And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Ver. 1. _And the word of the Lord came unto me._] This shortest chapter is added to all the foregoing as a corollary. It consisteth of a type or simile, and the application thereof. It is God's usual way, and should be ours, to teach by similitudes. Se... [ Continue Reading ]
Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, [or than] a branch which is among the trees of the forest? Ver. 2. _What is the vine tree more than any tree?_] The Jews took upon them, because a "vine brought out of Egypt," and such as God's own right hand had planted. But insomuch as they we... [ Continue Reading ]
Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will [men] take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon? Ver. 3. _Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work?_] No, hardly. It is good for nothing; no, not so much as to make a pin or a peg of to hang a hat or bridle on, because it is a sappy and brittl... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it meet for [any] work? Ver. 4. _Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel._] But then it must be taken before it be overly dry; and so Cornelius A Lapide testifieth that they burn l... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less shall it be meet yet for [any] work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned? Ver. 5. _Behold, when it was whole._] The Jews, when at best, were too too bad; a foolish people and unwise, disobedient and gainsaying all the da... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Ver. 6. _As the vine tree._] _Adaptat parabolam._ Here beginneth the apodosis or application of the parable. That which is not for... [ Continue Reading ]
And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from [one] fire, and [another] fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I set my face against them. Ver. 7. _And I will set my face aguinst them._] See Eze 14:8 Leviticus 17:10 . _ They shall go out from one fire._]... [ Continue Reading ]
And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord GOD. Ver. 8. _And I will make the land desolate._] The land itself often suffereth, _propter incolarum inemendabilem malitiam,_ "for the wickedness of them that dwell therein." Psa 107:4 Idolatry especially is... [ Continue Reading ]