The cities of Aroer are forsaken. They will be for flocks, which shall lie down, and no one shall make them afraid.
Parallel Translations
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The cities of Aroer are forsaken. They will be for flocks, which shall lie down, and no one shall make them afraid.
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The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid.
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The cities of Aroer are forsaken; they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid.
Cross-references (12)
Passages linked to Isaiah 17:2 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Jeremiah 7:33 The dead bodies of this people will be food for the birds of the sky, and for the animals of the earth. No one will frighten them away.
- Ezekiel 25:5 I will make Rabbah a stable for camels, and the children of Ammon a resting place for flocks. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.”
- Numbers 32:34 The children of Gad built Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer,
- Deuteronomy 2:36 From Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the valley, even to Gilead, there was not a city too high for us. Yahweh our God delivered up all before us.
- Micah 4:4 But they will sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and no one will make them afraid: For the mouth of Yahweh of Armies has spoken.
- Zephaniah 2:6 The sea coast will be pastures, with cottages for shepherds and folds for flocks.
- Deuteronomy 3:12 This land we took in possession at that time: from Aroer, which is by the valley of the Arnon, and half the hill country of Gilead with its cities, I gave to the Reubenites and to the Gadites;
- Jeremiah 48:19 Inhabitant of Aroer, stand by the way and watch. Ask him who flees, and her who escapes; say, ‘What has been done?’
- Joshua 13:16 Their border was from Aroer, that is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the plain by Medeba;
- Isaiah 5:17 Then the lambs will graze as in their pasture, and strangers will eat the ruins of the rich.
- Isaiah 7:21 It shall happen in that day that a man shall keep alive a young cow, and two sheep.
- Isaiah 7:23-25 It will happen in that day that every place where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silver shekels, shall be for briers and thorns. People will go there with arrows and with bow, because all the land will be briers and thorns. All the hills that were cultivated with the hoe, you shall not come there for fear of briers and thorns; but it shall be for the sending out of oxen, and for sheep to tread on.”
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (14 sources)
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain It was a country of Syria by the river…
It was a country of Syria by the river Arnon.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Isa 17:2 The cities of Aroer [are] forsaken: they…
Isa 17:2 The cities of Aroer [are] forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make [them] afraid.
Ver. 2. The cities of Aroer are forsaken,] i.e., The country beyond Jordan {Deu 2:36} is desolated and depopulated - the Gadites and the Reubenites being also, together with the Syrians, carried captive by Tiglathpileser. {1Ch 5:26}
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain The cities of Aroer; of that part of Syria…
The cities of Aroer; of that part of Syria called Aroer, from a great city of that name; of which see Deu 2:36; 3:12. These cities were possessed by the Reubenites and Gadites, whom Tiglath-pileser carried into captivity, 1Ch 5:26. These he mentions here, as he doth Ephraim in the next verse, because they were confederate with Syria against Judah.
None shall make them afraid, because the land shall be desolate, and destitute of men who might disturb them.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain The cities of Aroer are forsaken,.... The inhabitants of…
The cities of Aroer are forsaken,.... The inhabitants of them being slain, or carried captive, or obliged to flee. Aroer was a city by the river Arnon, on the borders of Moab and Ammon, Deu 2:36, Deu 3:12, it was originally in the hands of the Amorites, and sometimes in the hands of the Moabites and Ammonites: it was given by Moses to the Reubenites and, Gadites, from whom it was taken by the Syrians, and in whose possession it seems to have been at this time; see Kg2 10:33 though Jarchi thinks it was now in the hands of Pekah king of Israel, and said to be forsaken, because the Reubenites and Gadites were now carried captive. Jerom (m) says it was seen in his time, upon the top of the mountain. Here it seems to designs a country of this name, in which were many cities. Grotius thinks it was a tract of land in Syria, the same with the Aveira of Ptolemy (n). Vitringa is of opinion that Damascus itself is meant, which was a double city, like that divided by the river Chrysorrhoas, as this was by Arnon.
