CHAP. V. V. 1, 2. We are not informed, at what time this message from God was delivered: if it could be supposed to have been in the latter part of Josiah's reign, it might serve to explain the mystery of Providence, in removing so prematurely that pious king.
Yet it can scarcely be conceived, that the external conduct of the Jews was so very abandoned during his life: and therefore it may perhaps be referred to the time immediately succeeding his death, when their wickedness burst forth the more impetuously, for the temporary restraint which had been put upon it. (Note, 2 Chr . 24:17-26.)-The Lord speaks to the prophet, and a very few others who interceded for the people; and directs them to make a diligent and accurate survey of Jerusalem; of her streets, and the broad places where business was transacted, and whcre justice should have been administered; and let them see whether they could find a man, who executed justice and sought the truth: and if they could, he would for his sake pardon the city; and not bring on it those desolating judgments, which they deprecated. ( Notes , Gen. 18:23-32.
Is . 59:9-15, v. 15,16-19, ν . 16. Ez . 22:30.) Their depravity was so universal, that none could be found, who either did justice to man, or inquired after the truth and will of God. The very few persons of this character who remained, were driven into obscurity, and made afraid to shew themselves. (Notes, 1 Kings 19:10,18. Prov . 28:28.) Especially not one could be met with, among the rulers and chief priests, who acted as a pious and upright man, in the important duties of his station.
Multitudes, as avowed idolaters, sware by their idols: (7) and even the few, who professed themselves the worshippers of JEHOVAH, and sware by his name, scrupled not to commit perjury, and to use a solemn act of worship to cloke their iniquity; and hesitated not to vio
30 LORD, & are not thine eyes upon and their backslidings are increased.
the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to
return.
4 Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the Lord, nor the judgment of their God.
5 I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the Lord, and the judgment of their God: 'but these have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.
79 How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses.
8 They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbor's wife.
9 Shall I not visit for these things ? saith the Lord; " and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
6 Wherefore ma lion out of the forest 11 Ford the house of Israel and the shall slay them, and a wolf of the * even-house of Judah have dealt very treacher
ings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many,
late the vows and engagements which they had thus ratified. ( Note , 4:1,2.)
V.3-6. Undeniable facts constrained the prophet to allow, that the character of his people was such as had been described.Were not the eyes of God upon the truth? His "judgment was according to truth:" he looked on sincerity and equity with approbation, and he was concerned to maintain the cause of truth; but he could not fail to abhor the iniquity and hypocrisy which he witnessed.
It was evident, that the people despised his rebukes and corrections; and refusing to profit by them, they obstinately persisted in impenitence, and their hearts were become even harder than a rock. ( Notes , 2:26-30. 2 Chr . 28:22,23. Prov . 29:1. Is . 1:5,6. Zech . 7:11--14.) -The prophet had hoped that this was the case only of the poor, who were profane and wicked, for want of a better education and fuller instructions, and more leisure for studying the law of God.
Having therefore met with discouragement in speaking to them, he purposed to address the rich and great, whose ininds were more stored with the knowledge of God and his word, and who would better understand his instructions. But he found them even far worse: for they had altogether cast off the yoke of subjection to God; broken through all the restraints of duty, du conscience, cons
fear, and shame; and run into the most enormous impiety and iniquity: ( Note , Is . 29:9--12.) therefore their ene enemies, like lions, or wolves, (in the evening, when they are most fierce and hungry,) and leop leopards, would be let loose to besiege their cities and destroy the inhabitants:
ously against me, saith the Lord.
12 They have belied the Lord, and Heb. strong.
q 3:19. 37,38.
Hos. 11:8. Matt. 23:
x 13:27. Gen. 39:9.
11:2-4. Job 31:9. 27,28.
y 29.9.9.23:2. Lam. 4:22. Hos.
2:13. 8:13. z 44:22. Lev. 26:25. See on Deut. 32:35,43. Is. 1:24. Ez. 5:13-15. 7:9. Nah. 1:2.
a 6:4-6. 25:9. 39:8. 51:20-23. 2 Kings 24:2-4. 2 Chr. 36: 17. Is, 10.5-7. 13:1-5. Ez. 9:5-7. 14:17. Matt. 22:7. b 18. See on 4:27-30:11. 46:28. Ez. 12:16. Am. 9:3.
c 7:4-12. Ps. 78:61,62. Hos. 1 : 9.
d See on 3:6-11,20-Is. 48:8. Hos. 5:7, 6:7.
e 31. 4:10. 14:13,14. 23:14-17. 28:15-17.43:2,3. Deut, 29:19. 1 Sam. 6:9. 2 Chr. 36:16. Is 28:14,15. Ez. 12:22 -28. 13:6. Mic: 2:11. 3:11. Hab. 1:5,6. 1 John 5:10.
especially as they grew more determined in their apostacies , notwithstanding all the methods used to reclaim them. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . m-p.)
