Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that [were] therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and [there was] no magistrate in the land, that might put [them] to shame in [any] thing; and they [were] far from the Zidonians, and had no business with [any] man.
Ver. 7. Careless, … quiet and secure.] And so, ripe for ruin. See Jeremiah 49:31. They lived in all pleasure, plenty, and prosperity, like so many Sodomites or Sybarites; or as those Roman nobles at Caprea, which Augustus was wont to call Aπραγοπολις, the city of Do-noughts; or lastly, as the nobles of Naples at this day, who are said of all men to live the most idle and careless lives; having, like the tyrant Polycrates, nothing to trouble them, but that they are troubled with nothing. a
And there was no magistrate in the land.] Heb., No heir of restraint to repress wickedness, to turn the wheel over the enormous: no officer, but such as they could make and unmake at pleasure.
That might put them to shame in anything.] Shame is instanced, because many stand more upon shame, than upon either sin or smart.
And they were far from the Zidonians.] Who should have been their protectors, but could not save them from a sudden surprise, because far remote.
a Erasm., Apophtheg. Mr Clark's Mirr., 549.