“The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.”
Damascus. When it was taken by Theglathphalassar, or rather by Sennacherib, chap. x. 8. It was again ruined by Nabuchodonosor, Jeremias xlix. 24. But after the first taking, it never regained its power. Magni nominis umbra. (Calmet)
“The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid.”
Aroer. Chaldean, “abandoned, shall be folds for sheep.” Septuagint, “left for ever a resting place for flocks and herds, and none shall pursue.” The tribes on the east of the Jordan shall be led captive, as well as those on the west, Ephraim, &c. (Haydock)
“The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts.”
Damascus. Their too great union proved their ruin. Sennacherib took Damascus, as Salmanasar had done Samaria.
“And in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean.”
Lean. All the power of the kingdom shall fail, as in a mortal illness.
“And it shall be as when the harvestman gathereth the corn, and reapeth the ears with his arm; and it shall be as he that gathereth ears in the valley of Rephaim.”
Raphaim. Near Jerusalem, 3 Kings xxiii. 13. Septuagint, “of stones.” (Calmet) — It will be equally difficult to find any men left in the kingdom of Israel. (Haydock)
“At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.”
Israel. They obeyed the summons of Ezechias and of Josias, (2 Paralipomenon xxx. 1., and xxxiv. 6.) and every after followed the same worship as Juda. (Calmet)
“In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel: and there shall be desolation.”
Left. By the Chanaanites, when the children of Israel came into their land. (Challoner) — Their consternation was become proverbial, Josue ii. 9., and v. 11.
“Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips:”
Good. Septuagint, “fruitless.” Israel had abandoned the Lord; and could expect nothing but the fruits of death. (Calmet)
“In the day shalt thou make thy plant to grow, and in the morning shalt thou make thy seed to flourish: but the harvest shall be a heap in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow. a heap: or, removed in the day of inheritance, and there shall be deadly sorrow”
Much. Thou hast laboured earnestly, but reaped no benefit. (Haydock)
“Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters! multitude: or, noise mighty: or, many”
Multitude, &c. This and all that follows to the end of the chapter, relates to the Assyrian army under Sennacherib, (Challoner) or rather to that of Israel and its allies. (Calmet) — After the Assyrians had afflicted Israel, they were also punished. (Worthington)
“And behold at eveningtide trouble; and before the morning he is not. This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us.”
Not be. Phacee and Rasin were presently exterminated. — Spoiled us. The kingdom of Achaz, 4 Kings xvii. 5.