CHAP. V. V. 1-4. This command seems to have been given, about the same time as the foregoing. The barber's razor was to be used in shaving his head and beard; and perhaps the "sharp knife," or sword, in smiting a division of the hair: or it may be rendered, "Take thee a sharp knife, even take thee a barber's razor;" the former may be understood of any sort of sharp instrument, the latter describing the kind.-Jerusalem had been the head of the nation of Israel, and the most favored city upon earth: her numerous inhabitants were her ornament and strength, as the hair is the
tives into other countries; who would be pursued by the justice of God and the cruelty of their enemies, into every place. A few hairs, which the prophet was ordered to bind in his skirts, as if they were to be preserved, but of which some were afterwards cast into the fire, signified the remnant, who were left in the land under Gedaliah, and seemed to have acquired a settlement; till the murder of Gedaliah, and the flight of the rest into Egypt, overturned the whole design.
Most of them perished miserably: and the Chaldeans, exasperated by their defection to the Egyptians, seemed to have treated the other Jews with greater severity on their account, and to have utterly desolated the land. (Notes, Jer. 40:-44:52:30.)-Mar'monides observes, upon this place, that the 'priests were forbidden to shave their heads, (44:20.) and not allowed to do it in the time of 'mourning; ( Lev . 21:5.) from whence that au'thor concludes, that what the prophet was 'here commanded was performed only in vis'ion.
But there is no need of such an evasion 'to answer that difficulty; for the immediate 'command of God to any prophet is a sufficient 'discharge from any obligations of the cer' emonial law. So Elijah offered sacrifice upon 'mount Carmel, (1 Kings 18:30.) contrary to 'the rule of the law. Deut . 12:5.' Lowth . ( Marg . land Marg . Ref .)
ments into wickedness more than the na-nant of thee will I scatter into all the
tions, and my statutes more than the coun-winds. tries that are round about her: " for they have refused my judginents and my stat- utes; they have not walked in them.
7 Therefore thus saith the Lord GoD; Because ye multiplied more than the nations that are round about you, and have not walked in my statutes, neither have kept my judgments, neither have done according to the judgments of the nations that are round about you:
8 Therefore thus saith the Lord GoD; Behold I, Peven I, am against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of thee, in the sight of the nations.
9 And I will do in thee that which I have not done, and whereunto I will not do any more the like; because of all thine abominations.
10 Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, and the sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments in thee, and the whole rem
n Neh. 9:17. Ps. 78:10. Jer. 8:
5. 9:6. 11:10. Zech. 7:11.
ο 11. 16:47,48,54. 2 Kings 21:9 -11. 2 Chr. 33:9. Jer. 2:10, 11.
p. 15:7. 21:3. 26:3. 28:22. 35:3. 39:1. Lev. 26:17, &c. Deut. 29:20. Jer. 21:5,13. Lam. 2: Zech. 14:2,3. Matt. 5. 3:3.
22:7.
9 25:2-6. 26:2. 29:6,7. 35:1015. Deut. 29:23-28. 1 Kings 9:8,9. Jer. 22:8,9. 24:9. 50:7.
Lam. 2:15-17.
r Lam. 4:6,9. Dan. 9:12. Am. 3:2. Matt. 24:21.
s Lev. 26:29. Deut. 28:53-57. 2 Kings 6:29. Is. 9:20. 49:26. Jer. 19:9. Lam. 2:20. 4:10. t 2,12. 6:8. 20:23. 22:15. 36:19. Lev. 26:33. Deut. 4:27. 28: 64. 32:26. Neh. 1:8. Ps. 44: 11. Jer. 9:16. 44:12. 50:17. Am. 9:9. Zech. 2:6. 7:14. Luke 21:24.
V. 5-10. The Lord here explained this sign to be (that is, to represent ) Jerusalem. He had placed that city in the midst of the most populous and prosperous nations then on earth, as the place of his temple, and the centre of his worship; that his perfections, truths, laws, and ordinances might be known through the Jews to others for the glory of his name. Thus she was as the head among the cities and nations of the earth.-'It was a city set on a hill, 'on purpose that it might be a pattern of religion and virtue to them. Matt . 5:14. Lowth . ( Notes , 16:9-14. Deut . 4:6-8.1 Kings 8:41 43. Matt . 5:14—16. Rom . 3:1,2.) But the inhabitants of this favored city had perverted the ordinances of God, making them the cloke or occasion of their sins: they had changed the glorious Object of their worship for the most worthless idols and superstitions; they had gone further from his statutes, and more
11 Wherefore, " as I live, saith the Lord God, surely because * thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore 2 will I also diminish thee ; neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity.
