Now gather thyself — Since this must be done, do it quickly. O daughter of troops — Nineveh or Babylon. He — Sennacherib, or Nebuchadnezzar. They — The proud, oppressive enemy. The judge — The king. Of Israel — Not the ten tribes, though they are actually called by this name, but the two tribes that... [ Continue Reading ]
Bethlehem — Bethlehem of Judah was called Ephratah, from the fruitfulness of the land where it stood: the word whence it is derived importing fruitfulness. Art thou little — If thou art the least in other respects in this thou art honoured above them all. Ruler — King and sovereign. In Israel — Amid... [ Continue Reading ]
He — God. Give them up — To the Chaldeans. She — The daughter of Zion, compared here to a woman in travail, shall be delivered out of captivity. His brethren — The brethren of the Messiah. Those of Judah and Benjamin who were carried captive.... [ Continue Reading ]
He — The ruler, the Messiah shall stand. This posture speaks the readiness, chearfulness, and stability of Christ, his government, and kingdom. Feed — As a shepherd that diligently guides, preserves, and feeds his sheep. By the strength — By his own almighty strength. Of the name — By commission fro... [ Continue Reading ]
This man — The Messiah. The peace — Which is promised to the people of God; all their deliverances are not only for his sake, but effected by his power. Shall tread in our palaces — Which Sennacherib did in all the cities of Judah, except Jerusalem. We — Hezekiah, and with him the prophets and peopl... [ Continue Reading ]
They — The seven shepherds, and eight principal men, those great instruments of God's revenge, and his church's deliverance. Waste the land — So did Merodach Baladan, king of Babylon. The land of Nimrod — The same with the land of Assyria. The entrance — The fortified frontiers. In this manner shall... [ Continue Reading ]
As a dew — This remnant wherever they are, shall multiply as the dew that refreshes the grass, so where this remnant is, it shall be a blessing to those about them, that use them friendly. As the showers — God shall bless them by his immediate hand, as he alone, without the help of man, gives dew an... [ Continue Reading ]
As a lion — For strength and courage, which the beasts of the forest dare not oppose, and cannot resist.... [ Continue Reading ]
Thine hand — Thou people of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
I will cut off — Not in judgment, but in mercy, for there shall be no need of them, nor shall the church of God any more rely on them. Thy chariots — Chariots prepared for war.... [ Continue Reading ]
The cities — Cut off the occasion of fortifying their cities, thou shalt need no other defence than what I am to thee.... [ Continue Reading ]
I will cut off — God will in mercy to his people take away these occasions of sin.... [ Continue Reading ]
Graven images — This was verified among the Jews, who to this day hate images for divine uses, and learnt this in their captivity.... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy groves — The groves which they abused by idolatrous worship.... [ Continue Reading ]
Have not heard — In an unprecedented manner. Christ will give his Son either the hearts or necks of his enemies, and make them either his friends or his footstool.... [ Continue Reading ]