Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 25:9
Therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his cities [which are] on his frontiers, the glory of the country, Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim,
9. open the side ] Lit. the shoulder of Moab, i.e. the border or territory of Moab conceived as looking towards other countries, as “shoulder” has hardly reference to the shape of the Moabite territory (Isa 11:14). To open the side is to give invaders access to the country (Nah 3:13).
from the cities frontiers ] Perhaps: at the cities, at his cities in every quarter. The prep. from seems to indicate position, by or on the cities, i.e. where they are. Others take it in a privative sense: stript of the cities. The three towns named are given as examples of the glory of Moab. Beth-Jeshimoth lay at the N.E. of the head of the Dead Sea, Num 33:49; Jos 12:3; Jos 13:20; it is supposed to be Suweimeh, at the mouth of the Jordan. Baal-meon, Num 32:3; Num 32:38, more fully Beth-baal-meon (Jos 13:17), and in another form, Bethmeon (Jer 48:23), lay further inland, a little S. of Heshbon; supposed to be M‘in. Kirjathaim lay somewhat further south (Num 32:37; Jos 13:19; Jer 48:1; Jer 48:23); supposed to be El Kureyat.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
I will open the side … – i. e., lay it open to the attack of the enemy from the cities, from his cities, from his frontier (or, in every quarter). There is an ironical stress on his cities, because these cities belonged not to Moab but to Israel, having been assigned to the Reubenites Num 32:38; Jos 13:20. They lay to the north of the river Arnon, which was the proper boundary of Moab Num 21:13. The Moabites had in the last days of the kingdom of Israel recovered this territory Isa 16:1-14. They still occupied this land in the time of Ezekiel (see Jer. 48).
The glory of the country – This tract, belonging to the district called by the Arabians Al Belka, has been at all times highly valued on account of the excellence of its pastures for cattle. The most southern of these three cities is Kiriathaim, called on the Moabitic stone Kirjath, and now Kureiyat. The dual termination of the name Kiriathaim, is explained by the fact that Kureiyat is situated on two sister hillocks half a mile apart, both covered by the ancient city. It is situated about eight miles north of the Arnon, and seven miles east of the shore of the Dead Sea. Baal-meon is about ten miles north of Kureiyat – known at present as Main. It is probable that Kiriathaim was the Kirjath-Huzoth (city of streets), and Baal-meon, the Bamoth-Baal (high places of Baal), to which Balak took Balaam Num 22:39, Num 22:41. Baal-meon occurs on the Moabitic stone as a place which Mesa built or fortified. He probably erected a stronghold on the old locality, reviving the ancient name. Beth-jeshimoth is identified with a knoll at the northeasternmost point of the Dead Sea.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 9. I will open the side] ketheph, the shoulder, the strongest frontier place. Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim were strong frontier towns of Moab.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
I will open; when the Lord will open the gates of iron, and say, The gates shall not be shut, as Isa 45:1,2, every attempt shall be easy, and his soldiers shall break through the defences, that were vainly boasted impregnable.
The side of Moab; that part of his country, which was best fortified for the safeguard of the whole.
From the cities; from the cities of strength, called here his, because he gloried and trusted in them, such as Har and Aroer, seated on Arnon, very strong garrisons.
On his frontiers; or, from his frontiers, (for it is the same construction, Hebrew,) or from his outmost bounds, I will lay all open to the Chaldeans, they shall overrun it, as if it were an open country, as easily as if no fortresses to impede them.
The glory; so the great, strong, and beautiful, or regularly built and fortified cities are ever accounted the glory of the country, and these are reckoned beside Ar and Aroer.
Beth-jeshimoth; an ancient city, and formerly Reubens lot, Jos 13:20; its name tells you it was a fortress toward the desert, which watched, lest any should, through those wastes, make an inroad on the country.
Baal-meon; called also Moon, and Baiith, and Beth-baal-meon, mansion-house of Baal, word for word; it was situate on the north coast of Moab, as the other on the west.
Kiriathaim; a city, which probably consisted of two cities, or principal parts; a very strong frontier town, but not able to keep out those that God would lead in.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
9, 10. open . . . from the citiesIwill open up the side, or border of Moab (metaphor from aman whose side is open to blows), from the (direction of) thecities on his northwest border beyond the Arnon, once assigned toReuben (Jos 13:15-21),but now in the hands of their original owners; and the “men ofthe east,” the wandering Bedouin hordes, shall enter throughthese cities into Moab and waste it. Moab accordingly was so wastedby them, that long before the time of Christ it had melted away amongthe hordes of the desert. For “cities,” GROTIUStranslates the Hebrew as proper names, the Ar andAroer, on the Arnon. Hence the Hebrew for “cities,””Ar” is repeated twice (Num 21:28;Deu 2:36; Isa 15:1).
glory of the countryTheregion of Moab was richer than that of Ammon; it answers to themodern Belka, the richest district in South Syria, and the scene inconsequence of many a contest among the Bedouins. Hence it is calledhere a “glorious land” (literally, “a glory,” or”ornament of a land”) [FAIRBAIRN].Rather, “the glory of the country” is in apposition with”cities” which immediately precedes, and the names of whichpresently follow.
Beth-jeshimothmeaning”the city of desolations”; perhaps so named from some siegeit sustained; it was towards the west.
Baal-meoncalled also”Beth-meon” (Jer 48:23),and “Beth-baal-meon” (Jos13:17, called so from the worship of Baal), and “Bajith,”simply (Isa 15:2).
