CHAP. XXXIV.
Predictions of dreadful vengeance, and perpetual desolations, against Idumea and the enemies of the church, 1-15. The certainty of the prophecy, 16,17.
en itself, whither no sickness or trouble shall find admission. 'It is plain, that Hezekiah, by 'his treaty with Sennacherib, by which he 'agreed to pay him three hundred talents of 'silver, and thirty talents of gold, had stripped 'himself of his whole treasure: he not only 'gave him all the silver and gold that was in 'his own treasury, and in that of the temple, 'but was even forced to cut off the gold from 'the doors of the temple, and from the pillars, 'with which he had himself overlaid them, to 'satisfy the demands of the king of Assyria: 'but after the destruction of the Assyrian army, 'we find that he had "exceeding much riches," 'and that he "made himself treasuries for sil'ver and gold, and for precious stones, &c." (2 Chr . 32:27.) ... This cannot be otherwise ac'counted for, than by the prodigious spoil that 'was taken on the destruction of the Assyri'an army.' Bp . Lowth . ( Notes , 3,4. 2 Kings 18: 14-16.2 Chr . 32:27-29.)
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.
V. 1-13.
Unprovoked rapine and treachery are peculiarly hateful to God, who will punish those that are guilty of them with marked severity. -When the wicked have filled up the measure of their sins, they frequently are spoiled of their treasures, and defrauded to their eir ruin, by others as wicked as themselves. They, whose condign punishment is connected with the answer of the prayers of the Lord's people, are in a most perilous case: for he will graciously defend and uphold all those, who call upon and wait for him, and will be their Salvation in every time of trouble.
And, as we have trials and services for every day, we should "every morning" beg of our God to be "our Arm and our Strength." The scourges of the world cause great consternation by their tumult and prowess; but at length they fall an easy prey to their enemies. For the Lord is exalted above all in heaven and earth: it is his glory to abase the proud, and to take care of Zion; and in proportion, as any part of the visible church is replenished by him with truth and holiness, he will delight to watch over it for good.
Wisdom, and knowledge, and righteousness, form the stability of our souls, in all persecutions and temptations; and render us stedfast and unmoveable in the ways of God: and true piety is the only treasure, which can never be plundered or spent. The same wisdom, justice, and piety establish the honor and safety of nations; and render the throne of princes in a measure like that of the Lord. Yet even his servants are liable to many fears and distresses; especially when they at all lean to carnal dependences, or cleave to earthly objects.
To wean them from these, and to chastise them for their folly, ungodly men are permitted to prosper, and to menace them with dreadful calamities. Then the very champions of the church, and her "ambassadors of peace," are apt to be dejected and alarmed; as they see the high ways of Zion unfrequented, and all around ready to faint, by reason of the insults of persecutors and infidels, who have no regard either to God or man. But when all other confidences fail the believer, and when the enemies of the church think their victory secure; the Lord himself will arise, and in some unthought of
HOME near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: blet the earth
a 18:3. 33:13. 41:1. 43:9. 49:1.2:7. Judg. 5:3,31. Ps. 49:1,2.50:1. b 1:2. Deut. 4:26. 32:1. Jer 96:10. Mark 16:15,16. Rev. 22:29. Mic. 6:1,2.
manner, turn the devices of the wicked into confusion, and consume them with the fire of his indignation; that all men may hear, and acknowledge his might, and fear before him. V. 14-24.
Sinners and hypocrites in Zion have cause to expect more tremendous vengeance, than even avowed enemies: and what fearfulness will surprise them, when they shall at length appear before the tribunal of God! when the Judge shall frown, and denounce sentence against them, and the pit of hell shall open wide to receive them!
It behoves all therefore to inquire seriously, who they are, that "shall dwell with everlasting burnings:" and whether we have that genuine godliness, which proves that "Jesus hath delivered us from the wrath to come." For it is not a tolerable evil to which sinners are exposed, but the everlasting wrath of almighty God: and many, in congregations which are favored with the best means of grace, will, to their own amazement, sink from under them into these everlasting burnings.
