Commentary on Nahum (No. F034)

Introduction

Nahum is the last of the seven pre-captivity prophets being the last of the second group of three. Jonah was concerned with Nineveh as was Nahum. Zephaniah was related but to a lesser degree.

Nahum is the seventh book of the group of Twelve Prophets. His name means comfort or compassion (cf. Isa. 57:18). He comes from Elkosh which is a town of SW Judah where the tribe of Simeon had settled, close to the Philistine and Egyptian borders, between Beit Jibrin and Gaza. G. Nestle identifies it with Kessijeh a little SW of Beit Jibrin U. Cassuto however identifies it with Umm Lagish halfway between Beit Jibrin and Gaza and this accords with Epiphanius (cf. Interp. Dict. of the Bible, art. ‘Nahum,’ Book Of, Vol. 3, p. 498, col. 1).

Most scholars agree that the earliest possible date for the writing is 663 BCE at the fall of Thebes to Assyria. The latest possible date is the fall of Nineveh in 612 BCE. The Neo-Babylonian state was founded by Nabopolassar in 625 BCE and, mobilising the Babylonian forces, he marched up the Euphrates to Qablinu where he inflicted on the Assyrian Army a massive defeat. The Medes began attacking from the East and in 614 they took and sacked the city of Asshur. Nabopolassar made an alliance then with their king. Together the Medes and Chaldeans continued attacking until Nineveh fell in 612 BCE. 625 BCE is the most probable date for both Nahum and Zephaniah at the discovery of the Scroll of the Law ready for the restoration of Josiah in the 18^th year of his reign. Thus it was at the beginning of the consolidation of the Babylonians which were to be used to destroy Assyria.

Bullinger believes that the villain of 1:11 is actually Rab-shekeh of 2Kings 18:26-28 the seemingly apostate Jew that became a senior officer or political officer of Sennacherib and he held a deadly animosity to Yahovah of Israel. Bullinger dated the writing to the 14^th year of Hezekiah and thus in the year 704/3 BCE. This is probably too early but it is after the fall of Israel.

As usual those detractors of Biblical inspiration and prophecy attempt to date some or all of the work to a date after the fall of Nineveh but most responsible scholars date Nahum to before the fall but many years after the prophecy of Jonah and at a similar time to that of Zephaniah. Most acknowledge it is a work of poetic genius (Interp. Dict., ibid. p. 499).

Nahum identifies the Assyrian system with Sun Cults and the cosmic adversaries of the Baal and Mother Goddess systems of the northern oppressors and the battles identified in the Biblical system and the festivals of the idolaters.

After the superscription in 1:1 there is delivered an alphabetic acrostic hymn which describes a theophany whose poetry is somewhat lost in the translation. The hymn extends to at least verse 9 and each line begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet from Aleph to Nuwn the 14^th letter equating to n. Other scholars have tried to get the acrostic to reach from the next letter all the way to Nah in 2:3 or 2:4. The better solution is to have it follow the first half of the Hebrew Alphabet from Aleph to Nuwn and at the very most to Sawmek.

Assyria had made Israel a tributary state from its capture of Damascus and it then removed Israel in 722 to the north above the Araxes and influenced Judah from then on and had its God and the Mother Goddess system of Baal and Ashtoreth or Easter/Ishtar inflicted on both Israel and Judah over an extensive period. So much so that Jonah was sent to them and their practices were forbidden through the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah all the way down to Zephaniah and beyond.

Nahum Chapters 1-3 (RSV)

Chapter 1

¹An oracle concerning Nin'eveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh. ²The LORD is a jealous God and avenging, the LORD is avenging and wrathful; the LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies. ³The LORD is slow to anger and of great might, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. ⁴He rebukes the sea and makes it dry, he dries up all the rivers; Bashan and Carmel wither, the bloom of Lebanon fades. ⁵The mountains quake before him, the hills melt; the earth is laid waste before him, the world and all that dwell therein. ⁶Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken asunder by him. ⁷The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. ⁸But with an overflowing flood he will make a full end of his adversaries, and will pursue his enemies into darkness. ⁹What do you plot against the LORD? He will make a full end; he will not take vengeance twice on his foes. ¹⁰Like entangled thorns they are consumed, like dry stubble. ¹¹Did one not come out from you, who plotted evil against the LORD, and counseled villainy? ¹²Thus says the LORD, "Though they be strong and many, they will be cut off and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more. ¹³And now I will break his yoke from off you and will burst your bonds asunder." ¹⁴The LORD has given commandment about you: "No more shall your name be perpetuated; from the house of your gods I will cut off the graven image and the molten image. I will make your grave, for you are vile." ¹⁵Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good tidings, who proclaims peace! Keep your feasts, O Judah, fulfil your vows, for never again shall the wicked come against you, he is utterly cut off.

