mourn for the men of Kirheres.
JEREMIAH AND LAMENTATIONS they being members of the community; and hence some render it ``sons'' here, as though the Prophet had said, that after the Moabites had been cut off, there would be none remaining to continue their name in the world. As then there was to be no posterity to the Moabites, they think that {,}בדיםbadim here means sons or children.
But this view cannot be admitted, because we shall hereafter see that there was to be some residue to the Moabites. We cannot then take {,}בדיםbadim, but as referring to their vain boastings, for they were nothing but lies.
But we must consider what Jeremiah says; the word {,}כןken, means right; and I take the two words as being in apposition, ``His lies are not right;'' that is, there is no stability in his lies. For when an apposition is explained, one of the words is turned to an adjective, or a preposition is inserted: Not right then are his lies; that is, in his lies there is no rectitude, or in his lies there is no stability. But the rectitude of which the
Prophet now speaks, refers not to justice or equity, but to stability; and that it has this meaning may be gathered from other places. Then he says, that the boastings which the Moabites indulged in were vain, because God would not establish what they thought, or as they commonly say, what they presumed.
And then he adds the reason; the particle {,}כןken, is to be taken here adverbially; it is an adverb of likeness, ``so,'' or thus, they shall not so do; that is, as they had conceived in their minds. It is a confirmation of the last clause; for why was there to be no stability in their lies? because God would break down the Moabites, so that their counsels would be vain, without any effect. We now then perceive the meaning of the words. Isaiah 16:6 uses nearly the same expressions, but he does not add this confirmation, that they would not be able to do what they intended. He only says, ``there shall no rectitude be in their boastings,'' {,}לא{ }כן{ }בדיוla ken bediu, having previously spoken of the loftiness of their heart and of their ferocity and insolence; for he mentions the third word with the other two. 376
Now this verse may be accommodated to our use; whenever the ungodly indulge in boasting, and insolently arrogate all things to themselves, let us not fear and tremble, but bear in mind what the Prophet teaches us here, whose admonition is very necessary; for he shews that this pride is in derision with God, and that when the ungodly fulminate in a terrible manner, there will be no effect to their lies. It follows, ---
Jeremiah 48:31
31. Therefore will I howl for Moab, and I will cry out for all Moab; mine heart shall mourn for the men of Kirheres.
31. Propterea super Moab ululabo, et ad Moab totum (hoc est, penitus ad totam gentem) clamabo, meditabor ad viros urbis testae.
Some think the last word to be a proper name, though, according to etymology, it is ``the city of potsherd.'' They therefore give this rendering, ``the strong city.''
But Isaiah calls it ``Kir-hareseth,'' {}הרשת-{;}קירhe extends the word by adding a
376The versions and the Targ. all differ as to this verse. The Vulg. is the best; it takes {,{בדים branches, and also limbs, in a metaphorical sense, signifying strength. I give the following rendering, --- 30. I know, saith Jehovah, his excess, (i.e. of pride;) But not so his strength, not so have they done. The mixture of numbers, singular and plural, is common in the prophets --- ``his'' and ``they.'' The meaning seems to be, that however excessive was the pride and insolence of Moab, they had no power fully to effect their purposes. - Ed.