokens of mourning, in which the eastern nations abound more than others; for, having quicker understandings and keener feelings, they express their emotions by outward signs more than others do, who, being slower... [ Continue Reading ]
4._And Heshbon shall cry, and Elealeh. _Here he names other cities; for his design is to bind up, as it were, in a bundle all the cities of that country, that they may be involved in the general destruction; as if he had said, that none at all shall be exempted. _Therefore the light-armed soldiers... [ Continue Reading ]
5._My heart shall cry out for Moab. _At length he assumes the character of a mourner. But it may be thought to be strange and inconsistent in him to bewail the calamity of the Moabites; for he ought rather to have lamented the destruction of the Church, and to have rejoiced at the ruin of her enemie... [ Continue Reading ]
6._The waters of Nimrim. _By an exaggerated form of expression he gives a more enlarged view of this desolation. He says that _the grass is withered_, which takes place when God leaves any soil destitute of all nourishment. _The waters _will be taken away, which probably were highly necessary for th... [ Continue Reading ]
7._Therefore what every one hath left. _(244) This corresponds to the ordinary expression, (_Ce qu’il aura espargne _,) _Whatever he shall have spared_. He means the riches that are laid up, and describes what usually happens in countries which are invaded by an enemy. All the inhabitants are wont t... [ Continue Reading ]
8._The cry is gone round about the borders of Moab. _(245) כי, (_ki_,) _for_, is added for the sake of ornament. He means that every part of that country all around shall be full of _crying _and _howling_; because that destruction reaches from one extremity to another. Besides the _crying _he twice... [ Continue Reading ]
9._For the waters of Dimon shall be filled with blood. _(246) Here he describes not only _grief _and _howling_, flight or trembling, or the covetousness of enemies in plundering their wealth, but the slaughter of men. How great must this have been, when large and magnificent rivers, such as _Dimon _... [ Continue Reading ]