12 A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee; and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, dand I will draw out a sword after them.
13 Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, & and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the Lord have spoken it in my zeal, when I have accomplished my fury in them.
u Num. 14:28-35. Ps. 95:11. Zech. 13:7-9. Am. 8:7. Heb. 6:13.
x 8:5,6,16. 23:38. 44:7. 2 Kings 21:4,7. 23:12. 2 Chr. 33:4,7. 36:14. Jer. 7:9-11.32:34.
У 7:20. 11:18,21. Deut. 7:25, 26. Jer. 16:18.
z 29:15. Jer. 10:24. marg. Rom. 11:12.
a 7:4,9. 8:18. 9:5,10. 24:14. Deut. 29:20. Zech. 11:6. Mal. 3:17. Rom. 8:32. 11:21. 2 Pet. 24,5.
b 2. 6:12. Jer. 15:2. 21:9.
с 2,10, 6:8. Jer. 9:16. Zech. 7:14.
d 2. 12:14. Lev. 26:33. Deut. 28:65. Jer. 42:16,17,22, 43:10, 11. 44:27. Am. 9:4.
e 6:12. 7:8. 13 15. 20:8,21. Jer. 25:12. Lam. 4:11,22. Dan. 9: 2. 11:36.
f 16:42. 21:17. 23:25. 24:13. g Is. 1:24. Zech. 6:8.
h 6:10. 36:5,6. 38:18,19. Is. 9:7. 59:17.
out any distinction; whilst the wretched remnant of them would be dispersed into every part of the earth. ( Marg . Ref . s.-.Note, Lev. 26:29.) The destruction of Jerusalem, and the captivity of its inhabitants by the Chaldeans were primarily intended; and yet the desolations and dispersions afterwards caused by the Romans, and the desolate state of this once favored nation to this day, form a still more awful accomplishment of the prophecy.
More than , &c. (6) 'She hath sinned against 'a clearerlight, and greater convictions. Comp. 16:48. Matt . 12:41,42. Lowth .
Multiplied. (7) 'Your idols are in greater 'number, and your superstitions more than 'among professed idolaters.'
Scatter. (10) 'This is another judgment 'threatened against them by Moses, ( Deut . 28: '64.) and remarkably fulfilled in their last dis'persion; when every known part of the world every where like strangers, only upon suffer'ance.' Lowth . (Notes, Deut . 28:64-67.)
multiplied their abominations, than the Gen-hath some share of them, and yet they live
tiles themselves: they were not content with copying the judgments, the rites, customs, or worship of any one heathen nation; but they collected from them all, and improved on them all. ( Notes , 16:44-51.2 Kings 21:9-13.) They had not been so constant and zealous for the true religion as the Gentiles had in a false
V. 11, 12. Marg . Ref . Notes , 1-4. 6:11— 14.7:20-22. 8:2-17. 14:13-21.2 Kings 21:4 -9. Jer . 15:2-4. Am . 9:1-4.
one. ( Marg . Ref . m-o.- Note , Jer. 2:10-12.) || apprehensions. If a man has been greatly in
V. 13. Marg. Ref . - Comforted, &c.] Such expressions are used in accommodation to our jured and dishonored; he is comforted, when he obtains satisfaction for the injury, and can wipe away the disgrace. The Jews had greatly dishonored God, and caused the heathen to blaspheme his holy religion: but his judgments executed on them manifested his power, justice, holiness, and truth; stopped the mouths of blasphemers; and reflected honor on his law
As they thus dishonored God among the heathen, he determined to vindicate his insulted honor in their sight, by executing vengeance upon the Jews with a severity as unexampled as their guilt. ( Marg . Ref . p-r.- Notes , 23:45. Lam. 4:6, Dan. 9:12.) Insomuch, that in the extremity of famine they should eat one another; even parents should eat the flesh of their children, and children of their parents, with-and worship. Such "vengeance belongeth unto
14 Moreover I will make thee waste, thee; and and a reproach among the nations that are round about thee, in the sight of all that pass by.
15 So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, 1 an instruction and an astonishment unto the nations that are round about thee, when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger, and in fury, and in furious rebukes. I the Lord have spoken it .
16 When I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their destruction, and which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of
bread.
17 So will I send upon you famine, Pand evil beasts, and they shall bereave
pestilence and blood shall pass and I will bring the sword I the LORD have spoken it .
through thee; upon thee.