Jeremiah 48:39
They shall howl, saying, How is it broken down! how hath Moab turned the back with shame! so shall Moab be a derision and a dismaying to all them about him.
They shall howl, saying, How is it broken down?.... Or, "how is it broken" or "thrown into consternation {p}? they howl"; that is, they howl out these words, or, while they are howling, say, how is Kirheres or Moab broken all to pieces; their strength, power, and glory; their cities, and their mighty men; and are in the utmost fright and confusion? Jarchi takes it to be an imperative, and paraphrases it,
"howl ye over her {q}, and say, how is it broken!''
Kimchi says it may be taken either as in the past or in the imperative;
how hath Moab turned the back with shame? not being able to look their enemies in the face, but obliged to flee before them;
so shall Moab be a derision and a dismaying to all them about him; a derision to some, to their enemies, as Israel had been to them, and so they are paid in their own coin; and a consternation to others, their friends, who would fear sharing the same fate, at the hands of the Chaldeans.
{p} htx Kya "quomodo consternata est", Piscator, Schmidt.
{q} wlylyh "ululate", Munster, Piscator; "ejulate", Junius & Tremellius.