For thus saith the Lord God
Their sin and punishment are further enlarged upon: because thou hast clapped thine hands, and stamped with thy feet:
gestures expressive of joy and gladness, ( Isaiah 55:12 ) ( Lamentations 2:15 ) ( Jeremiah 48:27 ) , the Ammonites clapped their hands together, and leaped and skipped for joy, when they heard of the calamities of the Jews; who yet had more reason to be sorrowful, since they might expect their turn would be next; for the king of Babylon had a design against them, at the same time he came against Jerusalem, and was in doubt for a while which he should attack first; see ( Ezekiel 21:20 ) : and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel;
they had a secret joy in their heart, which they expressed by gestures, in the most spiteful and scornful manner they were capable of; which showed the wretched malignity of their dispositions against the children of Israel; they hated them with a perfect hatred.