_Again, in the ninth year_ Namely, of Jehoiachin's captivity, and of
Zedekiah's reign; the _word of the Lord came unto me_ Namely, in
Chaldea, where the prophet now was, and where, as the words here
evidently imply, God gave him notice, though many hundreds of miles
distant from Jerusalem, of Nebuch... [ Continue Reading ]
_Utter a parable unto the rebellious house_ Though the house of Judah
has as yet paid no due regard to what thou and the rest of the
prophets have uttered or done; nevertheless, still further represent
to them the destruction coming upon them by a symbolical action. _Set
on a pot_, &c. By the _pot_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore thus saith the Lord_ Here begins an explication of the
preceding symbolical representation; _Wo to the bloody city_
Jerusalem, which is this pot; _whose scum is therein_ Whose
filthiness, or wickedness, is not purged out of it. _Bring it out
piece by piece_ One piece after another till al... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thus saith the Lord_, &c. In this and the two following verses is
still more fully explained the meaning of the symbol of the boiling
pot, and what the fire is that made it boil. By _making the pile for
the fire great_, is signified the destruction being very great and
general. _And spice it well_... [ Continue Reading ]
_She hath wearied herself with lies_ Hebrew, תאנים, _with
vanities_, or _troubles;_ multiplying her idolatries, and seeking help
sometimes from one idol and sometimes from another, but all in vain.
The expression may also include the alliances the Jewish people
entered into, and the various arts of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke_
Behold, I take away from thee thy wife, the object of thy love and thy
affection, by a sudden stroke from my own immediate hand, that is, by
a sudden death. Observe, reader, we know not how soon the desire of
our eyes may be remo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wilt thou not tell us what these things are_ That is, what is the
meaning of thy unusual actions. They seem to make this inquiry by way
of derision and contempt. _Speak unto the house of Israel_ Now he is
commissioned to declare the meaning of what he did. _Thus saith the
Lord, Behold, I will profa... [ Continue Reading ]
_Also thou son of man, shall it not be_, &c. This question is to be
resolved affirmatively; _it shall be: in the day when I take from them
their strength_ Their walls, fortifications, and defences, with all
that is dear and valuable to them; _the joy of their glory, the desire
of their eyes_ Their k... [ Continue Reading ]