"Oh, that men were wise, that they would know these things, and consider their latter end!" For there is a Refuge provided: sinners of all kinds are called upon to flee to it; none are refused admission; and every blessing of salvation is freely bestowed on all, who ask in humble believing prayer. Yet, unless men shew that they have received the atonement and reconciliation, by a life of piety, integrity, sincerity, and superiority to the love of filthy lucre, they must be considered as hypocrites in Zion.
The believer is placed in an honorable and secure station; he is safe in time, and for eternity; and whoever wants, "bread shall be given him, his water shall be sure." He now by faith beholds the King in his glory and beauty, and anticipates the joys of heaven: and ere long his faith shall be changed for vision, his hope for full fruition. He can contemplate with gratitude those awful subjects, which fill the ungodly with terror and dismay; and he needs not fear any of his crafty and subtle enemies, whom he shall shortly see no more for ever.
Our holy city, the church, in which the ordinances of God are administered, though often assaulted by fierce and barbarous foes, will become at length a quiet habitation; and will no longer be exposed to the insults, revilings, or menaces of proud oppressors. And though her humble appearance be despised by them; yet "not one of her stakes shall ever be removed, nor any of her cords broken," by all the united efforts of earth and hell.
But the Lord himself will be her Glory, Beauty, Riches, and Happiness: and every one, who submits to him as King, obeys him as a Lawgiver, and waits for him as a Judge, will surely partake of his complete salvation. For Immanuel reigns over his redeemed people, and as they are become willing subjects, so he is their sure Protector; while all, that refuse to have him to reign over them, will make shipwreck of their souls. The poorest and feeblest believer will reap immense advantage from the disappointed devices of his enemies.
He that blotteth out our transgressions, will heal our souls, and bring us to that land, the blessed inhabitants of which shall no more complain of sickness, pain, or sorrow, for ever. Let us then patiently endure our transient af
hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it.
2 For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations, dand his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.
3 Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcasses, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.
4 And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll; and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the • Heb. the fulness thereof. Ps. 24:1. 1 Cor. 10:26,28.
c 24:1,&c. Jer. 25:15-29. Joel 3:9-14. Am. 1:2:1-6. Zeph. 3:8. Zech. 14:3,12-16. Rom. 1:18. Rev. 6:12-17. 14:1520. 19:15-21.20:9,15.
d 30:27-30. Nah. 1:2-6. e 14:19,20. 2 Kings 9:35-37. Jer. 8:1,2. 22:19. Ez. 39:4,11.
Joel 2:20.
f 7. Ez. 32:5,6. Rev. 14:20. 16:3,4,
g 13:10. Ps. 102:25,26. Jer. 4: 23,24. Ez. 32:7,8. Joel 2:30, S1. 3:15. Matt. 24:29,35. Mark 13:24,25. Acts 2:19,20. 2 Pet. 3:7-12. Rev. 6:13,14. 8:12. 20:11.
vine, and as a falling fig from the fig-tree. 5 Formy sword shall be bathed in heaven; behold it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon * the people of my curse, to judgment.
6 The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the Lord hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea.
7 And the tunicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be $ soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness.
Zeph. 1:7.
n 5. 63:1. Jer. 50:27. 51:40. Ez. 39:17-20. Rev. 19:17,18.
h Deut. 32:41,42. Ps. 17:13. | m Deut. 32:14. Jer. 46:10. 47:6. Ez. 21:3-5, 9-11. Zeph. 2:12. Rev. 1:16. i 63:1. Ps. 137:7. Jer. 49:722. Ez. 25:12-14. Am. 1:11, 12. Ob. 1,&c. Mal. 1:4.
k Deut. 27:15,&c. 29:18-21. Matt. 25:41. 1 Cor. 16:22. Gal. 3:10. 2 Pet. 2:14.
1 63:3. Ez. 21:4,5,10.
o Num. 23:22. 24:8.
Deut. 33
17. Job 39:9,10. Ps. 92:10. † Or, rhinoceroses.
p Ps. 68:30. Jer. 46:21. 50:11,
27.
† Or, drunken. 8.
flictions, and "both hope, and quietly wait the 'serving to introduce it, which the holy scripsalvation of God."