They shall be for flocks which shall lie down; instead of houses, there should be sheepcotes and shepherds' tents, and instead of men, sheep; and where streets were, grass would grow, and flocks feed and lie down; which is expressive of the utter desolation of these cities, or this tract of ground:
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and none shall make them afraid; the flocks of sheep, timorous creatures, easily frightened; but so great should be the depopulation now, there would be no man upon the spot, or any pass by, to give them any disturbance.
(m) De locis. Heb. fol. 87. 1. (n) Geograph. l. 5. c. 15.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain Aroer - Of that part of Syria, called Aroer,…
Aroer - Of that part of Syria, called Aroer, from a great city of that name. These cities were possessed by the Reubenites and Gadites, whom Tiglath-pilneser carried into captivity, 1 Chron. v, 26. These he mentions here, as he doth Ephraim in the next verse, because they were confederate with Syria against Judah. Afraid - Because the land shall be desolate, and destitute of men who might disturb them.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 2. The cities of Aroer are forsaken -…
Verse 2. The cities of Aroer are forsaken - "The cities are deserted for ever"] What has Aroer on the river Arnon to do with Damascus? and if there be another Aroer on the northern border of the tribe of Gad, as Reland seems to think there might be, this is not much more to the purpose. Besides, the cities of Aroer, if Aroer itself is a city, makes no good sense. The Septuagint, for ערער aroer, read עדי עד adey ad, εις τον αιωνα, for ever, or for a long duration. The Chaldee takes the word for a verb from ערה arah, translating it חרבו cherebu, devastabuntur, "they shall be wasted." The Syriac read עדועיר adoeir. So that the reading is very doubtful. I follow the Septuagint as making the plainest sense.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Isa 17:2. The cities of Aroer are forsaken —…
Isa 17:2. The cities of Aroer are forsaken — “What has Aroer,” says Bishop Lowth, “on the river Arnon, (see Deu 2:36,) to do with Damascus?” He therefore follows the LXX., (who, he supposes, for
ערער, Aroer, read עדי עד, εις τον αιωνα,) and renders the clause, The cities are deserted for ever. Grotius, however, thinks the present reading of the Hebrew text is right, and that this Aroer was a tract of ground in Syria, (a valley, say some, which lay between the mountains of Libanus and Anti-Libanus,) and not that Aroer which was on the confines of Moab and Ammon, and part of the possession of the Reubenites and Gadites. But as Tiglath-pileser carried the Reubenites and Gadites into captivity, (see 1Ch 5:26,) and made the country, which they had possessed, desolate, why may not the very Aroer, which was on the confines of Moab, be meant, and mentioned here, as Ephraim is in the next verse, as being confederate with Syria against Judah? And none shall make them afraid — Because the land shall be desolate, and destitute of men who might disturb them.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain The cities of Aroer - By “Aroer” here seems…
The cities of Aroer - By “Aroer” here seems to be meant a tract or region of country pertaining to Damascus, in which were situated several cities. Grotius supposes that it was a tract of country in Syria which is called by Ptolemy “Aueira” - Αὔειρα Aueira. Vitringa supposes that one part of Damascus is meant by this, as Damascus was divided by the river in the same manner that Babylon was. There were several cities of the name of “Aroer.” One was on the river Arnon in the land of Moab Deu 2:36; Deu 3:12; Jos 12:3. Burckhardt found this city under the name of Aroer. There was another city of this name further north, over against Rabbath-Ammon Jos 13:25. There was a third city of this name in the tribe of Judah 1Sa 30:28. Of the city of Araayr which Burckhardt visited, nothing is now remarkable but its entire desolation. Gesenius supposes (“Commentary in loc.”) that the phrase ‘the cities of Aroer’ means the cities round about Aroer, and that were connected with it, similar to the phrase ‘daughters of a city.’ This city he supposes was near the river Arnon, within the limits of Moab, and that the prediction here was fufilled by Tiglath-pileser, when he carried away the inhabitants of Galilee, Gilead, and other places mentioned in 2Ki 15:29. There can be no doubt that it was under the jurisdiction of Damascus.
