_I saw_ Namely, in a vision or ecstasy; _the Lord_ That is, the glory
and majesty of the Lord, as Isaiah did, Isaiah 6:1, or a bright
glorious light, indicating the presence of God; _standing upon the
altar_ Resting upon, or over the altar. The altar of burnt-offering
seems to be meant here, and the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Though they dig into hell_, &c. Here the subject is enlarged upon to
impress it more deeply on the minds of all that read or hear it.
Though they hide themselves in the deepest holes or caverns of the
earth, (see Isaiah 2:10,) or take refuge in the highest fortresses,
they shall not escape my venge... [ Continue Reading ]
_And_ Or, _for, the Lord toucheth the land, and it shall melt _ The
least token of God's displeasure is sufficient to put the whole frame
of nature out of order. See the margin. And when God's hand is visibly
stretched out against a people, they become altogether dispirited; the
stoutest men lose th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Are ye not as the children of the Ethiopians_, &c. The prophet, to
take away from the Israelites their false confidence, that the Lord
was too much interested in their preservation to permit their total
ruin, says, that in consequence of their idolatry and other sins, they
were no more esteemed by... [ Continue Reading ]
_The eyes of the Lord are upon the sinful kingdom_ See Amos 9:4.
_Saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob_ God still
promises to preserve a remnant in the midst of his heaviest judgments,
that he may perform the promises made to their fathers. _Lo, I will
sift the house of Israel a... [ Continue Reading ]
_In that day_ In this and the following verses, to the end of the
chapter, we have a most consolatory conclusion of this prophecy in
sundry evangelical promises, after so many very severe and sharp
menaces. The phrase, _in that day_, signifies here the same as
_afterward_, or, _after this_, for so S... [ Continue Reading ]
_That they may possess the remnant of Edom_ This the restored Jews did
in the time of Hyrcanus, when they made an entire conquest of Edom, as
Josephus relates. _And of all the heathen_ (or nations) _which are
called by my name_ Or rather, _which have been called by my name;_ for
so it is rendered in... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold the days come_ Here we have another promise, literally to be
understood of the abundant plenty which God would bestow on the
returned captives, and mystically of the abundant grace given and
blessings conferred in gospel days. _That the ploughman shall overtake
the reaper_ He who breaks up t... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will bring again the captivity of my people_ I will restore them to
their own country, and settle them in it. See the following verse, and
notes on Isaiah 11:12; and Ezekiel 28:25. _They shall build the waste
cities_, &c. Compare the texts referred to in the margin. This and the
following part of... [ Continue Reading ]