NOTES.
on.- The solemn
CHAP. XXXIV. V. 1. This chapter and the next form one prophecy: and the whole of this is most tremendously descriptive of the greatest carnage and desolation, which can be conceived or expressed.
Some interpreters suppose it to be a general and poetical declaration of God's vengeance upon sinners, at the day of judgment and in the eternal world: and, as it is frequently the case, there are several images peculiarly applicable to those events. (Note, 24:1-12.) 1-12.) But the connexion between these tremendous scenes, and the flourishing state of religion next predicted, as well as many things hings in the the prophecy prophecy itself, determines us to another interpre interpretation.
The and repeated call to nations, to the peoples, and to the earth, and the world, world, and every thing in it, to attend, shews that events of immense importance to all mankind are predicted. (Marg. Ref . ) - 'These two chapters make 'one distinct prophecy; an entire, regular, and 'beautiful poem, consisting of two parts: the 'first containing a denunciation of divine ven'geance, against the enemies of the people or 'church of God, the second describing the 'flourishing state of the church of God, conse'quent upon the execution of those judgments. '...
Among those' (the enemies) 'Edom is par'ticularly specified.... The Edomites were, to'gether with the rest of the neighboring na'tions, ravaged and laid waste by Nebuchad'nezzar: but this event, as far as we have 'any account of it in history, seems by no means 'to come up to the terms of the prophecy, or 'to justify so high-wrought and so zerrible a 'description.
And it is not easy to discover 'what connexion the extremely flourishing 'state of the church, or people of God, describ'ed in the next chapter, co could have with those events, and how the former could be the con'sequence of the latter, as it is there represent'ed to be. ... It seems therefore reasonable to 'suppose, with many learned expositors, that 'this prophecy has a further view to events still 'future, to some great revolutions to be effected 'in later times, antecedent to that more perfect state of the kingdom of God upon earth, and VOL. IV.
'tures warrant us to expect.' Bp . Lowth.
V. 2. All nations.] That is, all nations and their armies, considered as enlisted under the standard of Satan, to war against the church of God. (Marg. Ref .) This 'may fitly be ap 'plied to "the battle of the great day of the Al'mighty." Rev. 16:14-16.' Lowth . 'God hath 'determined in his counsel, and hath given sen'tence for their destruction.' ( Notes , 30:27-30. Ps . 149:7-9. Joel 3:1-17. Zech . 14:1-3,12 15. Rev. 16:12-16.)
V. 3-7.
The description of vast multitudes slain, and left unburied till they become intolerably offensive; and of human blood shed in such prodigious quantities, as to authorize the strong hyperboles, of the mountains being melted, and the land soaked with it; whilst the dust of the earth is fattened with the fat and flesh of men, suggests most tremendous ideas of these divine judgments: and it impress es the mind with a view of that general and obstinate resistance, which will be made by the nations, at the instigation of Satan, to the setting up of the kingdo kingdom of Christ; and of the dreadful judgments, with which that event will at length be usheredm. ( Notes , Ez . 39:1 -20.
Rev. 19:17-21) The dissolving of the hosts of heaven, presents the surprising revolutions, which will every where take place, in the constitution of kingdoms and states. ( Notes , 16:9,10 Jer . 4:19-27. Matt . 24:29-31. Reotes: 12-17.) The Lord's "sword bathed in heaven," may allude to some method then in use, of burnishing or tempering armor; and it implies, that the vengeance would be executed according to the wise and righteous purposes of God, and with invincible power.
Idumea, or the land of Edom, was a rival and enemy of the Jews: the prediction might have a partial accomplishment, in the desolations ocсаsioned by by the the As Assyrians, Chaldeans, Macedonians, and Romans, in which that district was involved. (Notes, 21:11,12. Jer. 49:7-22. Ez . 25:35: Am . 1:11,12. Ob . Mal . 1:2-5.) But those events had no connexion with that glorious spread of religion next predicted; nor does it appear that that they were answerable to such a tremendous description.
Idumea may therefore be taken as a general name, denoting the nations inimical to the church, as the Edom[121
Rev
8 For it is the day of the Lord's ven-palaces, nettles and brambles in the for
geance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion.
