For ûa ach they must have read la al; otherwise, how came they by the negative, which seems not to belong to this place? Neither is it easy to make sense of the rest without a small alteration, by reading, instead of entraphsh ta, entraphsetai. In a word, the Arabic version taken from the Septuagint, plainly authorizes this reading of the Septuagint, and without the negative; and it is fully confirmed by MSS. Pachom. and i. D.

II., which have both of them entraphsetai pedia esebwn, without the negative; which makes an excellent sense, and, I think, gives us the true reading of the Hebrew text; wbj twmd wmlkn ûa ak nichlemu shadmoth cheshbon. They frequently render the verb µlkn nichlam by entrepomai. And wmlkn nichlemu answers perfectly well to llma umlal, the parallel word in the next line. The MSS. vary in expressing the word µyakn nechaim, which gives no tolerable sense in this place; one reads µyakwn nochaim; two others µyakb bechaim; in another the k caph is upon a rasure of two letters; and the Vulgate instead of it reads µtwkm mecotham, plagas suas. - L.

For the men of Kirhares ye shall make a moan. For the fields of Heshbon are put to shame. This is Bp. Lowth's sense of the passage.

Her branches are stretched out "Her branches extended themselves."] For wfn nitteshu, a MS. has wgn niggeshu; which may perhaps be right.

Compare Jer. xlviii. 32, which has in this part of the sentence the synonymous word w[gn nagau.

The meaning of this verse is, that the wines of Sibmah and Heshbon were greatly celebrated, and in high repute with all the great men and princes of that and the neighbouring countries; who indulged themselves even to intemperance in the use of them. So that their vines were so much in request as not only to be propagated all over the country of Moab to the sea of Sodom, but to have scions of them sent even beyond the sea into foreign countries.

wmlh halemu, knocked down, demolished; that is overpowered, intoxicated. The drunkards of Ephraim are called by the prophet, chap. xxviii. 1, yy ymwlh halumey yayin, drinkers of wine. See Schultens on Prov. xxiii. 25. Gratius, speaking of the Mareotic wine, says of it, Pharios quae fregit noxia reges. CYNEG. 312.

Is. 16:1-5 God tells sinners what they may do to prevent ruin; so he does to Moab. Let them send the tribute they formerly engaged to pay to Judah. Take it as good advice. Break off thy sins by righteousness, it may lengthen thy quiet. And this may be applied to the great gospe duty of submission to Christ. Send him the lamb, the best you have yourselves a living sacrifice. When you come to God, the great Ruler come in the name of the Lamb, the Lamb of God. Those who will no submit to Christ, shall be as a bird that wanders from her nest, whic shall be snatched up by the next bird of prey. Those who will not yiel to the fear of God, shall be made to yield to the fear of every thin else. He advises them to be kind to the seed of Israel. Those tha expect to find favour when in trouble themselves, must show favour to those in trouble. What is here said concerning the throne of Hezekiah also belongs, in a much higher sense, to the kingdom of Jesus Christ Though by subjection to Him we may not enjoy worldly riches or honours but may be exposed to poverty and contempt, we shall have peace of conscience and eternal life.

Is. 16:6-14 Those who will not be counselled, cannot be helped. Mor souls are ruined by pride than by any other sin whatever. Also, the very proud are commonly very passionate. With lies many seek to gai the gratification of pride and passion, but they shall not compas proud and angry projects. Moab was famous for fields and vineyards; but they shall be laid waste by the invading army. God can soon tur laughter into mourning, and joy into heaviness. In God let us alway rejoice with holy triumph; in earthly things let us always rejoice with holy trembling. The prophet looks with concern on the desolations of such a pleasant country; it causes inward grief. The false gods of Moa are unable to help; and the God of Israel, the only true God, can an will make good what he has spoken. Let Moab know her ruin is very near and prepare. The most awful declarations of Divine wrath, discover the way of escape to those who take warning. There is no escape, but by submission to the Son of David, and devoting ourselves to him. And, a length, when the appointed time comes, all the glory, prosperity, an multitude of the wicked shall perish __________________________________________________________________

Original Hebrew