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God's controversy with Moab, ver. 1 - 3.
With Judah, ver. 4, 5.
And with Israel, ver. 6 - 8.
The aggravations of their sins, ver. 9 - 12.
God complains of them, and threatens their ruin, ver. 13 - 16.
1: The bones - Or ashes, reduced them by fire into fine dust, and
used these ashes instead of lime to plaister the walls and roofs of his
palace, and this in hatred and contempt of the king of Edom.
2: Kirioth - A principal city of this country. Moab - The
Moabites. Shall die - Be destroyed. With tumult - Such as soldiers
in fight or assaults make, when they carry all by force.
3: The judge - The governor that is, every one of them.
4: Lies - Idols. To err - Their idolatry blinded them, partly from
the natural tendency of this sin, and partly from the just judgment
of God. After which - Idols. Walked - Successively, one generation
after another.
6: Shoes - The smallest bribe, exprest here proverbially.
7: The people - That make a prey even of the poor afflicted ones, who
walk with dust on their heads. Turn aside - Maliciously interpret the
actions, words, and designs of the humble and meek. Will go in - These
corrupt judges commit also that lewdness which the Heathens abhor.
8: Lay down - The Jews of old did not sit upright at their
meals, but leaned on one side. Upon clothes - Of which the law had
expressly said, none should detain them all night, (De 24:12,13).
Every altar - Of their idols. Drink the wine - They offer their
drink - offerings in wine, which they bought with the fines laid
on the innocent.
9: The Ammorite - The mightiest nation of all the Canaanites.
As the oaks - Another proverbial speech denoting their great strength.
His fruit - Their children. His roots - The old standards; that present
generation.
11: Nazarites - Persons who bound themselves to a very sober and holy
life; either for some certain time, or for their whole life.
12: Ye gave - Importuned them to drink wine, to violate their vow,
and contemn God's law.
13: Under you - Under the load of your sins.
14: The swift - For their enemies shall be swifter than they.
The strong - Natural strength of body shall not deliver.
The mighty - The valiant man, the man of the greatest courage.
