Charles Ellicott Commentary


Charles Ellicott Commentary
"Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thy heart hath lifted thee up: glory thereof, and abide at home; for why shouldest thou meddle to [thy] hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?" — 2 Kings 14:10 (ASV)
You have indeed smitten — i.e., you have thoroughly defeated; gained a brilliant victory over Edom. (The “indeed” qualifies “smitten.”)
Has lifted. — Rather, lifts.
Glory of this, and stay at home. — Literally, be honoured, and remain in your own house, i.e., be content with the glory you have achieved. Rest on your laurels, and do not risk them by further enterprises which may not turn out so favourably. So the Vulgate Thenius explains: “Show your might at home,” referring to the Septuagint (Compare 2 Samuel 6:20).
For why should you meddle to your hurt?— Rather, and why should you challenge or provoke (literally, attack, Deuteronomy 2:5) disaster?