Pride — That proud and insolent kingdom. Drunkards — Having many and excellent vines among them, they were much exposed to this sin. Ephraim — Of the kingdom of the ten tribes. Who are — Who have their common abode. The head — Samaria, might well be called the head, as being seated upon a mountain,... [ Continue Reading ]
A strong one — The king of Assyria. Shall cast down — The crown of pride. The hand — By the hand of God, which shall strengthen him in this work.... [ Continue Reading ]
Trodden — The expression is emphatical; the crown which was upon their own heads, shall be trodden under the feet of others; and they, whose drunkenness made them fall to the ground, shall be trodden down there.... [ Continue Reading ]
He eateth — Which, as soon as a man sees he plucks it off, and devours it, as soon as he can get it into his hand. And so shall it be with Ephraim's glory, which his enemies shall devour greedily.... [ Continue Reading ]
In that day — When the kingdom of Israel shall be destroyed. A diadem — God shall give eminent glory and beauty, to the kingdom of Judah.... [ Continue Reading ]
To them — Who not only drive their enemies from their land, but pursue them into their own lands, and besiege them in their own cities.... [ Continue Reading ]
But — Judah is guilty of the same sins with Israel, therefore they also must expect the same calamities; of which he speaks afterward. The prophet — The teachers, who should have been patterns of sobriety to the people. They err — The prophets miscarry in their sacred employment. Stumble — The pries... [ Continue Reading ]
He — God. Them — Who is there among this people that are willing to be taught the knowledge of God? A minister may as soon teach an infant as these men.... [ Continue Reading ]
For — They must be taught like little children, because of their great dullness. Line — One line of the book after another, as children are taught to read.... [ Continue Reading ]
Another tongue — By people of a strange language, whom he shall bring among them, seeing they will not hear him speaking, by his prophets, in their own language.... [ Continue Reading ]
This — This doctrine. The rest — The only way, in which you will find rest.... [ Continue Reading ]
Here a little — As this method has been used and was altogether necessary for them; so it still is, and for the future shall be. As they were children in understanding, they shall still continue to be such; they shall be ever learning, and never come to the knowledge of the truth. That — This will b... [ Continue Reading ]
Said — In your hearts. We — We are as safe from death, and hell, or the grave, as if they had entered into covenant with us. The scourge — The judgment of God. Through — The land. For — We shall secure ourselves by lying and dissimulation.... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore — Because your refuges are so vain, and deceitful; therefore I will direct you to a surer refuge, which God hath laid in Zion. But if you despise that refuge; then know, that I will lay judgment to the line, &c. I lay — I have promised it, and will, in the fulness of time, perform it. In Z... [ Continue Reading ]
Plummet — I will execute just judgment, as it were by a line and plummet annexed to it; that is, with exactness and care: I will severely punish, and utterly destroy all who reject that stone. For the line and plummet, or the plumb — line, was not only used in erecting buildings, but also in pulling... [ Continue Reading ]
Pass over — It shall not only come to you, but it shall abide upon you; and when it hath passed over you, it shall return again to you, morning after morning; and shall follow you day and night, without giving you the least respite. The report — So dreadful shall the judgment be, that it shall strik... [ Continue Reading ]
For — For those lying refuges, to which you trust, will not be able to give you that protection, which you expect from them; no more than a man can stretch himself upon a bed that is too short for him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Perazim — Where he fought against the Philistines, 2 Samuel 5:20. Gibeon — Where he fought against the Canaanites, Joshua 10:10, &c. and afterwards against the Philistines, 1 Chronicles 14:16. Strange work — For this work of bringing total destruction upon Israel, was contrary to the benignity of hi... [ Continue Reading ]
Lest — Lest thereby you make the judgments of God sure and unavoidable. For — God hath assured me, that he will utterly destroy the people of Israel.... [ Continue Reading ]
Doth — The plowman doth not spend all his time in plowing the ground; but he has several times for several works. And so God has his times and seasons for several works, and his providence is various at several times, and towards several people. Therefore those scoffing Israelites were guilty of gre... [ Continue Reading ]
Made plain — By breaking the clods. The wheat — The best which he chuses for seed. Barley — That proportion of barley which he appointed. Place — Heb. in his border; each seed in a several place.... [ Continue Reading ]
A threshing instrument — This then was made like a sledge shod with iron, which was drawn by men or beasts, over the sheafs of corn, to bruise them, and tear the grain out of them. A wheel — A lower wheel than a cart wheel, but of the same form, upon which possibly the threshing instrument was drawn... [ Continue Reading ]
Bruised — With a threshing instrument. Break it — Understand, forever. Horses — This was another way of threshing out the corn, by driving horses, or other cattle, over the sheaves to tread it.... [ Continue Reading ]
This also — This part of the husbandman's discretion. These words contain the application of the similitude. The husbandman manages his affairs with common discretion; but God governs the world, and his church, with wonderful wisdom: he is great and marvellous, both in the contrivance of things, and... [ Continue Reading ]