Before - In the time of the Philistines prosperity.
The day - Which God hath set, and appointed for their ruin. Caphtor - Tyre and Sidon were neighbours to the Philistines, and so were often called to their help. The Philistines and Caphtorim were related, for their first progenitors, Philistim and Caphtorim, were both the sons of Mizriam the son of Ham, one of the sons of Noah.
The remnant - Those who lived in the valleys near Ashkelon. But thyself - Why will you afflict yourselves, when all your mourning will do you no good.
O thou sword - Perhaps they are the words of the prophet, lamenting the havock which he made among the Philistines by the Chaldeans.
How - God lets the prophet know that he had given this sword its commission, and therefore it could not stop 'till Ashkelon and the people on the sea - shore were destroyed by it.
Heshbon - Heshbon was one of the principal cities of the Moabites. Probably the enemies sat there in counsel, when they had taken it, against the other parts of the country.
Horoniam - Another city of Moab.
Luhith - To this city the Moabites fled for sanctuary, and flying made so great an out - cry that their enemies who pursued them heard it.
And be - Save your lives, though all ye have be lost.
Trusted - In thy idols. Chemosh - Chemosh was their principal idol.
Give wings - The Moabites have need of wings like a bird to escape that ruin which is coming upon them.
At ease - The Moabites ever since they began to be a people, have been a quiet people. Settled - Like a cask of wine, that has not been racked but has continued in the same state. Not emptied - A metaphor of wine which is drawn out from vessel to vessel, when it is drawn off the lees. It is expounded by the next words. Therefore - And this is the reason why they retain their old sins, pride, presumption, and luxury.
Wanderers - The Chaldeans, who wandered from their own country to conquer other people. Break his bottles - He had before compared the Moabites, to wine settled upon the lees, here he saith, that God would send those that should not only disturb, but destroy them.
Bethel - The golden calves, which Jeroboam set up at Dan and Bethel.
Is near - Josephus tells us this destruction came upon the Moabites five years after the siege of Jerusalem.
Staff - A staff and a rod are as well, ensigns of power and government, as instruments to punish offenders.
Dibon - Dibon, Aroer, and Ataroh were built by the children of Gad. It should seem the Moabites were not come into the possession of them. In thirst - It was a place well watered, but God threatens she should be in thirst, that is, driven into some dry, barren countries. The spoiler - The king of Babylon.
Arnon - Arnon was the name of a river; it was the border of Moab: probably the adjacent country or city might take its name from the river.
The horn - That is the beauty and the strength of Moab.
Drunken - Fill him with the intoxicating wine of God's vengeance.
Was he found - Why didst thou deal by Israel as men deal by thieves, when they are brought to shame?
O ye - Still the prophet speaks of the Moabites, as a people whose armies were routed, and calls to them to leave their houses in cities, not promising themselves any security, either to or from their houses, or from the walls of the cities, but to get them to rocks, which are naturally fortified, and from whence (if from any place) security may be promised.
I know - He shall never execute what he thinks to do. But - His boastings and his lies, still never effect his designs.
Kir - herez - A city of Moab.
Sibmah - Sibmah was famous in those days for vines. Jazer - Jazer was it seems first taken, and carried into captivity.
Pipes - The prophet means such pipes as they were wont to use at funerals, and other sad occasions.
He - Nebuchadnezzar shall come swiftly, and spread himself over Moab.
Fear - A variety of dangers upon all sides.
Heshbon - Heshbon was it seems a place of force. The crown - That is, the glory.
Bring again - It seems this is to be understood of a spiritual reduction of them, by calling them into the kingdom of the Messiah.
No heir - During the long tract of time that there were wars between the Jews and Ammonites, the land of Gad and Reuben which lay beyond Jordan, fell into the hands of the Syrians, Moabites, and Ammonites. Hence it is that the prophet saith, Hath Israel no sons? God had given that country of Gilead to Manasseh, Reuben, and Gad; and as mens estates ought to descend to their heirs, so this land should have descended to their posterity, but the Ammonites had taken and possessed it.
Ai - A city of the Ammonites, not the same mentioned, Josh 7:2, for that was on the other side Jordan. By the hedges - Where they might be hidden, and not so easily seen.
Flowing - Either flowing with water, or plenty of corn and grass.
Right forth - So that you shall be glad to flee, and never look back. Gather up - None will receive or entertain you.
I will bring - Probably this refers to the conversion of the Ammonites, as well as other Heathens, to Christ.
Edom - The Edomites were the posterity of Esau the eldest son of Isaac, but disinherited; the blessing being given to his younger brother Jacob, who was head of the twelve tribes of Israel. God promised him that he should have a fat, and plentiful country, tho' his brother should be his lord; and foretold, that he should break his brother's yoke from off his neck: the land of Seir was his country. The Edomites coasted southward upon Canaan, the Israelites passed by their coasts to go into Canaan, their way lay thro' Edom, but their king refusing to suffer them to go through, God ordered them to go another way. Balaam prophesied their ruin. They were enemies to the Israelites in the time of Saul, 1Sam 14:47, and David, 2Sam 8:14, and Amaziah, 2Kings 14:17, who slew of them ten thousand, and took Selah, calling it Jokteel. Many of the prophets foretold their ruin, Jeremiah in this place, Ezek 25:12 - 14 Joel 3:19 Amos 9:11,12, and others. Teman - Was a city of Edom.
Dedan - Was a city of Arabia joining to Idumea, Isa 21:13, they being neighbours to the Edomites are called to flee, and to get into caves, where they might dwell deep in the earth and be in some security.
If - Edom shall be totally destroyed; their destruction should not be like the gleaning of grapes, where the gatherers content themselves with taking the principal clusters: nor yet like the robbings of thieves, who take for their hunger, and when they have got enough leave the rest.
They - The Jews, who in comparison with others did not deserve to drink of the cup, yet have drank of it, and can you think to escape? When an Israelite hath not escaped the justice of God, an Edomite must not expect it.
Bozrah - Edom is expressed under the name of Bozrah, (a part for the whole) Bozrah being its principal city.
An ambassador - He speaks after the manner of earthly princes, who use to send their ambassadors to other princes to declare their minds to them. God hath inclined them to come against Edom.
Behold - The Edomites shall come up fiercely against Nebuchadrezzar, but will suddenly flee, yea even from their own country. Appoint - Into whose hands shall I give that country. For who - For I can do whatsoever I please. Will appoint - And who will appoint me a time to plead with men? Who is - Where is that king or potentate that will stand before me?
Teman - Edom and Teman signify the same thing. The least - The least of Nebuchadrezzar's forces shall drag them out of their lurking places.
Damascus - Being the head of this country, is put for the whole country. Hamath - Hamath and Arpad were two cities also of Syria. On the sea - Their inhabitants that live near the sea shall be troubled.
Of my joy - A city of great renown. The king of Syria is here supposed to speak.