Verse 3

And say unto the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou saidst, Aha, against my sanctuary, when it was profaned; and against the land of Israel, when it was desolate; and against the house of Judah, when they went into captivity;

Aha — When thou shouldest have pitied, thou didst proudly insult over my people.

Verse 4

Behold, therefore I will deliver thee to the men of the east for a possession, and they shall set their palaces in thee, and make their dwellings in thee: they shall eat thy fruit, and they shall drink thy milk.

The men of the east — The Arabians, associates of Nebuchadnezzar, who recompensed their service, with giving them this country when it was conquered, as it was five years after the desolation of Jerusalem.

Verse 5

And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels, and the Ammonites a couchingplace for flocks: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

Rabbah — The royal city, called since Philadelphia from the king of Egypt who built it.

The Ammonites — The land they dwelt in.

Verse 7

Behold, therefore I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and will deliver thee for a spoil to the heathen; and I will cut thee off from the people, and I will cause thee to perish out of the countries: I will destroy thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.

Know — Thus God will bring those that were strangers to him into an acquaintance with him, and it will be a blessed effect of their calamities. How much better is it, to be poor and know God, than to be rich, and ignorant of him?

Verse 8

Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Moab and Seir do say, Behold, the house of Judah is like unto all the heathen;

Seir — The seed of Esau, the Edomites. Seir was the mountain where they first planted themselves.

Is like — Are no more a select people than others.

Verse 9

Therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his cities which are on his frontiers, the glory of the country, Bethjeshimoth, Baalmeon, and Kiriathaim,

The side — That part of his country which was best fortified.

Bethjeshimoth — An ancient city; it was a fortress toward the desert, which watched lest any should make an inroad on the country.

Verse 10

Unto the men of the east with the Ammonites, and will give them in possession, that the Ammonites may not be remembered among the nations.

With the Ammonites — As I have given Ammon, so I will with them give Moab to the Chaldeans, who will give it to the Arabians.

Verse 13

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword.

Teman — A country in the southern coast of Edom.

Dedan — Adjoining to Edom.

Verse 15

Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred;

It — Israel.

Verse 16

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will stretch out mine hand upon the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethims, and destroy the remnant of the sea coast.

The Cherethim — The bowmen, the strength of Philistia.

The remnant — Who had escaped the sword of Samuel, David, Hezekiah, and of Psammetichus king of Egypt.