on her; anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail.
JOHN CALVIN
He then adds, that they would be melted; for {,}מוגmug, means to be dissolved or melted. But there is here a different reading; many copies have {,}בים{ }דאגהbeim dage, connected with this; and they who read thus are forced to wrest the words of the Prophet. This reading literally is, ``They are ashamed in the sea, dread to rest,'' or, make to rest, ``it cannot,'' or could not. We see how harsh is the expression; they, however, elicit this meaning, that these cities would be dissolved, as he who sails on the sea and cannot through dread make his heart tranquil. But, as I have already said, the words of the Prophet are thus perverted. Now, if we read for {,}ב beth, {,}כcaph, which denotes likeness, the meaning would be very suitable, as a sea of dread, or a turbulent sea (a noun in the genitive case instead of an adjective, a common thing in Scripture) which cannot rest or be still. 402
As to the general meaning of the passage, there is not much difference; for the
Prophet intends to show that the Syrians would be like a turbulent sea, which is tossed here and there, so that the waves conflict together. If any one prefers to refer this to sailors, the meaning would be still materially the same. The sum of what is said then is, that as the Syrians had been terrible to all, so they would be frightened at the mere report of war, and so much so as to melt away and not be able to stand their ground, like the sea, which, when a tempest rages, has no rest, but is driven in all directions. He afterwards adds, ---
Jeremiah 49:24
24. Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail.
24. Remissa est (vel, debilitata) Damascus; convertit se ad fugam; et tremor apprehendit eam; angustia et dolores tenuerunt eam tanquam parturientem.
As the clock strikes, I will not proceed further.
PRAYER
Grant, Almighty God, that as thou settest before our eyes memorable judgments which ought to benefit us at this day, so that we may be kept under thy yoke and under the fear of thy law, --- O grant, that we may not grow hard at such threatenings, but anticipate thy wrath, and so submit to thee, that whatever thou denouncest on the ungodly may turn to our comfort, and for a cause of joy, when we know that the salvation of thy church is thus promoted, of which thou hast been pleased to regard and acknowledge us as members in thy Son our Lord. --- Amen.
Lecture One Hundred and Seventy-seventh
Jeremiah 49:24
24. Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her; anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail.
24. Remissa est (vel, debilitata) Damascus; convertit se ad fugam; et tremor apprehendit eam; angustia et dolores tenuerunt eam tanquam parturientem.
The Prophet goes on with the same subject, for as the kingdom of Syria had flourished, and had been eminent in wealth and power, it was hardly credible that it could
402There are several copies in which the {,{כcaph, is found, and it is evidently the most suitable reading, ---
Confounded is Hamath and Arpad; For an evil report have they heard, --- they melt away; Like the sea the agitation, the quieting none can effect. The melting away was through fear. They were moved or agitated, and, like the sea, they could not rest or be still. {}אלmay be often rendered none or nothing. --- Ed