Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Isaiah · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV.
Ver. 1. THe burthen of Moab] A burthen, ſaith Hierom, ever betokeneth ſad things to follow; A viſion doth joyfull; at laſt howſoever. The Chaldee paraphraſeth thus. The burthen of a cup of curſing for Moab to drink off. Moab was the brat of an inceſtuous birth, as his name alſo (De Patre) declareth. There is now no ſuch nation, their very name is rooted out, ever ſince they were deſtroyed, firſt by Salmaneſer, as is here fore-threatened; and then by Nebucadnezzar, as Jer. 48. (where we meet with many like paſſages as here) ſo that they live but by fame only, as they are mentioned in holy Scripture, but never for any good. Their deſtruction is foretold for a comfort to the poor afflicted Jews, to whom they were near-allyed, but very ill-affected.
…iſcat.Becauſe in the night] nocte intempeſtâ: the night is dark and dreadful: or in the night▪ i. e. ſubitò, derepentè, praeter opinionem, ſuddenly, unexpectedly. Theſe Moabites dwelt in a fruitful countrey (near to thoſe five Cities of the Plain) and giving themſelves up to looſe and luxurious living, ſaith Hierom, they worſhipped Chemoſh or Bacchus: as they had been inceſtuouſly begotten by Lot in his drink, ſo they proved accordingly. Ebrius te Pater genuit, ſaid One to a deſperate drunkard. Some think they are threatened with waſting in the night, in alluſion to that diſmal night-work, and that deed of darkneſs, the begetting of their father and founder Moab, Gen. 19. Whence other nations were wont to reproach the Moabites, as children of the night, ſaith Hierom.
Ver. 2. He is gone up to Baiith and to Dibon] two chief places of their Idolatrous ſervice, whereunto they ran in their diſtreſs, but all in vain. The like at this day do the Papiſts to their Ladies of Loretto, Sichem, &c. and the Turks to their Mahomet at Mecha (ſcituate in the ſame countrey, as once Moab, and perhaps in the ſame place with one of theſe Idol-temples) by troops and Caravans: but they do worſe then loſe their devotion.
To weep] and to pray too, chap. 16.12. but to no good purpoſe, for want of a right object, principle, motive, end. So afterwards the Romans, in a like exigent, cum conjugibus ac liberis juſſi ſunt à Senatu ſupplicatum ire, pacemque expoſcere Deum, Li…. lib. 3.omnia delubra implent, &c. they were by the Senate commanded to go with they wives and children into the temples of their gods, and there to pray, make their peace, and to ſeek for ayd.
Moab ſhall houle over Nebo and over Medeba] Cities ſurprized and ſacked by the enemy. But this chapter is ſo much the more obſcure to us, becauſe the Cities here mentioned are long ſince deſtroyed: and the Scripture ſetteth not forth the manner of their ſite or downfal.
On all their heads ſhall be baldneſs, and every beard cut off] This was commonly done in thoſe Eaſtern parts, in times and in token of lamentation, Job 1.20. Ezra. 9.3. Ezek. 7.18. Alexander mourning for the death of his friend Epheſtion, not only tore off his own hair, but clipped his horſes and mules hair: yea he plucked down alſo the battlements of the walls of the City, as Plutarch writeth.In vita Pelopidae. Pudeat nos lathrymis delicta non abſtergere, & ſpiritualia damna non deplorare, ſaith Oecolampadius: What a ſhame is it then for us Chriſtians not to weep over our ſins, and to bewail our ſpirituall wounds and wants?
Ver. 3. In their ſtreets they ſhall gird themſelves with ſackcloth] Saccum & cilicium non curat Deus: God careth not for theſe externals, where there is not an heart ſprinkled with the blood of his ſon. The ſacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more when he bringeth it with a wicked mind? Prov. 21.27.
On the tops of their houſes] thence, as it were, to require help from heaven.
