And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise.
Ver. 2. And Hamath also shall border thereby] i.e. Shall share in the same punishment with Damascus, and fare the worse for its neighbourhood.
Though it be very wise] And think to outwit the enemy, to be too hard for him that way, as Midian was for Israel, by his wiles rather than by his wars, Numbers 25:18. God taketh these wizards in their own craft, δρασσομενος, 1 Corinthians 3:19, πανουργια, as beasts in a toil, and makes very fools of them, notwithstanding their many fetches; specially when they boast of their wit, as Tyre did, Ezekiel 28:3,4, &c., and trust in it, Proverbs 3:5. The Phoenicians and Tyrians were wont to boast that they first found out the use of letters, &c. Sure it is that by much trading by sea they were growing cunning and crafty merchants, to defraud others; and this they coloured with the name of wisdom. Wise they were in their generation, Luke 16:8; but so is the fox, the serpent, and the devil; who when he was but young outwitted our first parents. And we are still sensible of his sleights, and not ignorant of his wiles, his methods, and his stratagems.