_The burden of the Lord_ The word _burden_ is here, as often elsewhere, equivalent to prophecy; _to Israel_ To those of all the tribes that were returned from captivity. _I have loved you, saith the Lord_ That is, in a particular and extraordinary degree; not only as men, but above the rest of men,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Edom saith, We are empoverished_, [or, _brought low,_] _but we will return and build the desolate places_ This they accordingly did, as we learn from the history of those times; and undoubtedly thought to become a flourishing people again, and to continue so. But God had determined otherwise, as is... [ Continue Reading ]
_A son honoureth his father_, &c. Since it is evident I am not only your Lord, and have a right to govern and command you by my creation of you, but also may be esteemed your Father, on account of the extraordinary benefits I have bestowed upon you, where are those proper dispositions which I might... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar_ By this seems to be meant, the bread-offering, or the cake of fine flour, which was to be offered with the continual sacrifice in the morning and evening of every day. By being _polluted_ is to be understood, that it was not such as the law required. They di... [ Continue Reading ]
_And now, I pray you, beseech God_, &c. And now I beseech you, (for you cannot deny that ye have done as I have said,) that you would supplicate God to pardon the nation in general, as well as yourselves, for what offences have been committed against his laws; for ye have been the principal cause of... [ Continue Reading ]
_For from the rising of the sun, &c., my name shall be great among the Gentiles_ You may perhaps think, if I will not accept an offering from your hands, that I shall have none; but in this you err greatly; for know that my name shall be great, or highly reverenced, among all the nations of the eart... [ Continue Reading ]
_But ye_ O priests, and the people, by your example; _have profaned it_ Namely, my great name. You have used it as a common thing, and as of no importance or consideration. _In that ye say_ Namely, by your deportment; _The table of the Lord is polluted_ Not a sacred thing, or a thing to be revered;... [ Continue Reading ]
_But cursed be the deceiver_ The hypocrite, that deceives man, and seems as if he would be glad to deceive God; the false heart, that intends one thing and pretends another, would appear to offer a sacrifice of the best, but puts God off with the worst. _Which hath in his flock a male _ A perfect ma... [ Continue Reading ]