Intent of Chapter 1

In 1:2-13; 2:1,3 there is a promise to Judah and in 1:10-11 and perhaps 14; and in 2:2 we see the beginning of the threat to Assyria. However, the hymn is a direct warning to the entire creation and the identification of those saved being those who take refuge in God.

The deities of the Assyro-Babylonians of the Sun and Mystery cults will be removed. The nations to the north from Bashan and Carmel and their rivers from Lebanon are to be dried up. Their systems will be punished.

vv. 12-13 God then continues with the promise that the yoke of the Assyrian system and the Assyro- Babylonian Sun Cults and Mother Goddess system of the Baal and Ashtoreth or Easter Ishtar systems will be destroyed and all their temples will have these idols and their accoutrements removed from their temples and destroyed.

vv. 14-15 Thus we see here that the adversary will no longer have his name perpetuated. God will make his grave for he is vile. This is a Messianic text as we see from the following verse which says: Behold on the mountains the feet of him who brings good tidings. This is a Messianic acrostic following the texts of Isaiah and Jeremiah.

Chapter 2

¹The shatterer has come up against you. Man the ramparts; watch the road; gird your loins; collect all your strength. ²(For the LORD is restoring the majesty of Jacob as the majesty of Israel, for plunderers have stripped them and ruined their branches.) ³The shield of his mighty men is red, his soldiers are clothed in scarlet. The chariots flash like flame when mustered in array; the chargers prance. ⁴The chariots rage in the streets, they rush to and fro through the squares; they gleam like torches, they dart like lightning. ⁵The officers are summoned, they stumble as they go, they hasten to the wall, the mantelet is set up. ⁶The river gates are opened, the palace is in dismay; ⁷its mistress is stripped, she is carried off, her maidens lamenting, moaning like doves, and beating their breasts. ⁸Nin'eveh is like a pool whose waters run away. "Halt! Halt!" they cry; but none turns back. ⁹Plunder the silver, plunder the gold! There is no end of treasure, or wealth of every precious thing. ¹⁰Desolate! Desolation and ruin! Hearts faint and knees tremble, anguish is on all loins, all faces grow pale! ¹¹Where is the lions' den, the cave of the young lions, where the lion brought his prey, where his cubs were, with none to disturb? ¹²The lion tore enough for his whelps and strangled prey for his lionesses; he filled his caves with prey and his dens with torn flesh. ¹³Behold, I am against you, says the LORD of hosts, and I will burn your chariots in smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions; I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall no more be heard.

Intent of Chapter 2

Chapter 2 deals with the restoration of Jacob as the majesty of Israel. Now Israel went into captivity to the Assyrians in 722 BCE thus they have to be restored in the Last Days for this to take effect.

It is argued that this text refers to and was fulfilled in 612 BCE. However Israel was not restored and was far north of the Araxes and Judah was to go into captivity and the Temple destroyed in 597 BCE. This time is far into the future and long after the fall of the Assyrians and their system and at the coming of the Messiah. In that aspect it agrees with the others of the Twelve Prophets and concerns the Last Days.

