Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, Ver. 1. _Hear this word that the Lord hath spoken, &c._] Here beginneth the second sermon, tending to confirm what had been affirmed in the former,... [ Continue Reading ]
You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. Ver. 2. _You only have I known_] That is, owned and honoured, called and culled, chosen and accepted to be my people, when I had all the world before me to choose in, Deuteronomy 10:14,15, a... [ Continue Reading ]
Can two walk together, except they be agreed? Ver. 3. _Can two walk together, except they be agreed_] God permits his people to walk together with him in a humble familiarity; but then they must take care that familiarity breeds not contempt; and that they conceit not that he will connive at their... [ Continue Reading ]
Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing? Ver. 4. _Will a lion roar in the forest, when, &c._] It is said of the lion, that he sets up a double roar; first, when he spies his prey, next, when he seizeth it; then, saith Plut... [ Continue Reading ]
Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin [is] for him? shall [one] take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all? Ver. 5. _Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth? &c._] Think you that all things are carried here by blind fortune, and not by a particular providence,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done [it]?_ Ver. 6. _Shall a trumpet be blown_] _sc._ out of a watch-tower in time of war, to sound an alarm, and to say, _Hannibal ad portas,_ the enemy is at hand, the Philist... [ Continue Reading ]
Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. Ver. 7. _Surely the Lord God will do nothing_] _i.e._ hardly anything. He loveth to foresignify, to warn before he wound; and this merely out of his philanthropy. Howbeit sometimes, and in some cases, h... [ Continue Reading ]
The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy? Ver. 8. _The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?_] Who that knoweth the terror of the Lord can dare to do otherwise, when he commandeth it? Shall men fear fire,... [ Continue Reading ]
Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great tumults in the midst thereof, and the oppressed in the midst thereof. Ver. 9. _Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, &c._] That is, in the courts o... [ Continue Reading ]
For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces. Ver. 10. _For they know not to do right_] They have done wrong so long together, against knowledge and conscience, that now they are given up to a reprobate sense, to an injudicious mind, εις νουν αδο... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary [there shall be] even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled. Ver. 11. _Therefore thus saith the Lord_] And he saith it in great haste and heat; as appeareth by that concise kind of expre... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus saith the LORD; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus [in] a couch. Ver. 12. _As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion_] By a coun... [ Continue Reading ]
Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD, the God of hosts, Ver. 13. _Hear ye and testify, &c._] Ye my prophets and all true believers. The Septuagint add, O ye priests, whose lips were to preserve knowledge, and to present it to the people. All that were thereunto commissione... [ Continue Reading ]
That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground. Ver. 14. _That in the day that I shall visit, &c._] Tell them so from me, saith God: say to these wicked, Woe be unto... [ Continue Reading ]
And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD. Ver. 15. _And I will smite the winter house with the summer house_] Heb. upon the summer house, I will lay them both on one heap; they shall one das... [ Continue Reading ]