_He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face_ This is addressed to the city of Nineveh, and explains more fully how the change, described in the foregoing chapter, should be brought about. It begins with telling Nineveh, that he who should break down her walls, and discomfit her inhabitants... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the Lord hath turned away the excellency of Jacob_ Jacob and Israel stood in a nearer relation to God than Nineveh; yet God hath punished them: much more will he punish Nineveh. By the _excellency of Jacob_, the wealth, the strength, the valiant men, all that Jacob gloried in is here meant. _Fo... [ Continue Reading ]
_He_ The enemy that attacks Nineveh, namely, the king of Babylon; _shall recount his worthies_ Shall select some of his choicest troops for the siege of it. _They shall stumble in their walk_ They shall show such forwardness, and be so eager to begin the attack of the city and mount the walls, that... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Huzzab shall be led away captive_ By Huzzab the Chaldee understands the queen, who, without due respect to her royal dignity, should be hurried away, among other captives, into a strange land; and exposed, as they, to danger and insolence. _And her maids_ The ladies that waited on her in her st... [ Continue Reading ]
_But Nineveh is of old like a pool of water_ “Id est, supra modum populosa, nam aquæ populi.” That is, above measure populous, for waters signify people. Grotius. _Yet they shall flee away_ But they shall all flee for fear of the enemy, and run away like water: compare Psalms 58:7. _Stand, stand, sh... [ Continue Reading ]
_Take ye the spoil of silver, of gold_ Here the Babylonians are addressed as if they had just entered the city; and are bid to take the spoil of it, there being none to make any resistance. We read in Diodorus, that Arbaces carried many talents of gold and silver to Ecbatana, the royal city of the M... [ Continue Reading ]
_Where is the dwelling of the lions_ Where is the lion-like courage and strength, which formerly characterized the king of Nineveh and his people? What is become of the stately palaces of the king and princes of Nineveh? who, like so many lions, cruel, violent, and irresistible, knew no other law th... [ Continue Reading ]