An empty vine — That hath lost its strength to bring forth fruit. Unto himself — Whatever fruit was brought forth by its remaining strength, was not brought forth to God. His fruit — When the land yielded more plentiful increase, this plenty was employed on multiplying idols. The altars — Of his ido... [ Continue Reading ]
Is divided — From God and his worship. Faulty — As this was their sin, so the effects hereof should manifestly prove them faulty. He — God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Say — See and feel. No king — Either no king at all, or no such king as we expected. What then — For kings are not able to save without the God of kings.... [ Continue Reading ]
Words — Vain words. Swearing falsely — By perjury deceiving those they treated with. A covenant — With the Assyrian king. Judgment — Divine vengeance. As hemlock — A proverbial speech, expressing the greatness of this evil.... [ Continue Reading ]
Because of the calves — Because they had sinned by these calves, therefore did this fear seize them. The people — They who dwelt at Beth — aven. That rejoiced on it — These priests formerly were fed, clothed, and enriched by this idol, this made them right glad. The glory thereof — All its credit is... [ Continue Reading ]
It — The golden calf.... [ Continue Reading ]
Is cut off — Shortly will be cut off: this prophecy probably was delivered when Samaria was besieged.... [ Continue Reading ]
The high places — The temples and altars of Baal. Of Aven — Or Beth — aven. They shall say — When this shall be brought to pass, the idolatrous Israelites shall be in such perplexity, that they shall wish the mountains and hills might fall on them.... [ Continue Reading ]
They — Probably the six hundred men who fled to the rock Rimmon. Overtake them — That fatal battle did not reach them; but now Israel shall be more severely punished.... [ Continue Reading ]
The people — The Assyrians. For their two transgressions — Perhaps, their revolt from David's house, and their idolatry.... [ Continue Reading ]
Taught — Used to, and so skilled in. Passed over — I laid some lighter yoke upon her, brought some gentle afflictions upon that people to tame them, but this hath not prevailed. Ride — I will ride on Ephraim and tame him. Shall plow — Judah tho' less sinful hath been used to harder labour; hath plow... [ Continue Reading ]
Reap — And ye shall reap in mercy. Fallow ground — Your hearts are as ground over — run with weeds, which need to be plowed and broken up, that good seed may be sowed in them. And rain — Plentifully pour out the fruits of his goodness and mercy.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye have plowed — You, O Israelites. Ye have reaped — Ye have lived in wickedness, and propagated it, and ye have met with a recompense worthy of your labour. Eaten — Fed yourselves with vain hopes. In thy way — Their way was their idolatry. Mighty men — The next lie on which they lived was the wisdo... [ Continue Reading ]
As Shalman — Probably Salmaneser. Beth — arbel — It was a city of Assyria, and gave name to a country or region in part of Assyria.... [ Continue Reading ]
Beth — el — The idolatry committed there. Do — Procure all this evil against you. In a morning — Possibly the Assyrians might assault the city towards morning and master it.... [ Continue Reading ]