V. 7--9. Could it consist with the honor of God to pardon Israel these complicated and obstinate rebellions? ( Notes , 44:20--23, v . 22.) One generation after another grew up in idolatry, and even sware by idols, whose names they were forbidden to mention; thus giving them the honor due to the omniscient God alone. ( Notes , 1,2. 12:14--17. Ex . 23:13. Josh. 23:7. Hos . 4:15.
Zeph . 1:5.) And when the Lord, who gave them their good land, had exceedingly prospered them, they assembled by troops, not only in the temples of their idols, and for their licentious rites; but in the harlots' houses, without any regard to decency. ( Notes , Num . 25:1--3.) Their idolatry was connected with most scandalous and shameless lewdness, and their plenty led them to every kind of self-indulgence: so that, in contempt of God's ordinance of marriage, and of his holy law, they every one impetuously coveted his neighbor's wife, and sought opportunities of committing adultery with her. ( Notes , Job 24:13-17. 31:9—12.) And ought not the Lord to visit his professed people, when thus abandoned to licentiousness; and to take such vengeance on them, as would shew his entire abhorrence of their abominations?
And ought he not to be avenged of every nation, at any time, who should in such circumstances thus rebel against him? ( Marg . Ref . y, z.-.Note, 26-29, v. 29.)- Fed horses (8) Pampered stallions. Θηλυμάνεις. Sept.
f 23:17. 28:4. Ps. 10:6. 1 Thes. 5:2,3.
g 18:18. 20:8-10. 28:3. Job 6: 26. 8:2. Hos. 9:7,
h 1:9. 23:29. 28:15-17. 2 Kings 1:10-14. Hos. 6:5. Zech. 1: 6. Rev. 11:5,6,
i See on 1:15.-6:22:25:9. Deut. 28:49. Is. 5:26. 39:3.
V. 10-13. The Lord, having passed sentence on Jerusalem, commissions the Chaldeans to carry it into execution. Let them scale her walls and destroy her inhabitants; yet they should not make a full end: for a remnant would be preserved, as the seed of their church and nation in future ages. (Note, 4:19-27, v. 27.) Let them demolish all her fortifications, which the Lord disowned; for they had so profaned the city and temple, that he would no longer protect them.
The whole nation had treacherously broken their covenant; and they treated his word by his prophets as a falsehood, and by their unbelief made him a liar: ( Note , 1 John 5:9,10.) thus they presumed that no evil would befal them, and that the messages of the prophets were merely as a wind, and that they had no authority from God to denounce judgments against them: nay, they imagined that the predicted calamities would fall on the prophets themselves, and not on them. ( Marg .
Ref .-- Notes , 4:10. 23:1315,33--40. 26:7-9,20--23. 29:24-32. 1 Kings 22:24-28.)-- Battlements . (10) "Her branches." הנטישות is thus rendered Is . 18:5. And by "her branches" may be understood the lesser 'cities of Judah.' Blayney.
V. 14. The effect of those threatenings, 'which are denounced by thy mouth, shall be 'as speedy and certain, as that of fire is when 'put to dry wood.... Thus Christ is described 'as having a sharp sword proceeding out of his 'mouth; because the judgments he denounces 'against the wicked are like the sentence of a judge, which is certainly followed with exe'cution.' Lowth. (Notes, 1:9,10. 23:18-20,28, 29. 28:15-17. Hos . 6:4,5.)
19 And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the LORD OUI God all these things unto us? then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land; so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours.
20 Declare this in the house of Jacob , and publish it in Judah, saying,
21 Hear now this,
o Lev. 26:16. Deut. 28:30,31, 33. Judg. 6:3,4. Is. 62:9.65: 22. Hab. 3:17,18.
p See on 2:15. 4:7,26.-Lam. 2: 2. Ez. 36:4. Zeph. 3:6.
q See on 10. 4:27. Ez. 9:8. 11: 13. Rom. 11:1-5.
r See on 2:35.-13:22. 16:10. 22: 8,9. Deut. 29:24-28. 1 Kings
O foolish people,
9:8,9. 2 Chr. 7:21,22.
s See on 2:13. - Deut. 4:25-28 28:47,48, Lam. 5:8.
t See on 4. 4:22.-8:7. 10:8. Deut. 29:4. 32:6. Ps. 94.8. Is. 6:9,10, 27:11. 44:18. Ez. 12:2. Matt. 13:13-15. John 12:40. Acts 28:26. Rom. 11:8.
ed all the former oppressors of Israel, and become exceedingly powerful.
