in the context. [Hebrew: gmr], "Completion" (compare
the [Hebrew: gmir], "_perfectus_," "_absolutus_," in Ezra vii. 12), is
equivalent to [Hebrew: awt znvniM], "a wife of whoredom." The [Hebrew:
bt dbliM] can only mean, "daughter of the two fig-cakes," = _filia
deliciarum_ = _deliciis_ [Pg 194] _dedita_. The word "daughter" serves
to indicate every relation of dependence and submission: _Gesenius_,
_Thesaurus_, p. 220. Fig-cakes were considered as one of the greatest
dainties; compare _Faber_ on _Harmar_. i. p. 320 ff. Sensuality was the
ground of the Israelites' apostasy from the severe and strict religion
of Jehovah to the idolatry of their neighbours, which was soft,
sensual, and licentious. The occasion which had called it forth with
their neighbours was one which rendered them favourably disposed
towards it. The masculine form can offer no difficulty as to the
derivation from [Hebrew: dblh], "fig-cake;" for the masculine form of
the plural occurs also in 1 Sam. xxv. 18; 1 Chron. xii. 40. As little
difficulty can arise from the Dual form, which may be explained from
the circumstance that fig-cakes commonly consisted of a double layer of
figs, or of double cakes (_Hesych._ [Greek: palathe]--which Greek word
is a corruption of the Hebrew [Hebrew: dblh]--[Greek: he ton sukon
epallelos thesis]), and the Dual is used in reference to objects which
are commonly conceived of as a whole, consisting of two parts, even
when several of them are spoken of. That this explanation of the Dual
is correct, is proved from the circumstance, that it occurs also as the
name of a Moabitish town, _Beth-Dibhlathaim_, Jer. xlviii. 22, and
_Dibhlathaim_, Num. xxxiii. 46, which, probably, was famous for its
fig-cakes.--There existed another special reason for the prophet's
choosing the Dual in the masculine form, viz., that there was the
analogy of other proper names of men--as Ephraim, etc.--in its favour;
and such an analogy was required,--for, otherwise, the name would not
have been, as it was intended to be, a riddle. Our whole exposition,
however, which was already in substance, although without proper
foundation and justification, advanced by _Jerome_, is raised above the
condition of a mere hypothesis, by its being compared with chap. iii.
There, the words, "They turn themselves to other gods, and love
grape-cakes," are a mere paraphrasis of "_Gomer Bath Dibhlaim_." It
scarcely needs to be remarked, that the difference betwixt grape-cakes