Isaiah 3:26 - Exposition

Her gates . The sudden change of person is common in Oriental poetry. Shall lament and mourn . On account of their destruction, which would be very complete (see Lamentations 1:4 ; Lamentations 2:9 ; Nehemiah 1:3 ; Nehemiah 2:13 ). Conquerors could not do more than break breaches in the walls of a town, but they carefully destroyed the gates. Being desolate ; or, emptied—plundered of everything, and so far "cleansed" from her abominations. Shall sit upon the ground . In deep grief (see Job 2:13 ; and comp. Isaiah 47:1 ; Lamentations 2:10 ). So in the coin of Vespasian, the captive Judah ( Judea capta ) sits upon the ground.