The building bu of Babylon was begun soon after the flood; ( Notes , Gen. 10:8-12. 11:1-9.-- Mic . 5:5,6.) and we read of the Chaldeans in the book of Job, which is supposed to have been written as early as the time of Moses; ( Job 1:17.) though the Chaldean monarchy had but lately been established.-God would bring this mighty nation upon them, to inflict the vengeance predicted by Moses: ( Notes , Deut . 28:49-59.) and as they used another language, which the Jews did not understand, they would be more regardless of their complaints, and cruel in their oppressions. (Note, Is . 33:17-19.) When they opened their quivers, destruction wouk! be the certain consequence; as the opening of a sepulchre denotes that death has taken place. (Note, Ps . 5:9.) Thus the Jews would endure every misery, as far as consisted with their escaping total extirpation. ( Notes , Deut . 28:30-34.)-Some indeed suppose the words, "I will not make a full end with you," to mean, that God would still have fürther judgments in reserve for them.
"For all this his anger is not turned away; but his hand is stretched out still." (Nore, Is . 5:24,25.) In either sense it is a most remarkable prediction. The vengeance executed on the Jews, for "crucifying the Lord of glory," was far more terrible, and has been of far longer continuance, than that brought upon them by the Chaldeans: and yet "a full end has not been made" of the nation, which is at present exceedingly numerous, and is preserved distinct from other nations, no doubt for very important purposes in Providence. ( Marg . Ref . on 10. 4:27. -Notes , 30:10, 11. 46:27,28.
Is . 6:13. 65:8-10. Matt . 24:21, 22.)
V.15-18. In the preceding verse God addressed the prophet: but here he speaks by him to the people, and declares that he will V. 19. 'Those that fall under the severity of bring against them "from afar," a very power- 'God's judgments, are apt to think so favorably ful and ancient nation. ( Notes , 2 Kings 20:14, 'of themselves, as to wonder why they should 15. Is . 5:26-30, v . 26.)-Judah and Israel had 'be singled out as examples of the divine venin former times been principally oppress- 'geance, and of terror to others. And particued by the adjacent nations: but the Chaldeans 'larly the Jews thought this severe proceeding came from a great distance, having subjugat- 'scarce consistent with those many gracious
and without understanding; which have || wicked men: they lay wait as he that eyes, and see not; which have ears, and setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch hear not:
u 10:7. Deut. 28:58. Ps. 119: 120. Matt. 10:28. Luke 12:5. Rev. 15:4.
▼Ps. 119:120, Is. 66:5. Dan. 6:26.
Job 26:10. 38:10,11. Ps. 33:7. 93:3,4. 104:9. Prov. 8:29. Is. 50:2. Am. 9:6. Nah. 1:4. Mark 4:39.
y See on 5.-6:28. 17:9. Ps. 95; 10. Is. 1:5.31:6. Hos. 11:7. Heb. 3:12.
Hos. 3:5, 6:1.
'promises God had made unto their nation.' Lowth . Yet the very books of Moses, if they had been duly attended to, were fully sufficient to silence for ever this presumptuous objection. ( Marg . Ref . Notes , 2:10-13. Deut . 4: 25-28. 28:28,29. 29:19-28. 1 Kings 9:7-9.)
V. 20-25. The whole seed of Jacob cob, but especially the Jews, are here called upon to hear the rebuke of God. He had given them senses, rational powers, and abundant opportunities of information; yet they continued as senseless, as if destitute of eyes, ears, and understandings. (Notes, Is . 6:9,10. 44:18. Matt . 13 : 13-15 . Mark 8:17-21.) The restless and impetuous waves of the ocean seemed to stand
men.
27 As a cage is full of birds, & so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich
28 They are waxen fat, they shine; yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.
29 Shall I not visit for these things ? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
30A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land;
31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests || bear rule by their means; and P my people love to have it so: 9 and what will ye do in the end thereof?
e 18:22. 1 Sam. 19:10,11. Ps. 10:9,10. 64-5. Prov. 1:17,18. Hab. 1:14,15.
† Or, pry as fowlers lie in wait. f Luke 5:10.
Or, coop . Rev. 18:2.
g Prov. 1:11-13.
Hos. 12:7,8.
Am. 8:4-6. Mic. 6:10,11. Hab. 2:9-11.
h Deut. 32:15. Job 15:27,28. 21:23,24. Ps. 73:6,7,12. 119:70. Am. 4:1. Jans. 5:4,5.
i 2:33. Ez. 5:6,7. 16:47-52.1 Cor. 5:1.
k 22:16. Job 29:12-14. Ps. 72:4.82:2-4. Is. 1:23. Zech. 7:10.
