Woe to them [that are] at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, [which are] named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came! Ver. 1. _Woe to them that are at ease in Zion_] That lie sleeping on both sides (_In utramvis aurora dormiunt_), and slighting the former menaces,... [ Continue Reading ]
Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines: [be they] better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border? Ver. 2. _Pass ye unto Calneh and see_] Take a voyage to and a view of those most famous bordering cities,... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near; Ver. 3. _Ye that put far away the evil day_] Woe to you that would do so if you could; that fondly persuade yourselves there is no such danger in evil doing as the prophets pretend: but that all shall be hail and well w... [ Continue Reading ]
_That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall;_ Ver. 4. _That lie upon beds of ivory_] Which was a commodity far fetched (even out of India), and dearly bought; precious and sumptuous, Ezekie... [ Continue Reading ]
That chant to the sound of the viol, [and] invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David; Ver. 5. That chant (or quaver) to the sound of the viol] That sing division with much variation of their voices, and many distinctions of diverse tones, modulations fractions. _Particularizant,_ they... [ Continue Reading ]
That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. Ver. 6. _That drink wine in bowls_] _Non in scyphis, cyathis, aut calicibus,_ not in cups, pots, or chalices, but in vessels of price, and of largest receipt, that they m... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive, and the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed. Ver. 7. _Therefore now shall they go captive with the first_] Heb. in the head of those that go captive: as they have been first in the degrees of honour and of si... [ Continue Reading ]
The Lord GOD hath sworn by himself, saith the LORD the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein. Ver. 8. _The Lord God hath sworn by himself_] Heb. by his soul, which is himself; since whatsoever is in God is... [ Continue Reading ]
And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die. Ver. 9. _And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men, &c._] That is, many, as Zec 8:23 Leviticus 26:26, because ten is the utmost of single number: _q.d._ though a considerable company escape the enemy, yet... [ Continue Reading ]
And a man's uncle shall take him up, and he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him that [is] by the sides of the house, [Is there] yet [any] with thee? and he shall say, No. Then shall he say, Hold thy tongue: for we may not make mention of the name of the... [ Continue Reading ]
For, behold, the LORD commandeth, and he will smite the great house with breaches, and the little house with clefts. Ver. 11. _For, behold, the Lord commandeth_] Calamities, and they come; the Chaldeans, and they are at hand with their battle axes, but it is he that gives them their commission, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Shall horses run upon the rock? will [one] plow [there] with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock: Ver. 12. _Shall horses run upon the rock_] Is it possible they should do so and not first break their hoofs, and then their necks? will the rider th... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought, which say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength? Ver. 13. _Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought_] In the creature, saith a Lapide, which is a mere nothing: in your wealth and strength (called horns in the next clause), which are an uncertainty, a... [ Continue Reading ]
But, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel, saith the LORD the God of hosts; and they shall afflict you from the entering in of Hemath unto the river of the wilderness. Ver. 14. _But, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, &c._] Which shall be a cooler to your coura... [ Continue Reading ]