with a signification
which renders necessary the derivation from the verb [Hebrew: aww].
But, even in that passage, the signification of [Pg 278] "cakes" must
be retained. The following reasons are in favour of it, and against the
signification "ruins," adopted by _Gesenius_, _Winer_, and _Hitzig_. 1.
The signification "cakes" deserves, _ceteris paribus_, a decided
preference, because it is established by the other passages. It is only
for reasons the most cogent that we can grant that one and the same
word has two meanings, and these not at all connected with each other.
2. The transition from the meaning "foundation," which alone can be
derived from the verb [Hebrew: aww], to that of "_ruins_," is by no
means so easy as those critics would represent it. With respect to a
rebuilding, for which the ruins' afford the foundation, they might, it
is true, be called foundations, compare Is. lviii. 12, but not where
destruction only is concerned. Who would speak of howling over
foundations, instead of howling over ruins? 3. The context is quite
decisive. If we translate [Hebrew: awiwiM] by "ruins," the subsequent
[Hebrew: ki] is quite inexplicable. This little word, upon which so
much depends, performs also the office of a guide: "For this reason
Moab howls, for Moab altogether does he howl, for the cakes of
Kirhareseth you do sigh, wholly afflicted; _for_ the vineyards of
Heshbon are withered, the vine of Sibmah, the grapes of which
intoxicated the lord of the nations," etc. Then, ver. 9, "Therefore I
weep with Jaeser for the vine of Sibmah." If there be no more grapes,
neither are there any more grape-cakes. The destruction of the
vineyards is therefore the cause of the howling for the cakes.
That such cakes, moreover, were prepared in many places in Moab,
sufficiently appears from the name of the place Dibhlathaim, _i.e._,
town of cakes. It may be remarked further, that we are not entitled to
assume a sing. [Hebrew: awiw] as given by lexicographers along with
[Hebrew: awiwh]; [Hebrew: dblh] likewise forms the plural [Hebrew:
dbliM].

Ver. 2. "_And I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and a
homer of barley, and a lethech of barley._" Compare the explanation of
this verse, p. 195 sqq.

Ver. 3. "_And I said unto her. Thou art to sit for me many days: thou
art not to whore, and thou art not to belong to a man; and so I also to
thee._"

The sitting has the accessory idea of being forsaken and solitary,
which ma