Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city! Ver. 1. _Woe to her that is filthy and polluted_] Meaning Jerusalem, once a faithful city, now an harlot, Isaiah 1:21, _faedissimum prostibulum,_ of the kind of those sordid men who are called _Borboritae,_ of their miry filthiness, wh... [ Continue Reading ]
She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God. Ver. 2. _She obeyed not the voice_] _sc._ Of her teachers, nor inclined her ear to them that instructed her, as Proverbs 5:13. Hence she was so filthy and oppressive; who, if she had he... [ Continue Reading ]
Her princes within her [are] roaring lions; her judges [are] evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow. Ver. 3. _Her princes within her are roaring lions_] Roaring over the meaner sort, and tearing them with their claws. _See Trapp on "_ Mic 3:1 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Mic 3:2 _"_ _See T... [ Continue Reading ]
Her prophets [are] light [and] treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. Ver. 4. _Her prophets are light_] Rash, headlong, futilous, debauched (as the French translateth it), aerial, fantastic, weightless, worthless men, such as in whose doctr... [ Continue Reading ]
The just LORD [is] in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame. Ver. 5. _The just Lord is in the midst thereof_] The unjust princes were said to be in the midst of Jerusalem as roaring lions, Zepha... [ Continue Reading ]
I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant. Ver. 6. _I have cut off the nations_] And hanged them up in gibbets, as it were, before your eyes, for your ad... [ Continue Reading ]
I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, [and] corrupted all their doings. Ver. 7. _I said, surely thou wilt fear me_] As in a school, when one boy is whipped the rest tremble; and as in... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination [is] to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, [even] all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. V... [ Continue Reading ]
_For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent._ Ver. 9. _For then will I turn to the people a pure language_] "Then," when my sword hath rid circuit, Ecclesiastes 8:17, and been bathed in the blood of all nations... [ Continue Reading ]
From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, [even] the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering. Ver. 10. _From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia_] Heb. Of Chush, that is of Arabia Chusaea, which lay between Judea and Egypt. Confer Isaiah 18:1; Isaiah 18:7. Some understand it of Ethiop... [ Continue Reading ]
_In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain._ Ver. 11. _In that day shalt thou not be ashamed_]... [ Continue Reading ]
I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD. Ver. 12. _I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people_] Poor and therein afflicted, therefore despised. Poverty is an affliction, and makes a man trodden upon,... [ Continue Reading ]
The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make [them] afraid. Ver. 13. _The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity_] Sanctity and security are here promised to all the citi... [ Continue Reading ]
Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. Ver. 14. _Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel_] Joy is the just man's portion, which the wicked may not meddle with, Hosea 9:1. In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare or a... [ Continue Reading ]
The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, [even] the LORD, [is] in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more. Ver. 15. _The Lord hath taken away thy Judgments_] _i.e._ He hath remitted thy sins, removed thy punishments, turned again thy capt... [ Continue Reading ]
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: [and to] Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. Ver. 16. _Fear thou not_] Why shouldest thou while the King of Israel is in the midst of thee? Be of good cheer, said Caesar to the ferryman in a storm, thou canst not miscarry: _Casarem enim fers... [ Continue Reading ]
The LORD thy God in the midst of thee [is] mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. Ver. 17. _The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty_] Even the mighty strong God, Isaiah 9:6, the giant, as the word signifies, th... [ Continue Reading ]
I will gather [them that are] sorrowful for the solemn assembly, [who] are of thee, [to whom] the reproach of it [was] a burden. Ver. 18. _I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly_] Which now they cannot celebrate, as being in captivity; and are therefore in great heaviness; as... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. Ver. 19. _Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee_] Heb. Behold me; look... [ Continue Reading ]
At that time will I bring you [again], even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD. Ver. 20. _At that time will I bring you again_] And this I tell you again, that you may... [ Continue Reading ]