Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, HEAR THIS WORD ... O CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AGAINST THE WHOLE FAMILY WHICH I BROUGHT UP FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT - "against" (literally, upon) not me... [ Continue Reading ]
You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. YOU ONLY HAVE I KNOWN - i:e., acknowledged as my people, and treated with special favour (; ). Compare the use of "know," ; ; ; . THEREFORE I WILL PUNISH. The greater the privileges, the... [ Continue Reading ]
Can two walk together, except they be agreed? Here follow several questions of a parable-like kind, to awaken conviction in the people. CAN TWO WALK TOGETHER, EXCEPT THEY BE AGREED? - Can God's prophets be so unanimous in prophesying against you, if God's Spirit were not joined with them, or if... [ Continue Reading ]
Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing? WILL A LION ROAR IN THE FOREST WHEN HE HATH NO PREY? The same idea as in . Where a corrupt nation is, there God's instruments of punishment are sure also to be. The lion roars lo... [ Continue Reading ]
Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all? CAN A BIRD FALL IN A SNARE UPON THE EARTH WHERE NO GIN IS SET FOR HIM? When a bird, trying to fly upwards, is made to fall upon the earth by an earth-snare... [ Continue Reading ]
Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it? SHALL A TRUMPET BE BLOWN IN THE CITY, AND THE PEOPLE NOT BE AFRAID? When the sound of alarm is trumpeted by the watchman in the city, the people are sure to run to and f... [ Continue Reading ]
Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. SURELY THE LORD GOD WILL DO NOTHING, BUT HE REVEALETH HIS SECRET - namely, His purpose, hidden from all, until it is revealed to His prophets (cf. Genesis 18:17, "Shall I hide from Abraham that thing... [ Continue Reading ]
The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy? THE LION HATH ROARED, WHO WILL NOT FEAR? THE LORD GOD HATH SPOKEN, WHO CAN BUT PROPHESY? As when "the lion roars" (cf. ; and above), none can help but "fear," so, when Yahweh communicates His awful message,... [ Continue Reading ]
Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great tumults in the midst thereof, and the oppressed in the midst thereof. PUBLISH IN THE PALACES AT ASHDOD - as being places of greatest resort... [ Continue Reading ]
For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces. FOR THEY KNOW NOT TO DO RIGHT - their moral corruption blinds their power of discernment, so that they cannot do right (, "My people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, a... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled. AN ADVERSARY THERE SHALL BE EVEN ROUND ABOUT THE LAND. Translate, 'An adversary! (the abruptness produces a startling effect... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus saith the LORD; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch. AS THE SHEPHERD TAKETH OUT OF THE MOUTH OF THE LION TWO LEGS - a pastora... [ Continue Reading ]
Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD, the God of hosts, HEAR YE, AND TESTIFY IN THE HOUSE OF JACOB - i:e., unto the house of Jacob - i:e., against the house of Jacob. God calls on the same persons as in - namely, the pagan Philistines and the Egyptians-to witness with t... [ Continue Reading ]
That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground. THAT - rather, Since or For. This verse is not as the English version translates, the thing which the witnesses ci... [ Continue Reading ]
And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD. AND I WILL SMITE THE WINTER ... WITH THE SUMMER HOUSE - (; ). Winter houses of the great were in sheltered positions facing the south, to get all... [ Continue Reading ]