CHAP. XXXIV. V. 1–5. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref .)- Notes , 32:4,5. Ez . 24:1,2.) Zedekiah was at this time assured by the prophet, who was sent to him expressly with this message from God, that he should be taken prisoner and carried captive, notwithstanding all his efforts to defend himself, or to escape by flight; that he should see the king of Babylon, and hear his words; and that he should go to Babylon. ( Notes , 21:4-10. 2 Kings 25:1-7.
Ez . 12:815, υυ . 10–13. 17:15-21.) But he was also informed that he would not be slain in battle, or die a violent death; but die in peace according to the course of nature. Perhaps he was also brought to repentance, and died at peace with God.
It was, however, foretold that the Jews would shew him the same respect, which had been usually paid to the kings of Judah after their decease; and lament, that in his days the measure of their national iniquity was completed, and the family of David reduced so low; though he was not so desperately wicked, as some of his predecessors had been. ( Notes , 22: 13-19, νν . 18,19. 2 Chr . 16:13,14. 21:18--20. Lam . 4:20.)-It is not known at what time Zedekiah died.
V. 6, 7. ( Marg . Ref .) All the other fortified cities had at this time been taken by Nebu-ll
35. 10:17-20. 14:3-9. 1 Sam. 19:6-11.24:19. 26:21. Ps. 36:
seven years let ye go
3. 78:34-36. 125:5. Prov. 26: 11. Ec. 8:11. Hos. 6:4. 7:16. Zeph. 1:6. Matt. 12:43-45. Rom. 2:4,5. 2 Pet. 2:20-22. u 31:32. Ex. 24:3,7,8. Deut 5:2 9,27. 29:1. Heb. 8:10,11 x See on 7:22. 11:4,7.-Deut. 7. 8. 15:15. 16:12. 24:18. Josh. 24:17. Judg. 6:8.
y Ex. 13:3,14. Deut. 5:6. 6:12. 8:14. 13:10. Josh. 24:17. Judg. 6 : 8.
z 8,9. Ex. 21:1-4. 23:11. Deut. 15:12. 1 Kings 9:22. 2 Chr. 28:10. Is. 58:6. Am. 2:6. 8 :6.
chadnezzar. It is probable, that for delivering this message to Zedekiah, the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison. ( Note , 32:1-3.)
V. 8-11. ( Notes , Lx . 21:2-6. Lev . 25:813,39-46. Deut . 15:9,10.)-The Jews in general seem to have paid no regard to the divine law, in freeing their brethren who had become slaves, after they had served seven years. But when Jerusalem was straitened by the Chaldeans, the king, perhaps excited by Jeremiah, entered into a solemn covenant with the people, to set at liberty all their Hebrew slaves: and it was proclaimed that none of them, on any pretence, should thus illegally use the service of their brethren; and accordingly the law was in this respect complied with.
But when Pharaoh's army came out of Egypt to assist them, and the Chaldeans had left the siege of Jerusalem to go and meet them; (21.37:15.) thinking the danger was over, they impiously violated their solemn covenant, and, with the most cruel injustice, reduced to slavery the very persons, to whom they had just before given freedom. ( Marg . Ref . ) - Proclaim , &c. (S) Note , Is . 61:1-3.
Princes . (10) "The verse may be thus translated, "All the princes... consented, that every 'one should let his man-servant ... go free: they consented, I say , and let them go. " Lowth .
every man his brother an Hebrew, which 18 And I will give the men that have
hath * been sold unto thee; and when he hath served thee six years, thou shalt let him go free from thee: but your fathers hearkened not unto me, neither inclined their ear.
15 And bye were now turned, and had done right in my sight, in proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbor; and ye had made a covenant before me, in the house & which is called by my name:
16 But eye turned, and polluted my name, and caused every man his servant, and every man his handmaid, whom he had set at liberty at their pleasure, to return, and brought them into subjection, to be unto you for servants and for handmaids.
17 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ye
transgressed my covenant, which have not performed the words of the covenant which they had made before me, I when they cut the calf in twain, and passed between the parts thereof;
19 The
princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, "the eunuchs, and the priests, and all the people of the land, which passed between the parts of the calf;
20 I will even give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life: Pand their dead bodies shall be for meat unto the towls of the heaven, and to the beasts of the earth.
21 And Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes will I give into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that
have not hearkened unto me, in proclaim-seek their life, and into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, which are gone
ing liberty every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbor: behold, I pro-up from you. claim a liberty for you, saith the LORD, h to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be re- moved into all the kingdoms of the earth.
* Or, sold himself. 1 Kings |e See on 11.-1 Sam. 15:11. 21:25. Is. 50:1. Rom. 7:14- Ez. 3:20. 18:24. 33:12, 13. 17,24.
Luke 8:13-15.
f Ex. 20:7. Lev. 19:12. 17:16-19. 20:39. 39:7. 1:7,12.
