John Trapp Complete Commentary - Nahum 2:10 - 2:10

Online Resource Library

Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | Download

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Nahum 2:10 - 2:10


(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)

This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

Nah_2:10 She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain [is] in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness.

Ver. 10. She is empty, and void, and waste] An elegant alliteration in the original, beyond translating, áå÷ä åñáå÷ä åôáì÷ä . whereby the utter destruction and consternation of the city and monarchy is graphically depainted, and set forth to the life. See a like elegance Jer_16:15. The last word, rendered waste, signifieth burnt up, or void of all verdure; a place where nothing green groweth. Such a horrible devastation followeth upon God’s word of command to the Chaldees, Nah_2:9, like as when Christ cursed the barren fig tree it withered away immediately, Mat_21:20, though it be the most succulent of any tree, and beareth the brunt of winter blasts unwithered. God’s words, however slighted, are not wind, but fire, Jer_5:13-14.



And the heart melteth] The heart ( in quo fortitude stabulum habet, the seat of courage) fell asunder in their bosoms like drops of water; they were cowed out. See Jos_2:11; Jos_5:1; Jos_7:5 Isa_13:7 Eze_21:12.



And the knees smite together] Genus labant, as is usual in extreme fear; the blood retreating to the heart, to relieve it. See Dan_5:6 Job_4:4 Isa_35:3.



And much pain is in all loins] Such pain as befalleth women in travail, Isa_21:3; Isa_13:8 Joe_2:6 Mic_4:9-10; the doubled form of the Hebrew word implieth the extremity of it. The loins are the seat of strength; whence the Latins call weak men ( Elumbes) loinless men.



And the faces of them all gather blackness] Heb. A pot, i.e. such blackness as is on the sides of a pot ( Olla, lebas, cacabus). See Joe_2:6. Joy and sorrow will show themselves in the face as in a glass. Now if for a temporal mischief there is so great a consternation in wicked men, what shall we think there is in hell?