The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus [shall be] the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, [shall be] toward the LORD. Ver. 1. _The burden_] _i.e._ The bitter and burdensome prophecy. _See Trapp on "_ Mal 1:1 _"_ In the land of Hadrac... [ Continue Reading ]
And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise. Ver. 2. _And Hamath also shall border thereby_] _i.e._ Shall share in the same punishment with Damascus, and fare the worse for its neighbourhood. _ Though it be very wise_] And think to outwit the enemy, to be too hard... [ Continue Reading ]
And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets. Ver. 3. _And Tyrus did build herself a stronghold_] Thor did build herself _Matsor; _ an elegance not to be translated (such as are many in the Old Testament, but especially in Isa... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire. Ver. 4. _Behold, the Lord will cast her out_] Or, impoverish her, as some render it; that is, for her money. God can soon let her blood in the _vena cava,_ cavities of her veins, called... [ Continue Reading ]
Ashkelon shall see [it], and fear; Gaza also [shall see it], and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. Ver. 5. _Ashkelon shall see it and fear_] For, _iam proximus ardet Ucalegon,_ her next neigh... [ Continue Reading ]
And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. Ver. 6. _But a bastard shall dwell at Ashdod_] Perhaps he meaneth Alexander; who was a bastard, by his mother Olympia's confession. The Greek here hath αλλογενης, a stranger, an alien, or one of another generation... [ Continue Reading ]
And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, [shall be] for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite. Ver. 7. _And I will take away his blood out of his mouth_] That is, his bloody prey... [ Continue Reading ]
And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes. Ver. 8. _And I will encamp about mine house_] Though it be otherwise but ill fenced and f... [ Continue Reading ]
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he [is] just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. Ver. 9. _Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion_] Draw all thy waters with joy out of this well... [ Continue Reading ]
And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion [shall be] from sea [even] to sea, and from the river [even] to the ends of the earth. Ver. 10. _And I will cut off the chariot... [ Continue Reading ]
As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein [is] no water. Ver. 11. _As for thee also_] O daughter of Sion, O my Church; not, O Christ, the King of the Church, as the Greek and Latin Fathers, and after them the Popish commentators, will need... [ Continue Reading ]
Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare [that] I will render double unto thee; Ver. 12. _Turn ye to the strong hold_] _i.e._ To Christ, the Rock of Ages, Isaiah 26:4; the hope of Israel, Jeremiah 17:13; the expectation of all the ends of the earth, Luke 2:25; Luk... [ Continue Reading ]
When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man. Ver. 13. _When I have bent Judah for me_] God himself did the work, though by the sons of Zion, as his instruments whom he used, and pr... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord GOD shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south. Ver. 14. _And the Lord shall be seen over them_] Shall be conspicuous among them; he shall appear for them in the high places of t... [ Continue Reading ]
_The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, [and] make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, [and] as the corners of the altar._ Ver. 15. _The Lord of hosts shall defend them_] Heb. Shall hold his buckler o... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they [shall be as] the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land. Ver. 16. _And the Lord their God shall save them_] Not defend them only, as Lord of hosts, Zechariah 9:15, but as a further favour, save... [ Continue Reading ]
For how great [is] his goodness, and how great [is] his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids. Ver. 17. _For how great is his goodness_] He shuts up all with this sweet epiphonema or exclamation, admiring the singular goodness of God to his people in all the former... [ Continue Reading ]