_THE PROPHET LAMENTETH THE INVASION OF JEWRY BY THE PERSIANS: HE
REPROVETH THEIR HUMAN WISDOM, AND WORLDLY JOY: HE PROPHESIETH SHEBA'S
DEPRIVATION, AND ELIAKIM'S SUBSTITUTION, PREFIGURING THE KINGDOM OF
CHRIST._
_Before Christ 714._... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BURDEN OF THE VALLEY OF VISION— The seventh discourse of the
second book, contained in this chapter, relates to the calamity of the
people of Jerusalem, and to the fall of Shebna. Besides the
inscription, it contains _first,_ an account of the calamity and
perturbation of the people of Jerusalem... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT AILETH THEE NOW, &C.— The former part of this discourse sets
forth the distress of Jerusalem from the Chaldees and Assyrians; and
in these verses we have, _first,_ the fate of the city; the commotion
and perturbation thereof upon the report of the hostile army
approaching to besiege it, and the... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE SAID I, LOOK AWAY— Behold the prophet here anticipating
those lamentations which he was afterwards to pour forth, and which
Jeremiah afterwards so pathetically poured forth, an eye-witness of
this calamity. See his Lamentations. The expressions here are too
strong to be applied to any othe... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ELAM, &C.— _And Elam beareth the quiver; with chariots cometh
the Syrian, and with horsemen; and Kir uncovereth the shield._ Lowth.
The second member of the first part of this prophesy begins here,
setting forth the Assyrian calamity, which was the forerunner of the
greater one described in the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE DISCOVERED, &C.— _And the barrier of Judah shall be laid
open._ Lowth. This might be rendered, "And he shall dismantle the
fortified cities of Judah." The meaning of the metaphor is, that the
fortified cities covered Judaea as with a veil. What the prophet here
expresses figuratively, is expr... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOU DIDST LOOK IN THAT DAY, &C.— Or, _And thou shalt look,_ &c.
The verbs may be rendered throughout in the future. The third member
of the former part contains the causes of these judgments; namely, the
crimes and vices of the people; and, in these verses, their
inconsideration and want of fai... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN THAT DAY DID, &C.— Or, _And in that day will,_ &c. Another
fault which the prophet imputes to the carnal Jews, is manifest and
hardened epicurism, or carnal security, founded in impious and profane
principles, by which, giving up the hopes of a better life, they
indulged themselves in the vol... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS— The other part of this discourse,
which contains the judgment upon Shebna, the overseer of the palace,
is so connected with the former, as plainly to shew that this man was
the chief and most eminent among the profane nobles of that time,
against whom the prophet de... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, &C.— Or, _Behold, the Lord will throw thee out hence with a
mighty throw,_ &c. Isaiah 22:18. _He will toss and whirl thee, as if
he were whirling a ball,_ &c. _and there_ [_shall be_] _thy glorious
chariots, O thou shame of thy Lord's house._... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE KEY OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID WILL I LAY UPON HIS SHOULDER— In
the former verses the prophet declares the investiture of Eliakim with
the office and dignities of Shebna, as well as the goodness of
Eliakim's disposition. He here says metaphorically, _that the keys of
the house of David shall be u... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL FASTEN HIM AS A NAIL— See Ezra 9:8. The word יתד
_iathed,_ rendered a _nail,_ signifies a _pole,_ or post, fixed in the
earth, in the middle of a tent, to support the top, which, being full
of hooks, serves likewise to hang vessels, garments, and the like,
upon. See Zechariah 10:4. The me... [ Continue Reading ]