By the pride of Jordan is to be understood, as Dr. Blayney observes, the
woods and thickets on the banks of that river. These served as covert for
lions, which often infested the country when driven from them by the
rising of the river. These trees being along with others doomed to
destruction, the lions roar for the loss of their shelter, as the
shepherds howl for the loss of their rich pastures. The lions denote
metaphorically the great and powerful among the people. Their disposition
to prey upon and devour the flock, well accords with the character
afterwards given to the shepherds also, and shews the consistency of the
metaphorical language.
Ver. 6. כי לא אחמול עוד על ישבי הארץ—_For I will no more pity the
inhabitants of the land, &c._
The distinction between _the sea_ and _the land_, has been already pointed
out in the note to ver. 11, of the last chapter, and is here too manifest
to admit of doubt. Lebanon, Bashan, Carmel, and Jordan, clearly shew what
land is here spoken of, which can be no other than Palestine.