Are forsaken - Are desolate, and the inhabitants have fled.
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They shall be for flocks ... - (See the note at Isa 5:17.)
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain Aroer. Chaldean, "abandoned, shall be folds for sheep." Septuagint,…
Aroer. Chaldean, "abandoned, shall be folds for sheep." Septuagint, "left for ever a resting place for flocks and herds, and none shall pursue." The tribes on the east of the Jordan shall be led captive, as well as those on the west, Ephraim, &c. (Haydock)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain cities of Aroer--that is, the cities round Aroer, and…
cities of Aroer--that is, the cities round Aroer, and under its jurisdiction [GESENIUS]. So "cities with their villages" (Jos 15:44); "Heshbon and all her cities" (Jos 13:17). Aroer was near Rabbahammon, at the river of Gad, an arm of the Jabbok (Sa2 24:5), founded by the Gadites (Num 32:34).
for flocks-- (Isa 5:17).
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 2. Cities of Aroer — Cities round about “Aroer,”…
2. Cities of Aroer — Cities round about “Aroer,” and under its jurisdiction. (Gesenius.) Aroer was a small territory not far south from Damascus. There were, however, two trans-Jordanic cities of this name — one in Moab, another near Rabbah-Ammon; the latter at this time may have been subject to Syria, captured from Israel.
Flocks — Peacefully lying down amid abandoned ruins; a telling reproach, but at the same time a fine picture.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 2. The cities of Aroer] Hardly, “the (two) cities…
2. The cities of Aroer] Hardly, “the (two) cities Aroer” (gen. of appos.), as a name for the trans-Jordanic territory. If Aroer be really a proper name, the phrase must be explained by the analogy of Jos_13:17 “the daughter cities of A.” But where was Aroer? The best-known town of the name, that on the Arnon (Num_32:34; Deu_2:36, &c.), is much too far south and belonged to Moab. There seems to have been another in Ammon (Jos_13:25), but it too is outside the territory of Damascus and can scarcely have been important enough to give its name to a district. We must either assume an unknown Aroer in Syria, or take the word in an appellative sense (“the ruined cities are forsaken”) or else adopt the text of the LXX., which reads “(Damascus shall be) deserted for ever” (omitting “cities”).
shall be for flocks … afraid] cf. Isa_5:17, Isa_32:14, and Zep_3:13; Job_11:19.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain The cities of Aroer are forsaken. That the Aroer…
The cities of Aroer are forsaken. That the Aroer of this passage cannot be either that on the Arnon, or that facing Rabbath-Ammon, (Jos_13:25) has long been perceived and recognized (see Mr. Grove"s article on "Aroer" in the "Dict. of the Bible," vol. 1. p. 115). It is evidently a city of the same name lying much further towards the north. Arid it is a city of far greater importance, having "cities" dependent on it. Now, Sargon"s annals tell us of a "Gal"gar," a name well expressing the Hebrew rr, which was united in a league with Damascus, Samaria, Arpad, and Simyra, in the second year of Sargon, and was the scene of a great battle and a great destruction. Sargon besieged it, took it, and reduced it to ashes ("Records of the Past," 50. s.e.). There is every reason to recognize the "Aroer" of this verse in the "Gargar" of Sargon"s inscriptions. They shall be for flocks. (comp. Isa_5:17 Isa_7:25) It marked the very extreme of desolation, that cattle should be pastured on the sites of cities. None shall make them afraid; i.e. "there shall be no inhabitants to make any objection."
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 17:2 The towns of Aroer were east of the…
17:2 The towns of Aroer were east of the Dead Sea (see 2 Kgs 10:32-33). • Flocks will graze in the streets: The city would be useless for any other purpose.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.