like a contagion through the whole land, until they became fo general, that every one would mourn and howl. For the foundations of Kir-harefeth, &c. This feems to have been the name of a confiderable city in the land of Moab; and was probably the very fame place that was called Kir, in the beginning of this prophecy.- The foundations of this city were to be ftricken, which would give rife to the mourning here foretold. The word tranflated foundations, fignifies alfo, bottles, flaggons, or large veels, wherein liquor is kept; which is perhaps the preferable fenfe here, it being more natural to fay, that foundations are destroyed, and that veffels are ftricken. To this interpretation I am the rather inclined, as, in the beginning of next verfe, the vine of Sibmah is mentioned, which would require many large veffels to contain its fruits. These veffels being stricken and broken, would give occafion to lamentation and forrow, especially when taken in conjunction with what follows in the next verse.

8 For the fields of Hefhbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah, the lords of the Heathen have broken down the principal plants thereof, they are come even, unto Jazer, they wandered through the wildernefs, her branches are ftretched out, they are gone over the sea,

Heshbon was the name of a city in Moab, which was furrounded with vineyards, very fruitful fields, and rich pafture-grounds. At the time to which this prophecy referred, the fields fituated in the vicinity of this city languifhed, and loft the beautiful, luxuriant appearance which they were wont to affume, becaufe a fufficient number of hands were not left to cultivate and improve them, the people being either engaged in military fervices, or hing fled before the enemy, or already wafted by flaughter.The vine

of

of Sibmah, &c. Though this place is feldom mentioned in fcripture, it appears, from what is here said, that it was renowned for the excellent vines which it produced. When this prediction was fulfilled, they were in a languishing ftate; the enemies of Moab, called the Lords of the Heathen, having plucked up the beft plants, and broken off the branches, and carried them to Jazer. The land of Jazer, which is faid to have been about fifteen miles from Hefhbon, was pitched on by the Reubenites and Gadites, as a proper place for feeding cattle; and therefore they requefted Mofes and Eleazar, and the princes of the congregation, that it might be given to them for a poffeffion". The wines of Hefhbon and Sibmah, having been in high reputation among the princes and great men of neighbouring nations, vines of the fpecies which grew in these places, were propagated not only over all the land of Moab, but cions of them were fent over feas into foreign countries. And, at the period to which our prophet looked forward, when this prediction fhould be verified, thefe vines were to be almost totally demolished, and left in an unculti, vated condition; and many of them were to be dif perfed through the wilderness of Moab. Striking proofs of the deplorable, forlorn ftate of that kingdom!

9¶ Therefore I will bewail with the weeping of Jazer, the vine of Sibmah: I will water thee with my tears, O Hefhbon, and Elealeh: for the fhouting for thy fummer-fruits, and for thy harveft, is fallen.

Our prophet, contemplating the calamities which he had predicted, in his own name, and perfonating the Moabites, declares what was his own determination, and what would be their conduct, in the time

Numb. xxxii. 1. et feq.

of

of their diftrefs.I will bewail, with tears of for row, and bitter lamentations, the defolation of the fields of Hefhbon, and the vines of Sibmah.--With the weeping of Fazer; with thofe ftrong expreffions of forrow that the inhabitants of that place had mourned over fome great lofs, or to which their deftruction had given rife.--I will water thee, O Hefbbon, and Elealeh, with my tears, which fhall flow in fuch abundance, as to moisten some of thy neglected fields and vineyards.For the fhouting, &c. When the people of Moab were employed in gathering the fummerfruits, in collecting the vintage, and reaping their harveft, they enlivened and encouraged each other by joyful acclamations. In this manner they might amufe themselves at proper feafons, and be thereby excited to proceed in their work with greater alacrity and pleasure. Thefe loud and joyful fhouts were to fall low, and ceafe. All their mirth and feftivity were to be laid afide; and the whole joyous fcene exhibited in the seasons of grape-gathering, and reaping the corns, was to be reverfed in the land of Moab, and to be fucceeded by defolation and mourning.

10 And gladness is taken away, and joy out of the plentiful field, and in the vineyards there fhall be no finging, neither shall there be shouting: the treaders fhall tread out no wine in their preffes; I have made their vintage-shouting to ceafe.

The Moabites were accustomed to reap their luxuriant crops with much joy and gladness, and to gather the grapes of their vineyards with finging and fhouting. Being worldly men, who had their portion in this prefent life, and the fruits of the vine and of the field being of all others the moft excellent and valuable, they had no greater joy than that which they felt on thefe occafions. Our prophet therefore, in defcribing the calamities with which they were to be visited,

visited, on account of their incorrigible tranfgreffions, fuits the representation to the prevailing fentiments of that people. As they placed their chief happiness in the things of this world, he declares, that the defolation which they would greatly lament, fhould arise from their being deprived of worldly abundance, and the joy wherewith the poffeffion of it was accompa nied. The whole prediction before us, delivered in language greatly diverfified, plainly intimates, that the time was then faft approaching, when the miferies that were coming upon Moab, would deprive them of all the joy and gladnefs, the finging, fhouting, and feftivity, which they had hitherto enjoyed in profperity.That fo great were to be the foretold calamities with which the land fhould be visited, that forrow and anguifh, weeping, howling, and lamentation, should be fubftituted in their place, and prevail as univerfally among the inhabitants, in the time of their diftrefs, as the opposite practices had done in happier days.

II Wherefore my bowels fhall found like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kir haresh.

Ifaiah, with his accustomed elegance, pathetically defcribes the tender, painful emotions which he would feel, on account of the diftreffes of Moab. These compaffionate feelings he illuftrates by a beautiful fimilitude. My bowels fhall found like a harp, which is a musical inftrument, the strings of which being extended, preffed with the hand, and touched with the fingers, emits a pleafant, melodious, grave found. In like manner, when the inward parts are diftended with grief, when the animal fpirits are depreffed, and the bowels are moved, the heart, thus oppreffed and overcharged, feeks relief in fobs and fighs, which form a found, in fome refpects, like a mournful tune. Similar expreffions with that now before us frequently

frequently occur in fcripture *. The words import, that our prophet's bowels were to be fenfibly touched by the calamities of Moab, and his inward parts fo ftrongly moved by the diftreffes of Kir-haresh, as to produce a mournful, affecting found, expreffive of his poignant forrow.

12¶ And it shall come to pafs, when it is feen that Moab is weary on the high place, that he fhall come to his fanctuary to pray, but he fhall not prevail.

The unfuccefsful attempt of the Moabites, to escape the foretold defolation, is here ftrongly depicted. After the above-mentioned threatened judgments had become visible, by their execution on Moab, that people were to become weary of the high place to which they had reforted, that they might facrifice to their gods on altars, which were commonly erected on places of eminence, that they might weep before them, and implore their affiftance. Having wearied themselves in vain in the service of their idols, their cries, lamentations, and facrifices, having accomplished no valuable purpose, they would defift from these practices, and take another courfe.--He fhall come to his fanctuary to pray, but he shall not prevail. The Moabites fatigued with fruitlefs expedients, which hitherto had produced no good effect, they would repair to Jerufalem, where was the fanctuary of the God of Ifrael, that they might fupplicate relief from distress, and his merciful interpofition in their behalf. But they fhall not prevail: they fhall not be able to reach the fanctuary of the Lord, being prevented by their enemies; and, though fome of them might get there, they fhall not prevail with God to obtain deliverance, who had determined, for just reasons, to afflict them in the manner foretold.The words