9 And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch.
10 It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: "from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever.
11 But the * cormorant and the bittern shall possess it: the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness.
12 They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom; but none shall be there, and all her princes shall be a nothing.
13 And thorns shall come up in her
3,4.
126:21. 35:4. 49:26. 59:17,18.61: u 13:20. Ez. 29:11. Mal. 1: 2. 63:4. Deut. 32:35,41-43. Ps. 94:1. Luke 18:7. Rom. 2:5,8,9. 2 Thes. 1:6-10. Rev. 6:10,11. 18:20. 19:2.
r Gen. 19:28. Deut. 29:23. Job 18:15. Ps. 11:6. Luke 17:29. Jude 7. Rev. 19:20. 21:8. 1:31. 65:24. Jer. 7:20. Ez. 20:47,48. Mark 9:43-48. t Rev. 14:10,11 18:18. 19:3.
x 13:20-22. 14:23. Zeph. 2:14. Rev. 18:2,21-23.
* Or, pelican.
y 2 Sam. 8:2. 2 Kings 21:13. Lam. 2:8. Mal. 1:3,4.
z 3:6-8. Ec. 10:16,17.
a 41:24. 1 Cor. 8:4. 13:2. 2 Cor. 12:11.
b 32:13,14. Hos. 9:6. Zeph. 2:9.
ites were to the Jews: and for the kingdom of Antichrist in every form.-As "the people of his curse," (peculiarly deserving his wrath and exposed to it,) the Lord had devoted them to utter destruction; and would make them a sacrifice at Bozrah, the chief city of Idumea; (Note, 63:1-6.) that is, at the chief residence of Antichrist. The sword of divine justice will then be satisfied with the fatness and blood of the enemies to God; as when lambs, rams, and goats were slain, and their fat was burnt upon the altar.
And not only inferior enemies, but unicorns, bullocks, and bulls will thus be sac- rificed in abundance; that is, the proudest and mightiest princes of the world, will there be destroyed by the justice and power of God. -'Edom signifies "red," as blood is; and "Boz- 'rah," a vintage , which in the prophetical idiom 'denotes God's vengeance upon the wicked. '63:3. Joel 3:13. Rev. 14,19,20. 19:15. Jewish writers do generally suppose, that 'Edom, in the writings of the prophets, stands 'for Rome.' Lowth.
The
V. 8. The church has long been oppressed and wasted, by the nations of the earth but the period approaches, when the controversy between her and her adversaries will be decided; and the Lord will in vengeance recompense them for their injustice and cruelty to his people. ( Marg . Ref .)-The injuries also contemptuously done to Israel as a nation shall be avenged. ( Notes , Ps . 137:7-9. Jer. 51:6,7,20-24,33. Lam . 4:21,22. Rev. 6:9-11.)
tresses thereof; and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for towls.
14 The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow: the || screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest.
15 There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow: there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate.
16 Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth, it hath commanded; and his Spirit, it hath gathered them.
17 And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it unto them by line: & they shall possess it for ever; from generation to generation shall they dwell therein.
c See on 13:21,22.-35:7. Jer. | || Or, night-monster. 9:11. 10:22. 49:33. 50:39,40. d 30:8. Deut. 31:21. Am. 3:7 51:37. Mal. 1:3. Rev. 18:2, Mal. 3:16. John 5:39. 10:35. 20-24. e Gen. 6:17. Ps. 33:6,9.
↑ Or, ostriches. Heb. daugh-f Josh. 18:8. Ps. 78:55. Acta
ters of the owl. Heb. Zum. Heb. Ijim.
13:19. 17.26.
g See on 10. 13:20-22.
er emblem of that devoted city. ( Marg . Ref. Notes , Gen. 19:24,25. Deut . 29:21-25.
Rev. 11:7 -12.) Perhaps subterraneous fire will consume the seat of the papal Antichrist; (indeed plentiful provision is evidently made in that part of the world, for such an event;) and a continual burning and rising up of smoke may perhaps mark out the place on which that city stood, to all future ages; whilst all the rest of the neighborhood may be entirely desolated, without any inhabitant, or any road by which travellers may pass through it. (Notes, Rev. 14: 811. 18:4-8.) For the Lord will measure it with the line of confusion , and the plummet of emptiness ; (the words rendered "without form and void," Notes , Gen. 1:2. 2 Kings 21:13.) and that city, whose nobles, or princes, civil or ecclesiastical, have so long lorded it over other nations, shall no more have any one existing in authority.
