And strangers, the terrible of the nations, have cut him off, and have left him: upon the mountains and in all the valleys his branches are fallen, and his boughs are broken by all the rivers of the land; and all the people of the earth are gone down from his shadow, and have left him.
Ver. 12. And strangers have cut him off.] The greater wealth the greater spoil awaiteth a man; as each one desireth to lop the tree that hath thick and large boughs and branches.
And his boughs are broken,] i.e., His vassals, homagers, and auxiliaries.
And all the people of the earth.] Who once sheltered under his shadow. But the rule is,
“ Arbor honoretur cuius nos umbra tuetur. ”
And have left him.] And joined themselves to the Babylonian.
“ Sic cum fortuna statque caditque fides. ” - Ovid.