Verse 5
The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear - According to Calmet, shall worship the calves of Beth-aven; those set up by Jeroboam, at Beth-el. Fear is often taken for religious reverence.
The people thereof shall mourn - On seeing the object of their worship carried into captivity, as well as themselves.
And the priests thereof - כמרים kemarim . The priests of Samaria, says Calmet, are here called kemarim , that is, black coats, or shouters, because they made loud cries in their sacrifices. Instead of יגילו yagilu , "they shall rejoice;" learned men propose ילילו yalilu , "shall howl," which is likely to be the true reading, but it is not supported by any of the MSS. yet discovered. But the exigentia loci , the necessity of the place, requires some such word.
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