1 He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face: keep the munition, watch the way: make thy loines strong: fortifie thy power mightily.
2 For the Lord hath turned away the excellencie of Iacob, as the excellencie of Israel: for the emptiers haue emptied them out, and marred their vine branches.
3 The shield of his mightie men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the charets shall bee with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the firre trees shall bee terribly shaken.
4 The charets shall rage in the streets, they shall iustle one against another in the broad wayes: they shall seeme like torches, they shall runne like the lightnings.
5 Hee shall recount his worthies: they shall stumble in their walke: they shall make haste to the wal thereof, and the defence shall bee prepared.
6 The gates of the riuers shall bee opened, and the palace shall bee dissolued.
7 And Huzzab shall be led away captiue, she shall be brought vp, and her maids shall leade her as with the voyce of doues, tabring vpon their breasts.
8 But Nineueh is of olde like a poole of water: yet they shall flee away. Stand, stand shall they cry: but none shal looke backe.
9 Take ye the spoyle of siluer, take the spoile of golde: for there is none end of the store, and glory out of all the pleasant furniture.
10 Shee is emptie, and voide, and waste, and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much paine is in all loynes, and the faces of them all gather blacknesse.
11 Where is the dwelling of the Lions, and the feeding place of the yong Lions? where the Lion, euen the olde Lion walked, and the Lions whelpe, and none made them afraid.
12 The Lion did teare in pieces enough for his whelpes, and strangled for his Lionesses, and filled his holes with pray, and his dens with rauine.
13 Behold, I am against thee, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will burne her charets in the smoke, and the sword shall deuoure thy yong Lions, and I wil cut off thy pray from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.
Nineveh's destruction foretold. (1-10) The true cause, their sinning against God, and his appearing against them. (11-13)1-10 Nineveh shall not put aside this judgment; there is no counsel or strength against the Lord. God looks upon proud cities, and brings them down. Particular account is given of the terrors wherein the invading enemy shall appear against Nineveh. The empire of Assyria is represented as a queen, about to be led captive to Babylon. Guilt in the conscience fills men with terror in an evil day; and what will treasures or glory do for us in times of distress, or in the day of wrath? Yet for such things how many lose their souls!
11-13 The kings of Assyria had long been terrible and cruel to their neighbours, but the Lord would destroy their power. Many plead as an excuse for rapine and fraud, that they have families to provide for; but what is thus obtained will never do them any good. Those that fear the Lord, and get honestly what they have, shall not want for themselves and theirs. It is just with God to deprive those of children, or of comfort in them, who take sinful courses to enrich them. Those are not worthy to be heard again, that have spoken reproachfully of God. Let us then come to God upon his mercy-seat, that having peace with him through our Lord Jesus Christ, we may know that he is for us, and that all things shall work together for our everlasting good.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.