our calamity.-Ibid. Weep ye not, etc... Keep in your tears,
that you may not give your enemies an occasion of insulting over you;
but in your own houses, or in your house of dust, your earthly
habitation, sprinkle yourselves with dust, and put on the habit of
penitents. Some take the house of dust (in Hebrew, Aphrah) to be the
proper name of a city.

1:11. And pass away, O thou that dwellest in the beautiful place,
covered with thy shame: she went not forth that dwelleth in the
confines: the house adjoining shall receive mourning from you, which
stood by herself.

Thou that dwellest in the Beautiful place, viz., in Samaria. In the
Hebrew the Beautiful place is expressed by the word Sapir, which some
take for the proper name of a city.--Ibid. She went not forth, etc...
that is, they that dwelt in the confines came not forth, but kept
themselves within, for fear.--Ibid. The house adjoining,etc... Viz.,
Judea and Jerusalem, neighbours to Samaria, and partners in her sins,
shall share also in her mourning and calamity; though they have
pretended to stand by themselves, trusting in their strength.

1:12. For she is become weak unto good that dwelleth in bitterness: for
evil is come down from the Lord into the gate of Jerusalem.

She is become weak, etc... Jerusalem is become weak unto any good;
because she dwells in the bitterness of sin.

1:13. A tumult of chariots hath astonished the inhabitants of Lachis: it
is the beginning of sin to the daughter of Sion for in thee were found
the crimes of Israel.

It is the beginning, etc... That is, Lachis was the first city of Juda
that learned from Samaria the worship of idols, and communicated it to
Jerusalem.

1:14. Therefore shall she send messengers to the inheritance of Geth:
the houses of lying to deceive the kings of Israel.

Therefore shall she send, etc... Lachis shall send to Geth for help: but
in vain: for Geth, instead of helping, shall be found to be a house of
lying and deceit to Israel.

1:15. Yet will I bring an heir to thee that dwellest in Maresa: even to
Odollam shall the glory of Israel come.

An heir, etc... Maresa (which was the name of a city of Juda) signifies
inheritance: but here God by his prophet tells the Jews, that he will
bring them an heir to take possession of their inheritance: and that the
glory of Israel shall be obliged to give place, and to retire even to
Odollam, a city in the extremity of their dominions. And therefore he
exhorts