46. elder sister . . . Samaria--older than Sodom, to whom Judah was less nearly related by kindred than she was to Samaria. Sodom is therefore called her younger sister; Samaria, her "elder sister" [GROTIUS]. Samaria is called the "elder," because in a moral respect more nearly related to Judah [FAIRBAIRN]. Samaria had made the calves at Dan and Beth-el in imitation of the cherubim.
      her daughters--the inferior towns subject to Samaria (compare Nu 21:25, Margin).
      left--The Orientals faced the east in marking the directions of the sky; thus the north was "left," the south "right."
      Sodom . . . daughters--Ammon and Moab, offshoots from Sodom; also the towns subject to it.

JFB.