_JERUSALEM A CUP OF TREMBLING TO HERSELF, AND A BURDENSOME STONE TO HER ADVERSARIES. THE VICTORIOUS RESTORING OF JUDAH. THE REPENTANCE OF JERUSALEM._ _Before Christ 517._ IT is not difficult to perceive, that the prophesies in this and the two following Chapter s relate to future times, and most p... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BURDEN— משׂא _massa,_ usually denotes a prophesy of a calamitous kind. But it does not always so; for sometimes it signifies simply _a prophesy,_ or revelation of some matter of importance, as Proverbs 30:1. Here however it may be fairly taken in the first sense, and rendered _a burden;_ for tho... [ Continue Reading ]
A CUP OF TREMBLING— That is, I will cause it to produce the same effect on the neighbouring nations as a cup of intoxicating liquors, which causes trembling, astonishment, and terror. See Bishop Lowth's note on Isaiah 51:21.... [ Continue Reading ]
A BURDENSOME STONE, &C.— _A stone of burden to all people: all that heave it, shall be crushed in pieces,_ &c. It was the custom among the inhabitants of Palestine, even in St. Jerom's days, to place round stones of prodigious weight in their towns, villages, and castles, wherewith the youth used to... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL SMITE EVERY HORSE, &C.— The cavalry, the elephants, the numerous armies of the enemy shall be put to flight, and defeated by a small number of foot, and those ill-armed. Instead of _people_ we may read _nations._... [ Continue Reading ]
THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM, &C.— _There is strength to me, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the Lord,_ &c. Houbigant. This passage well expresses the sentiments of the men of Judah, concerning the interest they had in the safety of Jerusalem and its inhabitants, on which their own strength a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JERUSALEM SHALL BE INHABITED AGAIN, &C.— _And Jerusalem shall again be safely inhabited in peace._ Houbigant.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THE GLORY OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID, &C.— This may be rendered, _That the glorying of the house of David, and the glorying of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, may not exalt itself against Judah._... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE THAT IS FEEBLE, &C.— _And he who had fallen among them—shall be as David,_—when he seemed to have fallen before Saul, and was compelled to hide himself in mountains and caves. The Jews are called _the house of David,_ as the Messiah himself is called _David._ See Houbigant. Calmet says, it ap... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL POUR, &C.— The Jews had stumbled, and fell at the _stone of stumbling and rock of offence,_ the Messiah in his humble appearance, as Isaiah foretold. But that no one might be surprised at this sudden change of their affairs, Zechariah tells us, they should themselves be first changed, and... [ Continue Reading ]