Weeping abundantly] Heb. deſcending with weeping, Miſeros ergo Papicolas, qui & ip…i cum fletu ad divos divaſque ſuas aſcendunt, cum ululatu deſcendunt. Scultet.like as with weeping they aſcended: they get nothing of their Gods, though they cryed to them. But He that goeth to the true God with an honeſt heart and lawful petitions, is ſure to ſpeed: See Iſa. 45.19.
Ver. 4. And Heſhbon ſhall cry, and Elealeh] See on ver. 2.
The armed ſouldiers of Moab ſhall cry out] as being faint-hearted and unwilling to fight, becauſe to no purpoſe.
His life ſhall be grievous to him] Heb. his ſoul ſhall be ill-affected to him, or, for himſelf: that is, ſay ſome, all his care ſhall be for himſelf: let others ſhift as they can.
Ver. 5. My heart ſhall cry out for Moab] Let others do as they will,Heu quam d… leo corde toto. Oecol. ſaith the Prophet here, I can do no leſs then bewail the wofull condition of Moab, bad though they be.
Tu quibus iſta legis incertum eſt, Lector, ocellis:
Ipſe quidem ſiccis ſcribere non potui.
His fugitives ſhall flee unto Zoar] Whither once their father Lot fled for refuge; but it was too hot to hold him. Or, His fugitives ſhall cry to Zoar.
An heifer of three years old] Which being in her prime loweth aloud, coelum mugitibus implens: ſo ſhall theſe fugitives ſet up their Note clamore fragoſ… boantes, as they paſs thorough the countreys, they ſhall even break or rend themſelves with crying.
Ver. 6. For the waters of Nimrim ſhall be deſolate] What theſe waters of Nimrim were, it doth not appear. Hierom ſaith that Nimrim is a Town near the dead Sea, where the waters are ſalt, and the countrey about it barren: ſo ſhould the Land of Moab now be forlorn and fruitleſs.
Ver. 7. Therefore the abundance they have gotten] Here the Prophet ſeemeth to tax the covetouſneſs of the Moabites, qui coacervandis theſauris operam dederint, who made it their work, to hoard and heap up riches.
And that which they have laid up] Heb. their viſitation, that is their treaſures which they often looked upon.
Shall they carry away to the brook of the willows] The Moabites ſhall caſt it into the water; as hoping there to find it again, when the enemy was gone: Or, ſhall they (the Aſſyrians) carry away to the valley of the Arabians, who were their confederates, and for ſuch good offices ſpared (as Herodotus ſaith Lib. 3.) that, that they might keep and convey home for them, the ſpoils they had taken from other nations.
Piſcat.Ver. 8. For the cry is gone round about, &c.] When the Prophet thus deſcribeth the mourning of the Moabites as exceſſive, and as a fruit of their unbelief, we muſt learn to moderate our mourning for outward loſſes and croſſes; and that out of hope of Gods mercy promiſed to his penitent ſuppliants.
The howling thereof unto Eglaim] See on ver. 2.
Ver. 9. For the waters of Dimon ſhall be full of blood] Non tingentur ſolum, ſed etiam inundabunt: and the bloody enemy ſhall haply be heard to cry out, as once Hannibal did when he ſaw a pit full of mans blood, O formoſum ſpectaculum! O brave ſight! The very name Dimon ſignifieth bloody: ſo called, as ſome think, on this occaſion, inſtead of Dibon the old name, ver. 2.
Additamenta plegarum. Haymo.I will bring more upon Dimon, Lions upon him that eſcapeth of Moab] Heb. I will put additions upon Dimon, i. e. additions of evils. viz. Lions, and other like fierce and cruel creatures, which ſhall prey upon the Moabites there, Chap. 35.9. 2 King. 17.25. Some ſay by Lion is here meant Nebuchadnezzar, Jer. 4.7. fitly compared to a Lion for his ſtrength and ſwiftneſs. Certain it is that God hath in ſtore plenty of plagues for evil-doers: and if they eſcape one miſchief, they ſhall fall into another: their preſervation is but a reſervation except they repent.