Ez. Mal.
g Lev. 26:34,35. Deut. 19:19. Judg. 16,7. Esth. 7:10. Dan. 6:24. Matt. 7:2. Luke 6:37, 38. Gal. 6:7. Jam. 2:13. Rev. 16:6.
h 15:2. 21:7. 24:10. 32:24,36. 47:6,7. Ez. 14:17-21.
i See on 15:4. 24:9,10. 29:18.- Deut. 28:64.
Heb. whereupon my name is Heb. for a removing. Lam. called. See on 7:10,11. 1:8. marg.
22 Behold, I will command, saith the LORD, and 'cause them to return to this city; and they shall fight against it and take it, and burn it with fire: and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation without an inhabitant.
k Deut. 17:2. Josh. 7:11. 23: q See on 3-5.-39:6. 52:10,24 16. Hos. 6:7. 8:1. -27.2 Kings 25:12-21. Lam 4:20. Ez. 17:16.
1 Gen. 15:10,17,18. Ps. 50:5. m 10. Ez. 22:27, &c. Dan. 9: 6,8,12. Mic. 7:1-5. Zeph. 3:3,4.
n 29:2. 38:7. 2 Kings 24:12,15.
marg .
ο 4:30. 11:21. 21:7. 22:25. 38: 16. 44:30. 49:37.
p 7:33. 16:4. 19:7. 1 Sam. 17: 44,46. 1 Kings 14:11. 16:4. 21:23,24. 2 Kings 9:34-37. Ez. 29:5. 32:4. 39:17-20. Rev. 19:17-21.
r 37-5,11.
s 2 Sam. 16:11. 2 Kings 24:2,3. 2 Chr. 36:17. Is. 10:5-7. 13: 3. 37:26. 45:1-3. Am. 3:6 Matt. 22:7.
t See on 37:8-10.
u See on 21:4-10.32:29. 38:23 39:8. 52:13.
x 9:11. 33:10. 44:2-6,22. Is. 6:11. 24:12. 64:10. Ez. 33: 27,28. Mic. 7:13. Zech. 1:12. 7:14.
ken place, was a most solemn covenant made at the temple in the name of the LORD; So that the violation of it "polluted his name," and was a most atrocious act of perjury, or "taking the name of God in vain." ( Notes , Ex . 20:7. 2 Kings 11:17-20. 23:3. Neh . 9:36-38. 10:2939.) 39.
V. 17. The Lord gave and proclaimed lib erty to these dire judgments to seize upon the Jews: he cast them out of his protection, and left them exposed to every kind of misery. 'Calamities come upon men by direction and 'commission from God [to other men,] as the 'executioners of his justice.' Lowth . ( Marg . Ref . Notes , 47:6,7. Ez . 14: 13-21 , v . 21.)
V. 12-14. The law of liberating Hebrew slaves, at the end of seven years, was an express condition of the national covenant. ( Notes , Ex . 19:5. 21:2-6. 24:3-8. Deut . 15:13 -15. Neh . 5:1-5. Is . 58:5—12.) 'The seventh 'year was the year of release, ( Deut . 15:9.) con'sequently servants were to continue in service 'but six years, and at the beginning of the 'seventh were to be let go free.
"At the end 'of three years, thou shait bring forth all the 'tithe, tithe, & &c." "The third year is the year of 'tithing." ( Deut . 14:28. 26:12.) So Christ is said to "rise again after three days ," ( Mark 8:31.) 'which is elsewhere explained by his rising on 'the third day .' Lowth . It is generally supposed, that the slaves should have been set at liberty on each sabbatical year: but in that case many of them would have served far less than six years; and this is not mentioned, either in the law of liberating slaves, or in that of keeping the sabbatical year.
'The year of Jubilee 'was to be a time of general release: ... but that 'the sabbatical year was so, I see not the least | -3. 15:2-4. 21:4—7. 37:1--10. 2 Kings 25:1
V. 18, 19. (Notes, Gen. 15:9,10,17.) This ceremony of dividing the sacrifice, and passing between the parts of it, implied an imprecation on the persons covenanting, if they brake their engagement, that they might be thus cut asunder, and made a sacrifice to divine justice. V. 20-22. Marg . Ref . Notes , 7:32,33. 8:1
10,18-21.
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.
'reason to conclude; but quite the contrary.' Blayney. It is, however, likely the observation of it was commonly attended by giving liberty to slaves, as well as a release of insolvent debtors; and that the transaction here recorded was on a sabbatical year, though the calculations of learned inen on that subject are very far from satisfactory. ( Note , 2 Chr . 36:21.) V. 15, 16. The transaction, which had ta-corrections tend far more to this happy event,
In the midst of wrath the Lord remembers mercy: and whatever calamities a sinner endures through life, or however he ends his days; if he dies at peace with God, he is highly favored: and as faithful reproofs and severe