Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. Gaza, going or returning from Charcamis. Apries also attacked Tyre, and would of course invade the Philistines. They had assisted the Tyrians against Nabuchodonosor, who therefore made incursions into their territory, and into that of Ammon, and so forth while the main part of his army besieged Tyre for thirteen years. Calmet.
Verse 3. Marching. Lit. “pomp,” ( Bible.) or warlike apparatus. Bible.—Prot. “stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses, at,” and so forth Bible.—Children. Fear makes one forget the nearest relations, while each one provides for himself. Calmet. 9:4. Mic. 7:5. Matthew 10:35.
Verse 4. Tyre. See Calmet. 47:4. Ezekiel 26. and so forth—Sidon. It had rejoiced at the downfall of its rival, (Isaiah 23:4) and of the Jews. Joel 3:4. Ezekiel 28:24. Artax Ochus punished it severely; ( Calmet.) and its own king, Tenner, betrayed his subjects, who were slain by the Persians, or burnt themselves in the conflagration of the city. Diodor. Olym. 177. a. 2.—Helpers; Philistines, who came originally from the isle of Caphtor, or Crete.—Cappadocia was not an island, or near the sea, ( Calmet.) but at a distance from the Jews. Sanct.
Verse 5. Baldness, the sign of mourning, ( Calmet.) or captivity. Bible.—Peace. Hebrew “shall be destroyed.” Septuagint “cast away.” She has afforded no assistance to Gaza. Bible.—Valley, along the Mediterranean. Calmet.—Lit. “And ye remnants of their valley, how?” and so forth—Cut, in despair or grief. Calmet. 41:5. Septuagint “Remnants of the Enakeim, (giants) how long wilt thou make incisions?” Bible.—The race of Enack dwelt in those parts; though ankim seems to have been mistaken for ankom. Calmet.
Verse 6. Sword. He is moved with pity to see so much carnage, but reflects that such is the will of God. Nabuchodonosor was his sword or scourge. Calmet.