How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy!
How is the city of praise not left. The prophet, in the person of a citizen of Damascus deploring its calamity, calls it "the city of praise" - i:e., celebrated with praises everywhere for its beauty (Jeremiah 51:41). 'How is it possible that such a city has not been left whole-has not been spared by the foe?' (Compare "left," Luke 17:35-36). So Israel left standing still on their site some of the Canaanite cities, (Joshua 11:13, margin)
The city of my joy - i:e., in which I delighted. Contrast with the Damascenes' former joy in their city, which was doomed to ruin, God's joy forever in His people and in Zion His city (Jeremiah 33:9, "It shall be to me a name of joy, a praise, and an honour before all the nations of the earth."