A sound of battle is in the land That is, in the land of Chaldea. How is the hammer of the whole earth broken! That oppressive empire that smote the nations with a continual stroke, as is said Isaiah 14:6, and brought them under subjection to it. I have laid a snare for thee; and thou art also taken, O Babylon Cyrus took the city by surprise and in an unexpected manner, entering it, by draining the river Euphrates, at a time when the walls were entire, the city full of provisions, and the people in high spirits, and in a state of the utmost security, dreading no such event. According to Herodotus, part of the city was taken before those who dwelt in the midst of it knew any thing about it; so that with propriety they might be said to be caught as in a snare. Because thou hast striven against the Lord The reason of this unexpected ruin coming on this great people was their sinning against the Lord: see Jeremiah 50:14; here called a striving against him, as indeed all sin is.

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