shift for their own safety, shall carry the cry to Zoar, the city to which their ancestor Lot fled for shelter from Sodom's flames, which was spared for his sake. They shall make as great a noise with their cry, as a heifer of three years old does, when she goes lowing for her calf, as 1 Sam. vi. 12. They shall go up the hill of Luhith, as David went up the ascent of mount Olivet, many a weary step, and all in tears, 2 Sam. xv. 30. And in the way of Horoniam, (a dual termination,) the way that leads to the two Beth-horons, the upper and the nether, which we read of, Josh. xvi. 3, 5. Thither the cry shall be carried, there it should be raised; even at that great distance, a cry of destruction, that shall be the cry; like, "Fire, fire, we are all undone." Grief is catching, so is fear, and justly, for trouble is spreading, and when it begins, who knows where it will end? 6. For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate: for the hay is withered away, the grass faileth, there is no green thing. 7. Therefore the abundance they have gotten, and that which they have laid up, shall they carry away to the brook of the willows. 8. For the cry is gone round about the borders of Moab; the howling thereof unto Eglaim, and the howling thereof unto Beer-elim. 9. For the waters of Dimon shall be full of blood: for I will bring more upon Dimon, lions upon him that escapeth of Moab, and upon the remnant of the land.
Here the prophet further describes the woful and piteous lamentations that should be heard throughout all the country of Moab, when it should become a prey to the Assyrian army. By this time the cry is gone round about all the borders of Moab, v. 8. Every corner of the country has received the alarm, and is in the utmost confusion upon it. It is got to Eglaim, a city at one end of the country; and to Beer-elim, a city as far the other way. Where sin has been general, and all flesh have corrupted their way, what can be expected but a general desolation?
Two things are here spoken of, as causes of this lamentation.
1. The waters of Nimrim are desolate, (v. 6.) The country is plundered and impoverished, and all the wealth and substance of it swept away by the victorious army. Famine is usually the sad effect of war. Look into the fields that were well watered, the fruitful meadows that yielded delightful prospects, and more delightful products, and there all is eaten up, or carried off by the enemy's foragers, and the remainder trodden to dirt by their horses. If an army encamp upon green fields, their greenness is soon gone. Look into the houses, and they are stripped too; (v. 7.) The abundance of wealth that they had gotten with a great deal of art and industry, and that which they have laid up with a great deal of care and confidence, shall they carry away to the brook of the willows. Either the owners shall carry it thither to hide it, or the enemies shall carry it thither to pack it up, and send it home, by water perhaps, to their own country. Note, (1.) Those that are eager to get abundance of this world, and solicitous to lay up what they have gotten, little consider what may become of it, and in how little a time it may be all taken from them. Great abundance, by tempting the robbers, exposes the owners; and they who depend upon it to protect them, often find it does but betray them. (2.) In times of distress, great riches are often great burthens, and do but increase the owner's care or the enemies' strength. Cantabit vacuus coram latrone viator—The pennyless traveller will exult, when accosted by a robber, in having nothing about him.
2. The waters of Dimon are turned into blood, (v. 9.) The inhabitants of the country are slain in great numbers, so that the waters adjoining to the cities, whether rivers or pools, are discoloured with human gore, inhumanly shed like water. Dimon signifies bloody; the place shall answer to its name. Perhaps it was that place in the country of Moab, where the water seemed to the Moabites as blood, (2 Kings iii. 22, 23.) which occasioned their overthrow. But now, says God, I will bring more upon Dimon, more blood than was shed, or thought to be seen, at that time, I will bring additions upon Dimon, (so the word is,) additional plagues; I have yet more judgments in reserve for them; for all this, God's anger is not turned away. When he judges, he will overcome; and to the roll of curses be added many like words, Jer. xxxvi. 32. See here what is the yet more evil to be brought upon Dimon, upon Moab, which is now to be made a land of blood. Some flee, and make their escape, others sit still, and are overlooked, and are as a remnant of the land; but upon both God will bring lions, beasts of prey; (which are reckoned one of God's four judgments, Ezek. xiv. 21.) and these shall glean up those that have escaped the sword of the enemy. Those that continue impenitent in sin, when they are preserved from one judgment, are but reserved for another.
CHAP. XVI.
This chapter continues and concludes the burthen of Moab. In it, I. The prophet gives good counsel to the Moabites, to reform what was amiss among them, and particularly to be kind to God's people, as the likeliest way to prevent the judgments before threatened, v. 1..5. II. Fearing they would not take this counsel, (they were so proud,) he goes on to foretell the lamentable devastation of their country, and the confusion they should be brought to, and this within three years, v. 6..14.
1.SEND ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion. 2. For it shall be, that as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon. 3. Take counsel, execute judgment, make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noon-day; hide the outcasts, bewray not him that wandereth. 4. Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab: be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler: for the extortioner is at an end, the spoiler ceaseth, the oppressors are consumed out of the land. 5. And in mercy shall the throne be established; and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.
God has made it to appear that he delights not in the ruin of sinners, by telling them what they may do to prevent the ruin; so he does here to Moab.
I. He advises them to be just to the house of David, and to pay the tribute they had formerly covenanted to pay to the kings of his line; (v. 1.) Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land. David made the Moabites tributaries to him; (2 Sam. viii. 2.) they became his servants, and brought gifts. Afterwards they paid their tribute to the kings of Israel,
