I will totally destroy An expression of destruction, as in (Jud. 18:25) “and you will lose your life,” mentioned regarding Micah. The “aleph” is defective in the second word, for it should have been written אֶאֱסֹף There are many [defective alephs] like these, as in (Isa. 13:20) “no Arab shall pitch his tent there,” which is like יֶאֱהַל.

and the stumbling blocks with the wicked They are the pagan deities.

the remnant of Baal that there shall be no remnant of its remembrance.

the name of the idolatrous priests with the ancillary priests Their worshippers with their priests.

who swear by the Lord and go back and swear by their king, their pagan deity. They make the pagan deity the main one, saying, “If you do not believe the oath by God, I swear to you by the pagan deity.”

He has invited His guests He prepared His armies for the appointed day.

gentile garb Ornaments of the idols.

who leaps over the threshold Jonathan renders: who follows the customs of the Philistines, who would not step on the threshold of Dagon, as it is stated (I Sam. 5:5): “Therefore, the priests of Dagon... do not tread, etc.”

from the fish gate Jonathan renders: from the gate of the fish; there was a gate in Jerusalem called by that name.

from the second gate from the gate of the fowl, which was second to it [the fish gate].

you inhabitants of Maktesh The Kidron Valley, which is as deep as a mortar. This is according to Targum Jonathan. from the fish gate This is Acre, situated in the bosom of the sea, where many fish are caught.

from the Mishneh This is Lod, which is second to Jerusalem.

from the hills This is Sepphoris, which is situated at the tops of the mountains like a bird.

inhabitants of Maktesh This is Tiberias, which is deeper than all of [the rest of] the land of Israel.

for the entire people of Canaan is cut off Jonathan renders: For the entire nation, whose deeds resemble the deeds of the people of the land of Canaan, has been broken.

all those laden with silver Jonathan renders: All those wealthy with property, laden with a burden of silver and gold; as in (Prov. 27:3) “The weight of stone, the burden of sand” an expression of a burden.

I will search Jerusalem with candles I will judge their iniquities strictly.

who are settled float on their lees. [As in] (II Kings 6:6) “And the axe blade floated,” rendered in Aramaic: וּקְפָא פַרְזְלָה.

who say in their heart, “The Lord shall do neither good...” to those who obey His will.

nor harm to those who transgress His will.

wherein the mighty man cries bitterly The mighty man will cry out with a bitter voice.

a day of ruin, an expression of desolation.

and desolation A greater degree of desolation.

And I will bring distress upon men Upon Israel, who is called “man.”

and their flesh their flesh. In Arabic, flesh is called al laham.

like dung dung.