Chapter 3

¹Woe to the bloody city, all full of lies and booty -- no end to the plunder! ²The crack of whip, and rumble of wheel, galloping horse and bounding chariot! ³Horsemen charging, flashing sword and glittering spear, hosts of slain, heaps of corpses, dead bodies without end -- they stumble over the bodies! ⁴And all for the countless harlotries of the harlot, graceful and of deadly charms, who betrays nations with her harlotries, and peoples with her charms. ⁵Behold, I am against you, says the LORD of hosts, and will lift up your skirts over your face; and I will let nations look on your nakedness and kingdoms on your shame. ⁶I will throw filth at you and treat you with contempt, and make you a gazingstock. ⁷And all who look on you will shrink from you and say, Wasted is Nin'eveh; who will bemoan her? whence shall I seek comforters for her? ⁸Are you better than Thebes that sat by the Nile, with water around her, her rampart a sea, and water her wall? ⁹Ethiopia was her strength, Egypt too, and that without limit; Put and the Libyans were her helpers. ¹⁰Yet she was carried away, she went into captivity; her little ones were dashed in pieces at the head of every street; for her honored men lots were cast, and all her great men were bound in chains. ¹¹You also will be drunken, you will be dazed; you will seek a refuge from the enemy. ¹²All your fortresses are like fig trees with first-ripe figs -- if shaken they fall into the mouth of the eater. ¹³Behold, your troops are women in your midst. The gates of your land are wide open to your foes; fire has devoured your bars. ¹⁴Draw water for the siege, strengthen your forts; go into the clay, tread the mortar, take hold of the brick mold! ¹⁵There will the fire devour you, the sword will cut you off. It will devour you like the sword locust. Multiply yourselves like the locust, multiply like the grasshopper! ¹⁶You increased your merchants more than the stars of the heavens. The locust spreads its wings and flies away. ¹⁷Your princes are like grasshoppers, your scribes like clouds of locusts settling on the fences in a day of cold -- when the sun rises, they fly away; no one knows where they are. ¹⁸Your shepherds are asleep, O king of Assyria; your nobles slumber. Your people are scattered on the mountains with none to gather them. ¹⁹There is no assuaging your hurt, your wound is grievous. All who hear the news of you clap their hands over you. For upon whom has not come your unceasing evil?

Intent of Chapter 3

The nations were glad for they had all suffered from her unceasing evil and that was to continue even though they were dispersed over the mountains. Their power was absorbed by the Babylonians and became part of the seven and eight empires of Daniel Chapter 2 and the prophecies of Daniel.

Bullinger’s Notes on Nahum (for KJV)

Chapter 1

Verse 1

burden. Compare Isaiah 13:1, Isaiah 27:13. See the Structure, p. 930), and Habakkuk. = A prophetic oracle: or, the prophetic doom of Nineveh, written about ninety (603-514 = B.C.) years before Nineveh"s doom; and while the Assyrian Empire was at its height. The doom of Nineveh came therefore 176 years after Jonah"s mission. The prophecy was addressed to Nahum"s own People, but as a 1menace to Nineveh.

Nineveh. This heading is not "undoubtedly by a later hand", as alleged. The words "the place thereof" (Nahum 1:8) would be unintelligible without it. Nineveh is not mentioned again until Nahum 2:8; and is only hinted at elsewhere (Nahum 3:1, Nahum 3:18). The Structure below is the best commentary.

vision. Like Isaiah, always one whole. Not written before or separately from, its deliverance.

Nahum = the compassionate, or consoler. The name refers back to Jehovah"s compassion connected with Jonah"s mission eighty-seven years before. Nothing is known of Nahum beyond his book.

Elkoshite. Hebrew. "Elkoshi. A village of this name exists to-day, twentyfour miles north of Nineveh (now Konyunjik). See Layard"s Nineveh and its Remains, i. p. 233.

Verse 2

GOD. Hebrew El. App-4.

jealous. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 20:5-7. Deuteronomy 4:24). App-92. See the Structure (book comments for Nahum), and note the subjects of "A" and "A"; "B" and "B"; "C" and "C".

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4. Note the Figure of speech Epizeuxis (App-6), for great emphasis.

revengeth = avengeth.

is furious = a possessor of wrath. Hebrew "lord of wrath".

wrath. Figure of speech Ellipsis (Absolute). App-6.

Verse 3

slow to anger = long-suffering. Reference to Pentateuch (Ex. Nahum 34:6, Nahum 34:7). App-92. Hebrew "Long of anger". The opposite of Proverbs 14:17. Compare Jonah 4:2.

great. Compare Job 9:4; and see the Structure "-3-5", above.

will not, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 34:7. Numbers 14:18).

acquit = clear, or hold guiltless.

Verse 4

He rebuketh the sea. Reference to Pentateuch (Ex. 14.) Compare Psalms 106:9.

and drieth up, &c. Compare Joshua 4:23. Psalms 74:15.

