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, ( Deuteronomy
2:36 ) ( Deuteronomy
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 ( 2 Kings
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 F13 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 F14. 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:
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.