Verse 12
Cry, howl, son of man ,.... Not only sigh, but cry; and not cry only, but howl; signifying hereby that this would be the case of the Jews when these calamities should come upon them; and, in order to affect them with them before hand, the prophet is ordered to act such a part, as well as to express his sympathy with them:
for it shall be upon my people ; that is, the sword, or the calamity signified by it; this should be not upon other nations, but upon the Lord's own people; such who professed themselves to be his people, and whom he had distinguished from all others; this is said, to affect the prophet the more, they being both the Lord's people, and his also:
and it shall be upon all the princes of Israel ; who were slain in Riblah by the king of Babylon, Jeremiah 52:10 , the sword spared neither people nor princes.
Terrors, by reason of the sword, shall be upon my people ; upon the rumour of the invasion, and when besieged in the city, and when attempting to make their escape by flight: or "my people are fallen by the sword" F21 So R. Sol Urbin. Ohel Moed, fol. 59. 1. , as some:
smite therefore upon thy thigh ; as one grieved in spirit, in great distress and anguish; see Jeremiah 31:19 .
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