They that fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon because of the force: but a fire shall come forth out of Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and shall devour the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones.
They that fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon. They thought that they would be safe in Heshbon.
Because of the force - i:e., "they that fled because of the force" of the enemy; they that fled from it. Glassius translates, 'through want of strength.' So the Hebrew preposition [min] is translated (Psalms 109:24), "Faileth of fatness" - i:e., 'Faileth through want of fatness;' also, Lamentations 4:9. But Maurer translates 'powerless' х mikoach (H3581)]. But a fire shall come forth out of Heshbon ... - copied in part from Sihon's hymn of victory (Numbers 21:27-28). The old 'proverb' shall hold good again. As in ancient times Sihon king of the Amorites issued forth from his city Heshbon as a devouring "flame," and consumed Moab, so now the Chaldeans, making Heshbon their starting-point, shall advance to the destruction of Moab.
And a flame from the midst of Sihon - i:e., the city of Sihon.
Shall devour the corner of Moab - i:e., Moab from one corner to the other.
The crown of the head - the most elevated points of Moab. Making some alterations, he here copies Balaam's prophecy (Numbers 24:17). Margin there translates, 'the princes' for "the corners;" if so, "the crown of the head" here refers to the nobles.
The tumultuous ones - sons of tumult; those who have tumultuously revolted from Babylon. Heshbon passed from the Amorite to the Israelite sway. Moab had wrested it from Israel, and helped the Chaldeans against the Jews; but, revolting from Babylon, they brought ruin on themselves in turn.