Kiriathaim“thedouble city.” The strength of these cities engendered “thepride” of Moab (Isa 16:6).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities,…. Or, “the shoulder of Moab” t; that part of their country where their greatest strength lay, So the Targum renders it,
“the strength of Moab;”
where their principal cities were, their frontier towns, and fortified places, as appears by what follows:
from his cities which are on his frontiers; or, “from his Ars” u,
from his cities which are at his end; at the extreme part of the land, upon the borders of his countries; the two cities of Ar and Aroer,
Nu 21:28:
the glory of the country; as the above cities were, and what follow:
Bethjeshimoth; this was formerly in the tribe of Reuben, now in the possession of the Moabites, and one of their principal cities,
Jos 13:20:
Baalmeon; the same with Bethbaalmeon, and which was also of the tribe of Reuben, Jos 13:17, in Jerom’s time it was a large village in Moab, about nine miles from Heshbon: some think by Meon is meant Menes, or Osiris the god of the Egyptians, and so this might be a temple of his; or at least he might have a temple in it, from whence it had its name:
and Kirjathaim; or the double city, built also by the Reubenites,
Nu 32:37, now in the hands of the Moabites, ten miles from Medeba; on this side of the country of Moab, and through these cities, the Lord threatens to open a way for their enemies to enter in and destroy them, as follows:
t , Sept.; “humerum”, V. L. Montanus. u “ab ipsis”, Haris, Junius & Tremellius, Polanus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(9) Open the side of Moabi.e., lay it open to the enemy. This is to be done from the cities, on which a special emphasis is placed. The cities named were all on the north of the Arnon, and before the time of Moses had been wrested from the Moabites by the Amorites, from whom in turn they were taken by the Israelites, and long formed a part of their territory. In the decay of the power of Israel they were re-conquered by Moab, and are here spoken of, perhaps in view of their being rightfully a possession of Israel, as appropriately the point from which desolation should go out over the whole of Moab.
The glory of the country.The territory designated by the mention of these three cities is still considered by the Arabs as the best part of the land, and is called Belka. They have a proverb, Thou canst find no land like Belka. The sites of all the cities which are alluded to here have been probably identified by existing ruins.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
9. The side Hebrews, the shoulder; that is, the frontier plateau or mesa (Hebrews, meshar), which had always been Moab’s best defense.
From the cities Davidson reads, “at the cities;” Smend and Cornill, “that the cities be no more, even his,” etc.
Which are on his frontiers Rather, in every quarter.
Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim It is curious that two of these cities which were “the glory of the country” should appear in the Mesha inscription (ninth century B.C.) where the king says, “I built Baal-meon and made therein the ditches; I built Kirjathaim;” and again, “I built Beth-medeba and Beth-diblathaim and Beth-baal-meon.” (CompareJos 13:17; Num 32:37.) Beth (house), Baal (Lord), and Kir or Gir (the old homeland of the Arameans between Elam and Babylon) are constantly found in compound Moabitish names. The ruins of these three cities are on the northeast border of the Dead Sea (Num 32:37-38; Num 33:49; Jos 12:3; Jos 13:19-20; Jer 48:22-23), in the Belka (compare Balak, Numbers xxii), a region famous in ancient and modern times as a pasture land. A Bedouin proverb says, “There is no land like the Belka.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Eze 25:9. I will open the side, &c. I will open the side of Moab, laying bare the cities in his borders, the beautiful country of Beth-jeshimoth, &c. Houbigant.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Eze 25:9 Therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his cities [which are] on his frontiers, the glory of the country, Bethjeshimoth, Baalmeon, and Kiriathaim,
Ver. 9. Behold, I will open the side of Moab. ] Heb., The shoulder – that is, the border that is fortified – to let in the enemy; like as the side being opened, an entrance is given into the body through the ribs for the destruction thereof, because the strongest defence is taken away. a
a Dr Mayr.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Beth = jeshimoth. Now ‘Ain Surveirneh, near the north-east corner of the Dead Sea (Num 33:49. Jos 12:3; Jos 13:20).
Baal = meon. Now Tell M’ain (Num 32:38. 1Ch 5:8. of, two miles south of Heshbon. Kiriathaim. Now el Hdreiyat, between Dibon and Medeba (Jer 48:1, Jer 48:23).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
side: or, shoulder
Bethjeshimoth: Jos 13:20
Baalmeon: Num 32:37, Num 32:38, Jos 13:17, Jos 13:19, Jer 48:23
Reciprocal: Num 33:49 – Bethjesimoth 1Ch 5:8 – Baalmeon Jer 48:8 – and no Jer 48:12 – wanderers Jer 48:21 – the plain Amo 2:1 – of Moab
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Eze 25:9. Open the side means the Lord decreed a general attack upon these people, beginning with the frontier cities named in this verse.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
25:9 Therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, {e} from his cities [which are] on his frontiers, the glory of the country, Bethjeshimoth, Baalmeon, and Kiriathaim,
(e) So that no power or strength should be able to resist the Babylonians.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Consequently the Lord promised to destroy the frontier cities in which the Moabites took much pride. Beth-jeshimoth lay in the Jordan Valley and guarded the eastern ascent to the Medeba Plateau. Baal-meon stood farther to the east and south in northern Moab, and Kiriathaim was another northern town on the Medeba Plateau. Its name means "the glory of the land," a play on words with the same phrase that appears earlier in Eze 25:9. Yahweh would give the whole country over to the control of the eastern invaders along with Ammon, and Moab would cease to exist as a nation (cf. Eze 25:7; Jer 48:7-9).