1._Send ye a lamb. _Here the Prophet scoffs at the Moabites for not acknowledging God at the proper time, but recklessly waiting for the stroke of his hand, till they were completely destroyed. It is, therefore, a condemnation of late repentance, when men cannot be brought to obedience by any warnin... [ Continue Reading ]
2._It shall be as a bird let loose. _(251) The Prophet now shows what he meant by the former mockery, that the Moabites ought not at that time to think of _sending _sacrifices, because they will not be able to provide for their safety in any other way than by leaving their native country. By the met... [ Continue Reading ]
3._Assemble a council. _(252) He proceeds with the same subject; for if we wish rightly to understand this passage, we must set before our minds the dreadful ruin of the Moabites. Their crimes are brought to remembrance, that all may see more clearly how deservedly they are punished. When everything... [ Continue Reading ]
4._Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab. _The Prophet addresses the _Moabites_, as if he were humbly beseeching them in the name of the people at large. “You are neighbors, related to us by blood; receive and assist those who are in distress: and if you do not choose to assist, at least do them n... [ Continue Reading ]
5._And the throne shall be prepared in mercy. _(256) The Jews explain the whole of this verse as referring to Hezekiah; but this is altogether inappropriate, for the Prophet speaks of a more important restoration of the Church, and the Moabites had not been punished during the flourishing condition... [ Continue Reading ]
6._We have heard of the pride of Moab. _The Prophet added this statement by way of anticipation. It might be thought that men could not believe what he had promised about restoring the _throne _of the king and destroying the Moabites, who at that time were in a flourishing state of riches, and were... [ Continue Reading ]
7._Therefore shall Moab howl to Moab. _(260) He declares more plainly what has been already said, that this _pride_, and the cruelty which springs from it, will be the cause of their destruction. Since the Lord _resisteth the proud_, (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5,) it is impossible but that he will lay lo... [ Continue Reading ]
8._For the vines of Heshbon have been cut down. _(262) Here the Prophet describes allegorically the desolation of the whole country. There is reason to believe that it abounded in the choicest _vines_, (263) as may readily be inferred from this and the parallel passage. (Jeremiah 48:32.) When Prophe... [ Continue Reading ]
9._Therefore I will bewail. _The Prophet here takes upon him the character of another person, as we have formerly remarked; for in the name of the Moabites he laments and groans. It is undoubtedly true that believers always shudder at the judgments of God, and cannot lay aside the feelings of human... [ Continue Reading ]
10._Joy is taken away. _He confirms, by different words, what he has now said, that the whole country shall be desolate and forsaken, so that there shall never again be in it a harvest or a vintage. When he threatens that God will cause the vine-dressers to cease to sing, he refers to an ancient cus... [ Continue Reading ]
11._Therefore my bowels shall sound like a harp for Moab. _Assuming the character of a Moabite, the Prophet again describes excessive lamentation, proceeding from grief so intense that even the bowels make a distressing noise; for by the sign he intended to point out the reality. We have formerly ex... [ Continue Reading ]
12._And it shall be. _He again returns to that statement which he formerly noticed, namely, that idolaters in their affliction betake themselves to their idols, hoping to obtain some relief from them. Yet it means somewhat more; for while idolaters have their ordinary temples and places of worship,... [ Continue Reading ]
13._This is the word. _This concluding sentence is the ratification of the prophecy. It means that he has pronounced the decree of God himself, and that he has brought nothing forward that did not proceed from the Lord, and thus, laying aside the person of a man, he introduces God speaking in this m... [ Continue Reading ]
14._Three years. _The time is fixed, not only for the sake of certainty, but likewise that believers may not become faint through longer delay. He alludes to agreements among men, in which it is customary to fix the time agreed on, which the parties are not at liberty to transgress. This is especial... [ Continue Reading ]