Verse 5

The mountains quake, &c. Compare Micah 1:3, Micah 1:4.

burned = upheaved.

world. Hebrew. tebel = the world as inhabited.

Verse 6

abide = stand up. Compare Jeremiah 10:10. Malachi 3:2.

Verse 7

good. See the Structure "7", above. Compare 1 Chronicles 16:34. Psalms 100:5. Jeremiah 33:11. Lamentations 3:25.

strong hold = a place of safety.

He knoweth, &c. Compare Psalms 1:6. 2 Timothy 2:12.

trust in = flee for refuge to. Hebrew. hasah. App-69.

Verse 8

But, &c. Note the transition in Nahum 1:8, which is explained by the Structure "8", above.

the place thereof. Hebrew her place: i.e. Nineveh"s. See note on title above (Nahum 1:1).

Verse 9

imagine = devise. Compare Psalms 2:1.

affliction = distress, or trouble; Hebrew. zarar, as in Nahum 1:7, i.e. the trouble that now threatens Nineveh.

the second time. Referring to the rising up after Jonah"s proclamation. Compare "rise", Jeremiah 51:64. Same word as "abide", Nahum 1:6, above.

Verse 10

folden = entangled.

thorns. The emblem of hostile armies (Isaiah 10:17; Isaiah 27:4).

Verse 11

of. Genitive of Origin. App-17.

thee: i.e. Nineveh (feminine)

evil. Hebrew. ra"a. App-44.

a wicked counsellor = a counselor of Belial. The counsellor probably = Rabshakeh; and Belial = Sennacherib. See note on p. 1261.

Verse 12

quiet = secure.

cut down = cut down (like dry stubble).

when he, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 12:12). Compare Isaiah 8:8. Dan 11:10.

-12 Though, &c. = And [now, O Judah], &c. Through not seeing the Structure and the change of subject at "-12-14", modern critics say "the first part of this verse is certainly more or less corrupt"; and they alter the Hebrew text to make it agree with the last clause, the subject changing there to the removal of evil from Judah.

thee: i.e. Judah (Nahum 1:13).

Verse 13

will I break, &c. Reference to Pant. (Genesis 27:40). App-92.

his yoke. Some codices read "his rod".

Verse 14

no more of thy name, &c. : i.e. the dynasty of Nineveh should end.

make = make [it]: i.e. "the house of thy gods".

grave = sepulchre. Hebrew. keber. See note on Genesis 23:4. App-35.

vile = despicable. Compare Isaiah 37:37, Isaiah 37:38.

Verse 15

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos (App-6), for emphasis, calling attention to the reference to Isaiah 52:7, the the hypotheticalsecond Isaiah, 100 years before he is supposed by modern critics to have lived.

keep thy solemn feasts. Figure of speech. Polyptoton. App-6. Hebrew "feast thy solemn feasts" : used for great emphasis. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 16:16, &c.; Nahum 23:21, &c). App-92.

the wicked. Hebrew [the man of] Belial. See note on Nahum 1:11.

Chapter 2

Verse 1

He that dasheth, &c.: i.e. Cyaxares and Nabopolassar (Herod, i. 106). A reference or type of the future destruction of Antichrist.

dasheth, &c.: or, the breaker (Hebrew. mephiz = battle-axe, or hammer (Proverbs 25:18)). Compare Jeremiah 23:29; Jeremiah 51:20. Ezekiel 9:2, margin Micah 2:13.

keep the munition. Figure of speech Homoeopropheron (App-6), in the Hebrew In English, keep the keeps, or fortify the fortress, or fence the defences.

make thy loins strong: i.e. be courageous. Compare Job 40:7. Jeremiah 1:17.

fortify, &c. = strengthen [thee] with power mightily. Compare Proverbs 24:5.

Verse 2

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4. The verse not "misplaced", as alleged. See the Structure above.

hath turned away = restoreth, or is on the way to bring back.

the excellency = pre-eminence. Used in good, or bad sense according to the context.

Jacob. Put here for the natural seed, and Judah in contrast with Israel; compare Genesis 32:28; Genesis 43:6; Genesis 45:26, Genesis 45:28.

as = as [He will restore] the excellency, &c.

