Therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his cities which are on his frontiers, the glory of the country, Beth-jeshimoth, Baalmeon, and Kiriathaim,
Therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities ... Unto the men of the east. I will open up the side or border of Moab (metaphor from a man whose side is open to blows) from the direction of the cities on his northwest border beyond the Arnon, once assigned to Reuben (Joshua 13:15-21), but now in the hands of their original owners: and the "men of the east," the wandering Bedouin hordes, shall enter through these cities into Moab, and waste it. Moab accordingly was so wasted by them, that long before the time of Christ it had melted away among the hordes of the desert. For "cities," Grotius translates the Hebrew as proper names, the Ar and Aroer, on the Arnon. Hence, the Hebrew for cities, "Ar," is repeated twice, 'from the cities, from his cities' х meehe`aariym (H5892) mee`aaraayw (H5892)], (Numbers 21:28; Deuteronomy 2:36; Isaiah 15:1, "Ar of Moab"). The glory of the country. The region of Moab was richer than that of Ammon: it answers to the modern Belka, the richest district in Southern Syria, and the scene, in consequence, of many a contest among the Bedouins. Hence, it is called here a glorious land-literally, a glory, or ornament of a land (Fairbairn). Rather, "the glory of the country" is in apposition with "cities," which immediately precede, and the names of which presently follow, "Beth-jeshimoth," etc.
Beth-jeshimoth - meaning 'the city of desolations;' perhaps so named from some siege it sustained; it was toward the west.
Baal-meon - called also Bethmeon (Jer. 47:23), and Beth-baal-meon (Joshua 13:17, called so from the worship of Baal), and Bajith simply (Isaiah 15:2).
Kirtathaim - the double city. The strength of these cities engendered "the pride of Moab" (Isaiah 16:6).
Verse 10. Unto the men of the east with the Ammonites. Fairbairn explains, and translates, 'upon the children of Ammon' (elliptically for 'I will open Moab to the men of the East, who, having overrun the children of Ammon, shall then fall on Moab'). Maurer, as the English version, "with the Ammonites" - i:e., Moab, 'together with the land of Ammon,' is to be thrown open to "the men of the East," to enter and take possession (Jeremiah 49:1-39).