1 12:1. Job 12:6. Ps. 73:12.
m See on 9.-9:9. Mal. 3:5. Jam. 5:4.
Or, Astonishment and filthi
ness.
n 2:12. 23:14. Is. 1:2. Hos. 6: 10.
o 14:14. 23:25,26. Lam. 2:14. Ez. 13:6. Mic. 3:11. Matt. 7:15-17. 2 Cor. 11:13-15.2 Pet. 2:1,2.
|| Or, take into their hands. p Is. 30:10,11. Mic. 2:6,11. John 3:19-21. 2 Thes. 2:911. 2 Tim. 4:3,4.
q 4:30,31. 22:22,23. Is. 10:3. 20: 6. 33:14. Ez. 22:14. Zeph. 2:2,3.
generally occupied in over-reaching and defrauding one another: and thus their houses were replenished with the gains of deceit, as the fowler's cage with the birds that he has ensnared. In this manner they lived in luxury and magnificence, and even surpassed in wickedness the worst of sinners in other ages and nations. Nor did the rulers redress the wrongs done to the poor, the widows, and orphans, being induced to connivance by bribes, and interested motives: yet by these means they prospered, whilst the Lord was preparing vengeance against the whole nation. ( Marg . Ref . - Note , 7-9. 9:3-6. Ps . 10:2—11, υυ . 810. 101: Prov. 1:10-14. Hos . 12:7-9. Mic. 6:
in awe of that decree, which God had given ||10-15. 7:1–4. Hab . 1:12—17, vv . 14—16. Mal .
from the beginning, to continue in perpetual force, that they should not pass the bounds of the sandy shore. (Notes, Gen. 1:9. Job 38:811. Ps . 33:7,8. 104:6-9. Prov. 8:27-30.) Yet Israel, more senseless and unruly, did not reverence the authority of God, nor tremble at his wrath; but burst all the restraints of his law, in the rebellion of their apostate hearts, and were wholly revolted and gone into idolatry, impiety, and wickedness! Neither had they understanding to consider their own interest. When they adhered to the worship of God, he gave theni seasonable rains and plentiful harvests: yet when their apostacy had caused him to withhold these good things from them, they could not be induced to return to him, in order that they might recover them. ( Notes , 3:2,3. 14:19-22. Joel 2:12-17. Acts 12:20-23, v. 20.) Fear ye not me? (22) Notes , 10:6-8. Matt . 10:27,28. Rev. 15:1-4.
3:5,6. Jam . 5:1-6.)-The last clause is very expressive in the original. "Shall not my soul avenge itself on a nation, which is like unto this? - Yet they prosper . (28) "The cause of the orphan, so as to cause it to prosper." Blayney. V. 30, 31. The most wonderful and horrible wickedness that was committed in the land, and which above all things hastened the ruin of the nation, was the combination of the false prophets and ambitious priests, to seduce the people into a presumptuous security.
The prophets accommodated their predictions to the humor of the chief priests, and the princes who were influenced by them: and thus the nation was deceived into the expectation of permanent prosperity, and submitted quietly to the despotic domination of the ungodly rulers and teachers: for they loved the flattering delusion, which encouraged them in sin; and emboldened them to despise the disagreeable messages of the true prophets. ( Notes , 23:915. 26:9-11. Is . 30:8-11. Ez . 22:25-28.34:2
V. 26-29. Men as atrociously wicked might be found among the people of JEHOVAH, as among the worst of the Gentiles. They were || 6. Mic 3:8-12.) But what would they do.
when the event should verify those dreadful denunciations, which they now treated as the effect of a gloomy imagination, or a matevolent disposition? ( Note , Is . 10:1-4. Ez . 22:14. Zech . 1:5,6.)
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.
V. 1-14.
To what an awful condition is the earth reduced by sin, when even in the cities and countries most favored with the means of grace, so few are found, who "execute judgment and seek the truth;" or who make any conscience of the most solemn oaths and sacred engagements! Alas, impiety and iniquity greatly abound in this our land: yet we may find a considerable number, who are both conscientious in their whole conduct, and steady friends to the truths of God: and for their sakes, in answer to their prayers, and by his blessing on their endeavors, we hope that the Lord will yet spare us.
It must, however, be confessed, that the more carefully we investigate the state of religion, comparing it accurarely with the standard of scripture; the worse opinion we shall generally be constrained to entertain of it: and too often we find, that an attachment to the truths, and an attendance on the most sacred ordinances of religion, are made subservient to mere secular designs. But nothing more provokes the Lord, than our multiplied perjuries, prevaricating subscriptions in sacred things, and prostituted sacramental engagements.
