Isa 15:5, Jer 9:1, 10, 10:19-20 | JFB | STEP | 5. My —The prophet himself is moved with pity for Moab. Ministers, in denouncing the wrath of God against sinners, should do it with tender sorrow, not with exultation. fugitives —fleeing from Moab, wander as far as to Zoar, on the extreme boundary south of the Dead Sea. HORSLEY translates, "her nobility," or "rulers" ( ). heifer, &c.—that is, raising their voices "like a heifer" (compare ). The expression "three years old," implies one at its full vigor ( ), as yet not brought under the yoke; as Moab heretofore unsubdued, but now about to be broken. So . MAURER translates, "Eglath" (in English Version, "a heifer") Shelishijah (that is, the third, to distinguish it from two others of the same name). by the mounting up —up the ascent. Luhith —a mountain in Moab. Horonaim —a town of Moab not far from Zoar ( ). It means "the two poles," being near caves. cry of destruction —a cry appropriate to the destruction which visits their country.

Isaiah 15:5

5. My—The prophet himself is moved with pity for Moab. Ministers, in denouncing the wrath of God against sinners, should do it with tender sorrow, not with exultation.

fugitives—fleeing from Moab, wander as far as to Zoar, on the extreme boundary south of the Dead Sea. HORSLEY translates, "her nobility," or "rulers" (Ho 4:18).

heifer, &c.—that is, raising their voices "like a heifer" (compare Jer 48:34, 36). The expression "three years old," implies one at its full vigor (Ge 15:9), as yet not brought under the yoke; as Moab heretofore unsubdued, but now about to be broken. So Jer 31:18; Ho 4:13. MAURER translates, "Eglath" (in English Version, "a heifer") Shelishijah (that is, the third, to distinguish it from two others of the same name).

by the mounting up—up the ascent.

Luhith—a mountain in Moab.

Horonaim—a town of Moab not far from Zoar (Jer 48:5). It means "the two poles," being near caves.

cry of destruction—a cry appropriate to the destruction which visits their country.

Jeremiah 9:1

1. This verse is more fitly joined to the last chapter, as verse 23 in the Hebrew (compare Isa 22:4; La 2:11; 3:48).

Jeremiah 9:10

10. Jeremiah breaks in upon Jehovah's threats of wrath with lamentation for his desolated country.

mountains—once cultivated and fruitful: the hillsides were cultivated in terraces between the rocks.

habitations of . . . wilderness—rather, "the pleasant herbage (literally, 'the choice parts' of any thing) of the pasture plain." The Hebrew for "wilderness" expresses not a barren desert, but an untilled plain, fit for pasture.

burned up—because no one waters them, the inhabitants being all gone.

none can pass through them—much less inhabit them.

fowl— (Jer 4:25).

Jeremiah 10:19-20

19. Judea bewails its calamity.

wound—the stroke I suffer under.

I must bear—not humble submission to God's will (Mic 7:9), but sullen impenitence. Or, rather, it is prophetical of their ultimate acknowledgment of their guilt as the cause of their calamity (La 3:39).

20. tabernacle is spoiled—metaphor from the tents of nomadic life; as these are taken down in a few moments, so as not to leave a vestige of them, so Judea (Jer 4:20).

cords—with which the coverings of the tent are extended.

curtains—tent-curtains.