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<p>The Ammonites were next, both in kindred and neighbourhood, to the Moabites, and therefore are next set to the bar. Their country joined to that of the two tribes and a half, on the other side Jordan, and was but a bad neighbour; however, being a neighbour, they shall have a share in these circular predictions. 1. An action is here brought, in God’s name, against the Ammonites, for an illegal encroachment upon the rightful possessions of the tribe of Gad, that lay next them, <a class="bibleref" title="Jer.49.1" href="/passage/?search=Jer.49.1">Jer. 49:1</a>. A writ of enquiry is brought to discover what title they had to those territories, which, upon the carrying away of the Gileadites, by the king of Assyria (<a class="bibleref" title="2Kgs.15.29,1Chr.5.26" href="/passage/?search=2Kgs.15.29,1Chr.5.26"><span class="bibleref" title="2Kgs.15.29">2 Kgs. 15:29</span>; <span class="bibleref" title="1Chr.5.26">1 Chron. 5:26</span></a>), were left almost dispeopled, at least unguarded, and an easy prey to the next invader. “What! Does it escheat <i>ob defectum sanguinis—for what of an heir? Hath Israel no sons? Hath he no heir</i>? Are there no Gadites left, to whom the right of inheritance belongs? Or, if there were not, are there no Israelites, none left of Judah, that are nearer akin to them than you are?” <i>Why then does their king</i>, as if he were entitled to the forfeited estates, or Milcom, their idol, as if he had the right to dispose of it to his worshippers, <i>inherit Gad, and his people dwell in the cities</i> which fell by lot to that tribe of God’s people. Nay, there were sons and heirs of their own body, <i>en ventre de sa mere</i>—<i>in their mother’s womb</i>, and the Ammonites, to prevent their claim, most barbarously murdered them (<a class="bibleref" title="Amos.1.13" href="/passage/?search=Amos.1.13">Amos 1:13</a>): <i>They ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border</i>, that, having seized it, none might rise up hereafter to recover it from them. Thus <i>they magnified themselves against their border</i> and boasted it was their own, <a class="bibleref" title="Zeph.2.8" href="/passage/?search=Zeph.2.8">Zeph. 2:8</a>. Note, Though among men might often prevails against right, yet that might shall be controlled by the Almighty, who <i>sits in the throne, judging right</i>; and those will find themselves mistaken who think every thing their own which they can lay their hands on, or which none yet appears to lay claim to. As there is justice owing to owners, so also to their heirs, when they are dead, whom it is a great sin to defraud, though they either know not their right or know not how to come at it. This shall be reckoned for particularly, when injuries of this kind are done to God’s people. 2. Judgment is here given against them for this violence. (1.) Terrors shall come upon them: God <i>will cause an alarm of war to be heard</i>, even <i>in Rabbah</i>, their capital city and a very strong one, <a class="bibleref" title="Jer.49.1" href="/passage/?search=Jer.49.1">Jer. 49:1</a>. <i>The Lord God of hosts</i>, who has all armies at his command, <i>will bring a fear upon them from all that be about them</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Jer.49.5" href="/passage/?search=Jer.49.5">Jer. 49:5</a>. Note, God has many ways to terrify those who have been a terror to his people. (2.) Their cities shall be laid in ruins: <i>Rabbah</i>, the mother-city, <i>shall be a desolate heap, and her daughters</i>, the other cities that have a dependence upon her, and receive law from her as daughters, <i>shall be burnt with fire</i>; so that the inhabitants shall be forced to quit them, and they shall <i>cry</i>, and <i>gird themselves with sackcloth</i>, as having lost all they had, and not knowing whither to betake themselves. (3.) Their country, which they were so proud of, shall be wasted (<a class="bibleref" title="Jer.49.4" href="/passage/?search=Jer.49.4">Jer. 49:4</a>): <i>Wherefore gloriest thou in the valleys</i>, and <i>trustest in thy treasures, O backslidi
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