Leviathan — By this leviathan, serpent and dragon (for all signify the same thing) be understands some powerful enemy or enemies of God, and of his church or people, which may well be called by these names, partly for their great might, and partly for the great terror and destruction which they caus... [ Continue Reading ]
In that day — When this enemy shall be destroyed. A vineyard — My church and people, of red wine, of the choicest and best wine, which in those parts was red.... [ Continue Reading ]
I keep it — I will protect my church from all her enemies, and supply her with all necessary provisions.... [ Continue Reading ]
Or — Or if at any time fury seem to be in me against my people. Let him — My people. Take hold — Which he may by humble prayer not only restrain from doing him hurt, but engage to do him good.... [ Continue Reading ]
Take root — To be firmly settled in their possessions. Fruit — Their posterity shall seek habitations in other countries, and replenish them with people. But this seems to be understood of the spiritual seed of Jacob.... [ Continue Reading ]
Hath he — He hath not dealt so severely with his people, as he hath dealt with their enemies, whom he hath utterly destroyed. Of them — Of those who were slain by God on the behalf of Israel.... [ Continue Reading ]
In measure — With moderation. When — When the vine shooteth forth its luxuriant branches, he cuts them off, but so as not to destroy the vine. Contend — God is said to contend with men, when he executes his judgments upon them, Amos 7:4. Stayeth — He mitigates the severity of the judgment. In the da... [ Continue Reading ]
By this — By this manner of God's dealing with them. When — Which sin of Jacob's shall be purged, when he shall truly repent of all his sins, and especially of his idolatry. Altar — Their idolatrous altars. Possibly he may say the altar, with respect to that particular altar, which Ahaz had set upon... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet — Yet before this glorious promise be fulfilled, a dreadful and desolating judgment shall come. The city — Jerusalem and the rest of the defenced cities in the land. The habitation — The most inhabited and populous places. The calf — This is put for all sorts of cattle, which may securely feed t... [ Continue Reading ]
Broken — That there may be no hopes of their recovery. Women — He mentions women, because the men would be destroyed. Not understanding — They know not the things which concerns their peace, but they blindly and wilfully go on in sin. Therefore — Thus he overthrows their conceit that God would never... [ Continue Reading ]
Beat out — It is a metaphor from grain which was beaten out with a rod or staff, and then carefully gathered and laid up. From — From Euphrates to the Nile, which were the two borders of the land of promise. All the Israelites who are left in the land. One by one — Which signifies, God's exact care... [ Continue Reading ]
Trumpet — God shall summon them altogether by sound of trumpet, by an eminent call of his providence. He alludes to the custom of calling the Israelites together with trumpets.... [ Continue Reading ]