Therefore [as] I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, [even] the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.
Ver. 9. Therefore as I live] This is God's oath; so, As true as I live, Num 14:21 cf. Psalms 95:10, therefore they are to blame that use it in their common talk.
Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, &c.] Whereas they think that I either hear not their revilings or regard them not, I shall make Moab and Ammon smart and smoke for them.
Even the breeding of nettles and salt pits] They shall not indeed be consumed with fire from heaven; but their land shall lie waste for a long season. Nettles grow in barren places, and are good for nothing, unless it be the buds at first coming. Pliny writeth, that where salt is digged little good else groweth, see Jdg 9:45 Psalms 107:34 .
For a perpetual desolation] Certain it is that those nations carried captive by Nebuchadnezzar were never restored; but that in later times a mixed multitude of vagrants out of many nations met there, taking upon them the old title of Arabians, and living by rapine and robbery. Out of these came Mahomet, founder of the Turkish empire and superstition, who overturned the Christian Churches, there planted by the apostles (as was here afore prophesied, "The residue of my people shall spoil them," &c., see Zephaniah 2:7; confer Galatians 1:17, and soon overrun all the east and south, as Popery did all the west and north, at the same time.)