Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; [so] the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. Ver. 1. _Ask you of the Lord rain_] Ask it and have it; open your mouths wide, and he will fill them. "Seek ye the Lord, till he come and r... [ Continue Reading ]
For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because [there was] no shepherd. Ver. 2. _For the idols have spoken vanity_] _q.d._ Therefore ask good things at God's... [ Continue Reading ]
Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle. Ver. 3. _Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds_] _Pastores Impostores; _ the greedy priests and false... [ Continue Reading ]
Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together. Ver. 4. _Out of him came forth the corner_] _Angulus,_ not _Angelus,_ as some Vulgate Latin translations have it: and a Lapide justly finds fault with it. A like fault Surius and C... [ Continue Reading ]
And they shall be as mighty [men], which tread down [their enemies] in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the LORD [is] with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded. Ver. 5. _And they shall be as mighty men_] Or, as giants, as Gabriels, they shall be str... [ Continue Reading ]
And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I [am] the LORD their God, and will hear them. Ver. 6. _And I will strengthen the house of J... [ Continue Reading ]
And [they of] Ephraim shall be like a mighty [man], and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see [it], and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD. Ver. 7. _And they of Ephraim shall be as a mighty man_] The same again, and in the same words, for more assuranc... [ Continue Reading ]
I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased. Ver. 8. _I will hiss for them and gather them_] As a shepherd hisseth or whistleth for his flock. See Judges 5:16, where it should not be translated the bleatings of the flocks, but the... [ Continue Reading ]
And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again. Ver. 9. _And I will sow them among the people_] Scatter them indeed, but for an excellent purpose, that they may bring forth fruit to God; and be a blessed mea... [ Continue Reading ]
I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and [place] shall not be found for them. Ver. 10. _I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt_] Whither they fled for fear of the Babylonians,... [ Continue Reading ]
And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away. Ver. 11. _And he shall pass through the sea, &c._] Who shall? The people,... [ Continue Reading ]
And I will strengthen them in the LORD; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the LORD. Ver. 12. _And I will strengthen them in the Lord_] That is, in Christ, the head of the Churches; "for by his own strength shall no man prevail," saith holy Hannah, 1 Samuel 2:9, and "without me ye c... [ Continue Reading ]