We are sure that "the eyes of the Lord are upon the truth:" and, believing him to be righteous in his most mysterious dispensations, we shall gradually be led to see something of the reasons of his conduct; by observing the ingratitude, perverseness, and obstinate rebellion of sinners, who harden their hearts against his mercies, rebukes, cor
will at length overtake us. And indeed how can we expect, that the Lord should always bear with us and pardon us; when our youth trained in infidelity infidelit elity and when they abuse the bounty of Providence in licentious excess, and learn early to "commit adultery, and assemble themselves by troops in the harlots' houses;" and when such num
bers, whose example should discountenance vice, not content with every other indulgence of their unbridled lusts, are "like fed horses in the morning, morning, every one neighing after his neighbor's wife?" "Shall not the LORD then visit for these things? and will not his soul be avenged on such a nation as this?"-But in general the minister of God must expect to be disregarded, when he protests against these and similar abominations, and warns ungodly men to beware of temporal judgments, and of eternal punishment.
For their presumption commonly equals their profligacy; and frequently they deem themselves entitled to the special protection of God, and deserving of his favor, notwithstanding their enormous wickedness!
We must therefore lay our account with being called misanthropes, hypocrites, or fanatics, if we faithfully "declare the wholo counsel of God." But, whilst men thus revile or ridicule those, who "speak according to the oracles of God;" they treat Him as a har , his word as an imposture, and his denunciations as a bugbear; and they will surely find at length, that the words which they despised will prove fire, to consume then as the fuel for the Lord's indignation.
V. 15-31.
Ministers are not at present authorized to predict national judgments, or to declare what instruments God intends to employ, or in what way he will punish sinners: but they are commissioned to declare, that all the prosperity
rections, and convictions. This is readily al-and confidence of the ungodly will shortly fail,
lowed to be the case of numbers in the lower orders of society, who are as profligate, as ignorant; who neither know, nor desire to be taught, the way of the Lord; and who plead their want of learning and leisure as an excuse for the most abandoned vice and impiety.
But if the faithful minister of God, discouraged by his ill-success among them, and by their unteachableness and obstinacy, should embrace some opportunity of betaking himself to those in superior stations, and such as possess authority, affluence, dignity, or learning; he will commonly have cause to mourn under still greater discouragements.
He will find their pride of superiority; their habits of being flattered, humored, and submitted to, by every one, and indulged in every thing; their infidel contempt of sacred things, which they have learned sophistically to defend; and their enmity to the truths and precepts of the gospel, which run counter to all their maxims, habits, and pursuits; to be far more insurmountable obstacles to his success, than even the ignorant profligacy of the unprincipled poor.
So that, in our land, though we have a few exceptions, to the honor of divine grace to which nothing is impossible; it may be said of most of the great and noble, that "they have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds." Nay, in one respect they are worse than the Jewish nobles: for many of them are more unacquainted with the scriptures, than the untutored multitude.
This is an alarming symptom of the decayed condition of our constitution in church and state: and as "our transgressions are multiplied, and our apostacies increased," we cannot but fear that national judgments, though mercifully retarded, VOL. IV.
and leave them in everlasting misery and despair. If men will yet inquire, "Wherefore doeth the LORD these things unto us?" let them be referred to their unnumbered iniquities, and manifold ungodliness, for an answer. And let then be reminded, that the most tremendous effects of their sins might yet be prevented, if they could but be prevailed on to use their senses, faculties, and advantages in a proper manner. But alas! for this they have no disposition; "having eyes they see not, having ears they hear not," and their rational powers leave them without understanding.
So that, whilst all nature proclaims the perfections, and obeys the mandates, of her Creator; man, when left to himself, with all his boasted powers, neither fears his wrath, regards his authority, is grateful for his mercies, nor values his favor; but his revolting and rebellious heart carries him far off from the worship and service of his Maker. And whilst the Lord, year after year, gives plenteous seasons, and "reserveth to us the appointed weeks of harvest;" men live on his bounty, and are thus emboldened to increase their transgressions against him.
Nay, when their "iniquities have turned away these good things from them." they seldom so far consider even their temporal interest, as to use any means of recovering his favor; but vent their disquietude in rebellious complaints, and bitter revilings of one another! It is notorious, that wickedness of every kind prevails among multitudes of nominal Christians, as much as among heathens; nay, that in some respects they even exceed them: so that they treat their brethren as lawful prey, and set traps and lay snares for each. other, to plunder, defraud, enslave, or murder [265