God sends his armies against Ninive to destroy it.
2:1. He is come up that shall destroy before thy face, that shall keep
the siege: watch the way, fortify thy loins, strengthen thy power
exceedingly.
2:2. For the Lord hath rendered the pride of Jacob, as the pride of
Israel: because the spoilers have laid them waste, and have marred their
vine branches.
Hath rendered the pride of Jacob, etc... He hath punished Jacob for his
pride; and therefore Ninive must not expect to escape. Or else,
rendering the pride of Jacob means rewarding, that is, punishing Ninive
for the pride they exercised against Jacob.
2:3. The shield of his mighty men is like fire, the men of the army are
clad in scarlet, the reins of the chariot are flaming in the day of his
preparation, and the drivers are stupefied.
Of his mighty men, etc... He speaks of the Chaldeans and Medes sent to
destroy Ninive.-Ibid. Stupefied... consopiti. That is, they drive on
furiously like men intoxicated with wine.
2:4. They are in confusion in the ways, the chariots jostle one against
another in the streets: their looks are like torches, like lightning
running to and fro.
2:5. He will muster up his valiant men, they shall stumble in their
march: they shall quickly get upon the walls thereof: and a covering
shall be prepared.
Stumble in their march... By running hastily on.
2:6. The gates of the rivers are opened, and the temple is thrown down
to the ground.
2:7. And the soldier is led away captive: and her bondwomen were led
away mourning as doves, murmuring in their hearts.
2:8. And as for Ninive, her waters are like a great pool: but the men
flee away. They cry: Stand, stand, but there is none that will return
back.
2:9. Take ye the spoil of the silver, take the spoil of the gold: for
there is no end of the riches of all the precious furniture.
2:10. She is destroyed, and rent, and torn: the heart melteth, and the
knees fail, and all the loins lose their strength: and the faces of them
all are as the blackness of a kettle.
2:11. Where is now the dwelling of the lions, and the feeding place of
the young lions, to which the lion went, to enter in thither, the young
lion, and there was none to make them afraid?
2:12. The lion caught enough for his whelps, and killed for his
lionesses: and he filled his holes with prey, and his den with rapine.
2:13. Behold I come against thee, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will
burn thy chariots even to smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young
lions: and I will cut off thy prey out of the land, and the voice of thy
messengers shall be heard no more.