Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts.
Because of the multitude of the whoredoms. This assigns the reason for Nineveh's destruction.
Whoredoms of the well-favoured harlot. Since Assyria was not a worshipper of the true God, "whoredoms" cannot mean, as in the case of Israel, apostasy to the worship of false gods; but her harlot-like artifices, whereby she allured neighbouring states so as to subject them to herself. As the unwary are allured by the "well-favoured harlot's" looks, so Israel, Judah (e.g., under Ahaz, who, calling to his aid Tiglath-pileser against Syria, was made tributary by him, 2 Kings 16:7-10), and other nations, were tempted by the plausible professions of Assyria, and by the lure of commerce (Revelation 18:2-3), to trust her. "All nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication (Babylon, the successor of Nineveh), and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies."
The mistress of witchcrafts - (Isaiah 47:9; Isaiah 47:12). Alluding to the love incantations whereby harlots tried to dement and ensnare youths; answering to the subtle machinations whereby Assyria attracted nations to her.
That selleth nations - deprives nations of their liberty, as slaves used to be sold; and in other property also sale was a usual mode of transfer. Maurer understands it of depriving nations of their freedom, and literally selling them as slaves to distant peoples (Joel 3:2-3; Joel 3:6-8). But elsewhere there is no evidence that the Assyrians did this.
And families - peoples.