Bible Commentaries

Verses 1-7

For a spoil - Or, for a portion.

Verse 8

Prophecies against Moab which lay south of Ammon, and shared Ammon’s implacable hostility to the children of Israel.

Seir was close to Moab. Edom is identified with Mount “Seir” in Ezekiel 35:1-15; and “Seir” is therefore probably coupled with “Moab” here because, being near neighbors closely leagued together, they expressed a common exultation at Jerusalem’s fall.

Verse 9

I will open the side ... - i. e., lay it open to the attack of the enemy from the cities, from his cities, from his frontier (or, in every quarter). There is an ironical stress on “his” cities, because these cities belonged not to Moab but to Israel, having been assigned to the Reubenites Numbers 32:38; Joshua 13:20. They lay to the north of the river Arnon, which was the proper boundary of Moab Numbers 21:13. The Moabites had in the last days of the kingdom of Israel recovered this territory Isaiah 16:1-14. They still occupied this land in the time of Ezekiel (see Jeremiah 48:0).

The glory of the country - This tract, belonging to the district called by the Arabians “Al Belka,” has been at all times highly valued on account of the excellence of its pastures for cattle. The most southern of these three cities is Kiriathaim, called on the Moabitic stone Kirjath, and now Kureiyat. The dual termination of the name Kiriathaim,” is explained by the fact that Kureiyat is situated on two sister hillocks half a mile apart, both covered by the ancient city. It is situated about eight miles north of the Arnon, and seven miles east of the shore of the Dead Sea. Baal-meon is about ten miles north of Kureiyat - known at present as Main. It is probable that Kiriathaim was the “Kirjath-Huzoth” (city of streets), and Baal-meon, the “Bamoth-Baal” (high places of Baal), to which Balak took Balaam Numbers 22:39, Numbers 22:41. Baal-meon occurs on the Moabitic stone as a place which Mesa built or fortified. He probably erected a stronghold on the old locality, reviving the ancient name. Beth-jeshimoth is identified with a knoll at the northeasternmost point of the Dead Sea.

Verse 10

Ammon and Moab, of common origin, whose lands had so often been interchanged, shall now share a common ruin. To “the men of the east” Ezekiel 25:4 shall Moab with Ammon be given, that Ammon may be remembercd no more, and judgment be executed on Moab.

Verse 12

Edom, so named from Esau, consisted of various tribes enumerated in Genesis 36:0. The Edomites became a powerful nation before the Israelites came out of Egypt. David conquered them, but in the reign of Joram they rebelled and were not again subdued 2 Kings 8:20. Under the name of Idumea the land was conquered by John Hyrcanus (compare Ezekiel 25:14), when many of the people adopted the religion of the Jews. In later times the Idumean Herod became king of Palestine, reckoning himself as a Jew. Mount Seir, deserted by its original inhabitants, was occupied by a tribe of Arabians (the Nabatheans), under whelm Petra rose and continued a flourishing city under Roman dominion, until the tide of Mahometan conquest brought it to that ruin in which Edom at last found the complete fulfillment of the prophecies uttered against it Ezekiel 35:1-15.

Taking vengeance - Referring to the wrong done by Jacob to Esau Genesis 27:36.

Verse 13

From Teman ... - Or “from Teman” even unto “Dedan,” “shall they fall.” Teman and Dedan were districts (not cities), the former in the south (Ezekiel 20:46 note), the latter in the north (“over the whole country”).

Verses 15-17

Cherethims - The inhabitants of the southern portion of Philistia Zephaniah 2:5.