Exodus 15:15

(15) The dukes of Edom.—Comp. Genesis 36:15, where the same title is found. Apparently in the course of the thirty-eight years between the Exodus and the approach to. Canaan, the oligarchy of “dukes” had been replaced by a monarchy. (See Numbers 20:14.) The fear of Israel had also passed away; and the Edomites “came out against Moses with much people, and with a strong hand,” laying a foundation for that prolonged hatred of which we have traces in 2 Samuel 8:14; 1 Kings 11:14-22; 2 Kings 8:20-22; 2 Chronicles 20:16; Psalms 137:7, &c.

The mighty men of Moab.—On the terror of the Moabites, when Israel approached their borders, see Numbers 22:3-4. The efforts made by Balak to procure Balaam’s curse upon them were indications of the alarm felt.

All the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.—Compare Joshua 2:11 : “As soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt;” and Exodus 5:1 : “It came to pass . . . when all the kings of the Canaanites heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of Jordan, that their hearts melted, neither was there any spirit in them any more.”