_The burden of Nineveh_ Of Nineveh, see note on Jonah 3:3. When the
prophets were sent to denounce judgments against a nation, or city,
their message, or prophecy, was usually called the burden of that
people, or place: see note on Isaiah 13:1. _The book of the vision_ As
prophets were of old called... [ Continue Reading ]
_God is jealous_ For his own glory; _and the Lord revengeth _ Or
rather, _avengeth_, namely, the cause, or ill treatment, of his
people, as being the Supreme Governor, who, by office, is bound to
deliver the oppressed, and punish the oppressor: he also vindicates
his own insulted honour. _And is fur... [ Continue Reading ]
_He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry_ The rivers and the sea itself
are dried up at his rebuke, as the Red sea and Jordan were of old; and
the most pleasant and fruitful countries, such as Bashan, Carmel, and
Lebanon, are parched up with drought when he is displeased. _The
mountains quake at him_... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord is good_ But though God is thus terrible in his power, yet
he is merciful, gracious, and beneficent in his nature, and is a sure
refuge and protection to those who worship and serve him sincerely,
and put their trust in him; and he knows and pays a particular regard
to all such, so that th... [ Continue Reading ]
_With an overrunning flood he will make an utter end_ This seems to be
spoken of Nineveh, and Bishop Newton is of opinion that the words
allude to the manner in which it was taken. “Diodorus informs us,”
says he, “that there was an old prophecy, that Nineveh should not be
taken till the river became... [ Continue Reading ]
_What do ye imagine against the Lord?_ Having declared the
dreadfulness of God's power and anger against the wicked, his goodness
toward his people, and denounced future destruction against the
Ninevites; he now expostulates with them, inquiring what it is they
design against God, and on what ground... [ Continue Reading ]
_There is one come out of thee_ Or, _one hath gone forth of thee._
This is probably meant of Sennacherib, who uttered so many reproaches
and blasphemies against the true God, one of whose royal seats was
Nineveh, and who probably went forth from thence to invade Judea. But
the term, _a wicked counse... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the Lord hath given a commandment_ God hath determined,
_concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown_ The meaning of
this seems to be, God had decreed that Sennacherib's family should not
long preserve their royal dignity. His son and successor, Esar-
haddon, was now probably at man's est... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold upon the mountains_ Which surrounded Jerusalem; _the feet of
him_ Of the messenger; _that bringeth good tidings_ Tidings that
Nineveh is destroyed; _that publisheth peace_ Deliverance from the
tyranny and oppression of the Assyrians, through the destruction of
their capital city, and the ove... [ Continue Reading ]