ITS REPETITION 3._If ye walk in my statutes_. We have now to deal with two remarkable passages, in which he professedly treats of the rewards which the servants of God may expect, and of the punishments which await the transgressors. I have indeed already observed, that whatever God promises us on t... [ Continue Reading ]
4._Then I will give you rain in due season_. He might in one word have promised great abundance of food, but, that His grace may be more illustrious, the instruments are mentioned which He employs for its supply. He might give us bread as He formerly rained down manna from heaven; but in order that... [ Continue Reading ]
9._For I will have respect unto you _(211) God is said to “turn Himself” to the people, whom He undertakes to cherish and preserve; just as also when He forsakes those who have alienated themselves from Him, He is said to be turned away from them. Hence the common exhortation in the Prophets, “Be ye... [ Continue Reading ]
11._And I will set my tabernacle among you_. He alludes, indeed, to the visible sanctuary in which He was worshipped; still He would shew them that it should be effectually manifested, that He had not chosen His home amongst them in vain, inasmuch as He would exert His power by sure proofs to aid an... [ Continue Reading ]
14._But if ye will not hearken unto me_. Thus far a kind invitation has been set before the people in the shape of promises, in order that the observance of the Law might be rendered pleasant and agreeable; since, as we have already seen, our obedience is then only approved by God when we obey willi... [ Continue Reading ]
15._And if ye shall despise my statutes_. This seems only to apply to ungodly and depraved apostates, who deliberately revolt from the service and worship of God: for if a person falls through infirmity, and offends from levity and inconsideration, he will not be said to have despised God’s Law, or... [ Continue Reading ]
18._And if ye will not yet for all this hearken_. The gradation of punishments, which is here mentioned, shews that they are so tempered by God’s kindness, that He only lightly chastises those whose stupidity or hardness of heart he has not yet proved; but when obstinacy in sin is superadded, the se... [ Continue Reading ]
21._And if ye walk_. Translators give various renderings of the word קרי, (226) _keri_. The Chaldee takes it to mean _with hardness_, as if it were their purpose to contend against God. Jerome renders it _ex adverso mihi_, (in opposition to me;) but, since the word signifies an accidental occurrence... [ Continue Reading ]
25._And I will bring a sword upon you_. There is no doubt but that He means the hostile swords of all the nations, whereby the Israelites were sorely afflicted; and teaches that whosoever should bring trouble and perplexity upon them were the just executioners of His vengeance; just as He constantly... [ Continue Reading ]
26._And when I have broken the staff of your bread_. By these words God implies, that although He should not punish them by the sterility of the land, still He was prepared with other means for destroying them by famine. We shall indeed see hereafter that, when God was wroth, the earth in a manner s... [ Continue Reading ]
29._And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons_. This scourge is still more severe and terrible (than the others;) (229) yet we know that the Israelites were smitten with it more than once. This savage act would be incredible; but we gather from it how terrible it is to fall into the hands of God, when... [ Continue Reading ]
34._Then shall the land enjoy her Sabbaths_. In order that the observance of the Sabbath should be the more honored, God in a manner associated the land in it together with man; for whereas the land had rest every seventh year from sowing, and harvest, and all cultivation, He thus desired to stir up... [ Continue Reading ]
39._And they that are left of you_. This is another form of vengeance, that, although they may survive for a time, still they shall gradually pine away; and this may be referred both to those who go into captivity, and to those who shall remain in the land. He had before threatened that they should... [ Continue Reading ]
40._If they shall confess their iniquity_. Although Moses has been discoursing of very severe and cruel punishments, still he declares that even in the midst of this awful severity God is to be appeased if only the people should repent, notwithstanding that they may have stripped themselves of all h... [ Continue Reading ]
43._The land also shall be left of them_. He again refers to the punishment of banishment, which is equivalent to their being disinherited; and at the same time repeats that the worship of God could not be restored in the Holy Land, until it should be purified from their defilements; yet immediately... [ Continue Reading ]