Matthew Poole and continuators on Nahum 3:13

13 Behold thy people in the midst of thee are women : the gates of thy land shall be set wide open unto thine enemies , the fire shall devour thy bars .

This may seem strange, but attend diligently, thou shalt see how this will be.

Those thou hirest, and are thine for pay; those that are born thine, all thy Warriours

where very Cowards use to be valiant, or where necessity makes Cowards valiant, where they sho'd shew most valour,

weak, afraid, flee away, and hide themselves, Ier. 48.41. and 51.30. God wo'd fill them with terrour, and they shall not dare to keep their Gates shut against the Enemy.

The Cities, but especially the strong fortified Frontiers which should keep out the Enemy,

shall either through fear or treachery be opened, wide opened to admit the Enemy.

Chaldeans, and their Confederates.

When the Enemy is thus admitted, he shall burn either the City or the Gates and Bars, he will never trust, nor spare thee.

With which the Gates were both shut and strengthened, 1 Sam. 23.7. Psal. 147.13.

Marginal references: Jer. 5[illegible: 1 letter].37.