They that speak in proverbs— Upon occasion of the conquest of the Amorites over the Moabites, the sacred historian informs us, that a famous poems or song of rejoicing, was composed by the Amorites, which was sung to that day. The word משׁלים moshlim, signifies allegorists, proverbialists; or, in general, those who write or speak in a figurative sense, like that of Balaam, ch. Numbers 23:7; Numbers 23:18, &c. And therefore it fitly denotes poets, who write in a high figurative style, such as this poetical composition of some ancient writer among the Amorites: and this quotation seems to have been inserted in the sacred history, to shew that this country belonged to the Amorites, and not to the Moabites, when Israel subdued it. This fragment of ancient poetry, like some others found in the foregoing parts of Scripture, is delivered in metre, and each second verse corresponds to the preceding; see Bp. Warburton's Divin. Leg. b. 4: sect. 4 and Lowth. Praelect. Poet. p. 45. 8vo.
Come into Heshbon— The poet here represents the Amorites calling to each other in such triumphant strains as used to be sung after victories.
Let the city of Sihon be built— Rather, be repaired, or rebuilt; "let that Heshbon, which is now become the city of Sihon, be repaired from the ruins of the war, and made fit to be his royal seat."