Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because [there is] no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. Ver. 1. _Hear the word of the Lord_] This is the beginning of a new sermon, or judicial act of God against th... [ Continue Reading ]
By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. Ver. 2. _By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing_] Heb. to swear, and lie, and kill, and steal, and commit adultery. To do all this is held, _licitum et solenne,_ lawful,... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away. Ver. 3. _Therefore shall the land mourn_] Here the Lord proceeds to give sentence; and it is dreadful... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people [are] as they that strive with the priest. Ver. 4. _Yet let no man strive nor reprove another_] Let him not lose so much good labour, and spill so many sweet words upon this people; for they are grown uncounsellable, incurable, incorrigible... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother. Ver. 5. _Therefore shalt thou fall_] How could they do otherwise that were a nation so incorrigibly flagitious, so unthankful for mercies, so impatient of remedies, so incapa... [ Continue Reading ]
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. Ver. 6. _My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge_] "My people" (the... [ Continue Reading ]
As they were increased, so they sinned against me: [therefore] will I change their glory into shame. Ver. 7. _As they were increased_] _sc._ in number, wealth, and honour. Their prosperity undid them, they flourished at this time in court and country, they waxed fat and kicked. The priests are here... [ Continue Reading ]
_They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity._ Ver. 8. _They eat up the sin of my people_] That is, the sin offerings, as Exodus 29:14. This they might lawfully do, Leviticus 6:16; Leviticus 6:18; Leviticus 6:23; Leviticus 6:26; Leviticus 6:29,30; Leviticus 10:17. B... [ Continue Reading ]
And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings. Ver. 9. _And there shall be like people like priest_] _i.e._ they shall share alike in punishment, as they have done in sin; neither shall their priesthood protect them, any more than... [ Continue Reading ]
For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD. Ver. 10. _For they shall eat and not have enough_] Only they shall be filled with their own ways, Proverbs 14:14, but that is but to feed upon the wind w... [ Continue Reading ]
Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart. Ver. 11. _Whoredom and wine and new wine have taken away the heart_] _i.e._ Have robbed my people of themselves, and laid a beast in their room. Any lust allowed and wallowed in will eat out the heart of grace; and, at length, all grace out of the... [ Continue Reading ]
My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused [them] to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God. Ver. 12. _My people ask counsel at their stocks_] That is, at their images, which are here called stocks in contempt,... [ Continue Reading ]
They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof [is] good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery. _Ver. 13 They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people [that] doth not understand shall fall._ Ver. 14. _I will not punish your daughters when they commi... [ Continue Reading ]
Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, [yet] let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth. Ver. 15. _Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend_] Lest if God lose his glory among them too, he lose it altogether. Judah... [ Continue Reading ]
For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place. Ver. 16. _For Israel slideth back, as a back sliding heifer_] _Iuvenea petulca,_ as an unruly heifer, which kicketh against the milk pail, and wriggleth against the yoke. As a mad cow, δαμαλις π... [ Continue Reading ]
Ephraim [is] joined to idols: let him alone. Ver. 17. _Ephraim is joined to idols, let him alone_] Ephraim, that is, the ten revolted tribes, who are called Ephraim in opposition to Judah: 1. Because that tribe was the greatest of the ten; 2. Jeroboam, the ringleader of that revolt, was of that tri... [ Continue Reading ]
Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers [with] shame do love, Give ye. Ver. 18. _Their drink is sour_] That is, they are past grace, and it is now past time a day to do them good: for thou seest how the matter mends with them, even as sour ale mends in summer: and... [ Continue Reading ]
The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices. Ver. 19. _The wind hath bound her up in her wings_] The evil spirit (saith Jerome) hurries them towards hell, which is the just hire of the least sin; how much more of these afore mentioned abominations!... [ Continue Reading ]