Deu 28:49, Jer 48:40, Hab 1:8 | JFB | STEP | 49. The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far-- the invasion of the Romans--"they came from far." The soldiers of the invading army were taken from France, Spain, and Britain--then considered "the end of the earth." Julius Severus, the commander, afterwards Vespasian and Hadrian, left Britain for the scene of contest. Moreover, the ensign on the standards of the Roman army was "an eagle"; and the dialects spoken by the soldiers of the different nations that composed that army were altogether unintelligible to the Jews.

‏ Deuteronomy 28:49

49. The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far--the invasion of the Romans--"they came from far." The soldiers of the invading army were taken from France, Spain, and Britain--then considered "the end of the earth." Julius Severus, the commander, afterwards Vespasian and Hadrian, left Britain for the scene of contest. Moreover, the ensign on the standards of the Roman army was "an eagle"; and the dialects spoken by the soldiers of the different nations that composed that army were altogether unintelligible to the Jews.

‏ Jeremiah 48:40

40. he--Nebuzara-dan, the captain of Nebuchadnezzar.

as ... eagle--not to bear them "on eagles' wings" (Ex 19:4; De 32:11, 12), as God does His people, but to pounce on them as a prey (Jr 49:22; De 28:49; Ha 1:8).

‏ Habakkuk 1:8

8. swifter than the leopards--Oppian [Cynegeticks, 3.76], says of the leopard, "It runs most swiftly straight on: you would fancy it was flying through the air."

more fierce--rather, "more keen"; literally, "sharp."

evening wolves--wolves famished with fasting all day and so most keen in attacking the fold under covert of the approaching night (Jr 5:6; Zep 3:3; compare Ge 49:27). Hence "twilight" is termed in Arabic and Persian "the wolf's tail"; and in French, entre chien et loup.

spread themselves--proudly; as in Jr 50:11, and Mal 4:2, it implies strength and vigor. So also the Arabic cognate word [Maurer].

their horsemen ... come from far--and yet are not wearied by the long journey.