When they — The captives who still continued in Babylon. The house of God — The temple, which now half built began to be frequented. Regem — melech — It appears not who these were, but no doubt they were eminent in dignity and piety. Their men — The train of friends that accompanied them. To pray —... [ Continue Reading ]
The prophets — Haggai and Zechariah. Weep — Fast, in remembrance of the burning of the temple on the tenth day of that month. Separating myself — From worldly cares and designs.... [ Continue Reading ]
Unto all the people — By their messengers. And seventh — For the murder of Gedaliah, slain by Ishmael. Even to me — You pleased yourselves in it, not me; you wept more for the inconveniences of the thing than the sinfulness of it.... [ Continue Reading ]
For yourselves — I was as little minded by you in your fasts, as in your feasts.... [ Continue Reading ]
Hear the words — You needed not have thus enquired, had you heeded the written word. Prophets — Who have called for repentance, and sincere love to God, and man, and shewed how light, formal services are. Prosperity — Did such observances preserve Jerusalem in its prosperity? Were they sufficient to... [ Continue Reading ]
Spake — To your fathers.... [ Continue Reading ]
Imagine evil — Neither think ill of, or with ill to, nor plot evil against one another.... [ Continue Reading ]
Pulled away — Withdrew their shoulder from the yoke of the law.... [ Continue Reading ]
In his spirit — By his holy spirit.... [ Continue Reading ]
They laid the land desolate — By their sins.... [ Continue Reading ]