Verse 3

mighty men = mighty ones, or warriors. Compare 2 Samuel 23:8. 1 Kings 1:8, 1 Kings 1:10.

made red = reddened [with blood].

are in scarlet = [are clad] in scarlet, as were the armies of the Persians.

the chariots shall be . . . torches: or, with the flashing of steel the chariots [glitter].

fir trees. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6, for the spears or lances made from them.

Verse 4

rage = rave [as though mad]. Hebrew. halal.

justle. From Old French jouster, to tilt; from Low Latin. juxtare, to approach (as in tilting).

Jostle = to push against, a frequentative form; but the Hebrew (shakak) means to run to and fro, as in Isaiah 33:4. Joel 2:9.

they shall seem = their appearance is.

Verse 5

He. The king of Assyria (Nahum 3:18).

recount = bethink himself of.

worthies = nobles, who may assemble their troops; as in Nahum 3:18. Judges 5:13. 2 Chronicles 23:20.

in their walk = as they march.

the wall thereof = her wall: i.e. the wall of Nineveh.

the defence = the mantelet, or portable storming cover [of the besiegers].

Verse 6

gates = flood-gates, or sluices.

the rivers. Nineveh lay on the east (or left) bank of the Tigris. The Khusur (a perennial stream) ran through it; also a canal from it to the Tigris ran through the city.

opened: i.e. by the enemy.

be dissolved = melt away [in fear], or was in dismay.

Verse 7

Huzzab. The words which follow show that the queen or queen-mother is meant: or, Huzzab may be taken as a verb (dual of nazah), and the "and" as = though (like "but" in Nahum 2:8). In that case read: "though firmly established, she shall be dishonoured and taken captive"; the city being thus personified.

lead her = mourn for, or bemoaning.

tabering = drumming [with their fingers] incessantly. Hebrew. taphaph, from toph = a drum. See note on Exodus 15:20. 1 Samuel 10:6.

breasts = hearts. Some codices read "heart" (singular); but others, with eight early printed editions, read "hearts" (plural)

Verse 8

But = Though, to answer to the "yet" of the next line.

is of old, &c. Read "hath been from of old [filled with men] as a pool [is full] of water".

they: i.e. the defenders.

flee away. Before their besiegers.

they: i.e. the captains.

Verse 9

take the spoil. Note the Figure of speech Epizeuxis (App-6), for emphasis.

none end, &c. = [there are] treasures without end, [and] stores of all covetable vessels.

Verse 10

empty . . . void . . . waste. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia (App-6), for emphasis. Hebrew. bukah umbukah umebullakah.

the faces of them all, &c. Only here, and in Joel 2:6. The reference is to Joel 2:6 (as Nahum 1:15 is to Isaiah 52:7); not vice versa.

Verse 11

Where . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis (App-6), for emphasis.

lions. Note the Figure of speech Synonymia (App-6), for emphasis. This is Jehovah"s answer to Sennacherib"s taunt in 2 Kings 18:34, looking back after the fulfillment of this prophecy.

Verse 12

did tear = was tearing. Nineveh again personified in verses: Nahum 2:11, Nahum 2:12.

Verse 13

saith the LORD of Hosts = [is] the oracle of Jehovah Sabaioth.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. as in Nahum 2:2. The full expression, "Jehovah of hosts", occurs only here in Nahum ("Nahum 2:13") and in the corresponding member ("Nahum 3:5"). See note on 1 Samuel 1:3.

in the smoke = into smoke.

messengers = ambassadors. Compare 2 Kings 18:17, 2 Kings 18:19; 2 Kings 19:9, 2 Kings 19:23.

Chapter 3

Verse 1

bloody city = city of great bloodshed (Ezekiel 22:2, Ezekiel 22:3; Ezekiel 24:6, Ezekiel 24:9. Habakkuk 2:12).

departeth not = will not be lacking. Captive princes were exposed to public contumely in cages, &c.

Verse 2

The noise, &c. Between verses: Nahum 3:1-2 supply the logical Ellipsis (App-6), thus: "is not released. [Hark! the enemy is within thy gates! ] The noise of a whip . . . chariot".

jumping = bumping, or sounding.

Verse 3

bright = gleaming.

glittering = flashing.

they: i.e. the slayers. Hebrew text margin, with some codices, and four early printed editions, reads "so that they stumble", &c.

