_Then came certain of the elders of Israel_ Men of note, that were in
office and power among the Jews. “The prophet neither tells us the
name nor the intention of these elders of Israel, nor the time when
they came to him. But the manner wherein God speaks, gives us to
understand that they came only... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the word of the Lord came unto me_ To acquaint me with the real
character of these men, and what I should say to them. _These men have
set up their idols in their hearts_ They are not only inclined to
idolatry in their hearts, but they have actually set up idols and
worshipped them. It seems, h... [ Continue Reading ]
_Say unto them_ Declare my will clearly and faithfully; _Every man of
the house of Israel_ Whoever he be, rich or poor, mighty or mean;
_that setteth up his idols in his heart_ That is attached in his heart
to any species of idolatry; _and cometh to the prophet_ As if he were
desirous to know what i... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore say, Repent_ Be truly sorry for your past sins, and give
proof of your sorrow by forsaking them, &c.; _and turn from your
idols_ Separate yourselves from them, that they may not finally and
eternally separate you from God. _And turn away your faces_ Your heart
and ways; _from all your abo... [ Continue Reading ]
_And if the prophet be deceived_ Or, _seduced._ This is to be
understood of the false prophets, whose practices are reproved
throughout the whole foregoing chapter. _I the Lord have deceived that
prophet_ I Jehovah have suffered him to be deceived; I have given him
up to _strong delusions_, as a jus... [ Continue Reading ]
_When the land_, or, _when a land sinneth_, &c. The meaning of this
and the following verses is, that when the inhabitants of a land have
filled up the measure of their iniquities, and God ariseth to execute
judgment upon them, the few righteous that are left among them shall
not be able, by their p... [ Continue Reading ]
_If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land_ We find it was
one punishment of the inhabitants of Judea, to be infested by lions
and other wild beasts. To this their neighbourhood to the deserts of
Arabia exposed them; and God, at certain times, to punish them for
their sins, either by causin... [ Continue Reading ]
_Yet, behold, therein_ In Jerusalem itself, though marked for utter
ruin; in Judea, though condemned to suffer unexampled desolations;
_shall be left a remnant_ That shall not be cut off by any of those
sore judgments before mentioned, but shall escape and be brought forth
into Chaldea, to be your c... [ Continue Reading ]