All her tyranny and magnificence shall come to nothing; whilst noxious weeds, thorns, savage beasts, doleful and ravenous birds, and venomous reptiles, shall inhabit the spot, where her proud towers and palaces have stood; and there meet with no disturbance. ( Notes , Rev. 18:20-24. 19:1-6.)
They shall call the nobles , &c. (12) 'The words 'might more clearly be translated thus; "They 'shall call," (or summon,) "their nobles: but there shall be no kingdom there." There 'shall be no sign of any government. Lowth .
V. 16, 17. Men in every age are here called on to examine the prophecies, which relate to these and similar events; assured that they will be exactly fulfilled. The Lord will take care, that all the animals above mentioned shall propagate uninterruptedly, in the place intended. The same Spirit, that inspired the prediction, will take care that it shall be accomplished: and the region, which God himself has allotted them, 'with the same exactness, 'as he divided Judea by lot among the chil
V. 9-15. These verses relate to the city, where the sacrifice before mentioned (6) was to be made, or at least begun. The language is even more emphatical, than what had been used respecting Babylon, an allowed type of antichristian Rome. ( Notes , 13:19-22, 14:21 -23.) And the metaphors are taken from Sodom and Gomorrah: if indeed they be metaphors; but probably they will be literally fulfilled, and Sodom will appear to have been anoth- || 'dren of Israel,' ( Lowth ,) shall be their solitary
residence to the end of time, to the consummation of all things.
The book , &c. (16) 'God's omniscience, 'whereby all events, past, present, and to come, 'are represented to him under one single view, 'is often described in scripture, as if it were in 'the nature of a register book, wherein every oc'currence is exactly set down. 30:8. 65:6. Deut . 32:34. Ps . 56:8. Dan . 7:10. Mal . 3:16. Lowth .
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.
they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God.
3h Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
4 Say to them that are of a *fearful heart, Be strong, * fear not: 'behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you.
5 Then the eyes g 6:3. 40:5.60:1-3,19. 66:18,19.
Ex. 33:18,19. Ps. 50:2.72:19. 97:6. 102:15,16. Hab. 2:14. John 12:41. 17:24. 2 Cor. 3: 18. 4:6, Rev, 21:23.
h 40:1,2.52:1,2.57:14-16. Judg. 7:11. Job 4:3,4. 16:5. Luke 22: 32,43. Acts 18:23. Heb. 12:12.
Heb. hasty. 28:16. 32:4. marg. Ps. 116:11. Hab. 2:3. i Josh. 1:6,7. 1 Chr. 28:20. Dan. 10:19. Hag. 2:4. Eph. 6:10. 2 Tim. 2:1.
k 41:10-14. 43:1-6. 54:4,5.
of the blind shall be Zeph. 3:16,17. Rev. 2:10.
125:9. 26:20,21. 34:8. 40:9,10. 52:7-10.61:2. 66:15. Deut. 32:35-43. Ps. 50:8. Hos. 1: 7. Zech. 2:8-10. Mal. 3:1. Matt. 1:21-23. Heb. 9:28. 10:$7,38. Jam. 5:7-9. Rev. 1:7. 22:20.
m 29:18. 32:3,4. 42:6,7,15. 43:8. Ps. 146:8. Matt. 9:27-30.11. 3-5, 12:22. 20:30-34. 21:14. Mark 8:22-25. Luke 4:18. John 9:1-7,39. 11:37. Acts 9: 17,18.26:18. Eph. 1:17,18.5:14.
possess their portion for ever and ever.-Let us likewise observe how the evidence of our holy religion is continually accumulating, as one prophecy after another is accomplished: until the full completion of these awful scenes will introduce more happy days; for which we should hope without fainting, and "pray without ceasing," and exert all our ability and influence to forward and promote.
NOTES.