Verse 4

Because, &c. Note the Structure, which shows that here, in the member "4-7", we have the cause, corresponding with "Nahum 2:13".

the mistress of witchcrafts. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 22:18. Deuteronomy 18:10).

witchcrafts = sorceries. Compare Isaiah 47:9.

Verse 5

saith the LORD of Hosts = [is] the oracle of Jehovah Sabaioth. See note on Nahum 2:13.

I will discover. Carrying out the symbol of whoredom for idolatry. Compare Nahum 2:13; Nahum 3:5.

I will shew, &c. (Isaiah 47:2, Isaiah 47:3. Jeremiah 13:22, Jeremiah 13:26. Ezekiel 16:37).

Verse 7

her. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Aramaean, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "thee"; but the Codex "Mugah", quoted in the Massorah (App-30), reads "her".

Verse 8

better = situated better.

populous No = N"o-"Amon. "Amon is not a Hebrew word meaning "multitude", but an Egyptian word meaning the Egyptian god "Amon". No = the Egyptian net, meaning the city; now known as "Thebes". (Compare Jeremiah 46:25. Ezekiel 30:14, Ezekiel 30:15, Ezekiel 30:16).

the rivers = the Nile streams, Hebrew. yeorm, the regular word for the Nile and its canals, &c. First occurrence Genesis 41:1; rendered "flood" (Jeremiah 46:7, Jeremiah 46:8. Amos 8:8; Amos 9:5); "brooks" (Isaiah 19:6, Isaiah 19:7, Isaiah 19:8); "streams" (Isaiah 33:21).

the sea. The Nile so called in Job 41:31. Isaiah 18:2; Isaiah 19:5.

from = of: i.e. consisted of.

Verse 9

and. Some codices, cited in the Massorah (App-30), omit this word "and"; in which case we should render the clause: "Ethiopia strengthened her; Egypt [defended her with countless hosts (or hosts without end)]".

infinite. Hebrew = and there is no end. See the above note; and Compare Nahum 2:9; Nahum 3:3. Isaiah 2:7.

Put. Genesis 10:6, the third son of Ham, next to Cush (Ethiopia) and Mizraim (Egypt). Put was among the mercenaries of Tyre (Ezekiel 27:10). Compare Jeremiah 46:9.

Lubim = Lybians. Compare 2 Chronicles 12:3. Daniel 11:43.

Verse 10

Yet was she, &c. The cuneiform monuments tell us that Thebes, the old capital of Egypt, was destroyed by Assyria about 663 B.C. Assurbanipal has recorded his conquest. Nahum, writing about 603 B. C, refers to this as a well-known event, and likely to be remembered. Nineveh fell later, just as Nahum had foretold. See note on Nahum 1:1. Yet Nahum refers to the Pentateuch!

Verse 11

Thou: i.e. Nineveh.

be drunken: i.e. drink of the cup [of judgment]; or, be stupefied by thy calamity.

strength = strength [for defence]; hence = "thou shalt seek a stronghold, or refuge [in vain]".

Verse 14

Draw thee = Draw for thyself.

go . . . tread, &c. : i.e. make plenty of bricks [for the strongholds].

the brickkiln = the brick-work [ = fortifications, or walls] built with bricks. Hebrew. malben. See notes on 2 Samuel 12:31. Jeremiah 43:9; and App-87.

Verse 15

cankerworm = the young locust. Hebrew. yelek. See note on Joel 1:4.

make thyself many = [though thou be] numerous. Figure of speech Irony (App-6).

locusts = the young locust. Hebrew "arbeh. See note on Joel 1:4.

Verse 16

Thou = [Though] thou, &c.

spoileth = stript itself, or cast off the skin.

Verse 17

crowned = mercenary crowds. Hebrew. minzarim. Occurs only here. See Fuerst, Lex., p. 832.

captains = muster-masters, or marshals. Hebrew. tiphsar. Occurs only here, and Jeremiah 51:27. Like the Assyrian dupsarru = a tablet-writer.

hedges = loose stone walls.

Verse 18

shepherds = leaders, or rulers. Here = generals.

dwell = lie down: i.e. in death.

no man gathereth them. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 30:4). App-92.

Verse 19
healing = alleviation.

bruise = breaking, or breach: i.e. ruin.

bruits = report, tidings. Hebrew. shema". The English "bruit" = rumour; from the French bruire, to make a noise.

upon = over. Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6.