_Again, in the ninth year_ Namely, of Jehoiachin's captivity, and of Zedekiah's reign; the _word of the Lord came unto me_ Namely, in Chaldea, where the prophet now was, and where, as the words here evidently imply, God gave him notice, though many hundreds of miles distant from Jerusalem, of Nebuch... [ Continue Reading ]
_Utter a parable unto the rebellious house_ Though the house of Judah has as yet paid no due regard to what thou and the rest of the prophets have uttered or done; nevertheless, still further represent to them the destruction coming upon them by a symbolical action. _Set on a pot_, &c. By the _pot_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore thus saith the Lord_ Here begins an explication of the preceding symbolical representation; _Wo to the bloody city_ Jerusalem, which is this pot; _whose scum is therein_ Whose filthiness, or wickedness, is not purged out of it. _Bring it out piece by piece_ One piece after another till al... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thus saith the Lord_, &c. In this and the two following verses is still more fully explained the meaning of the symbol of the boiling pot, and what the fire is that made it boil. By _making the pile for the fire great_, is signified the destruction being very great and general. _And spice it well_... [ Continue Reading ]
_She hath wearied herself with lies_ Hebrew, תאנים, _with vanities_, or _troubles;_ multiplying her idolatries, and seeking help sometimes from one idol and sometimes from another, but all in vain. The expression may also include the alliances the Jewish people entered into, and the various arts of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke_ Behold, I take away from thee thy wife, the object of thy love and thy affection, by a sudden stroke from my own immediate hand, that is, by a sudden death. Observe, reader, we know not how soon the desire of our eyes may be remo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wilt thou not tell us what these things are_ That is, what is the meaning of thy unusual actions. They seem to make this inquiry by way of derision and contempt. _Speak unto the house of Israel_ Now he is commissioned to declare the meaning of what he did. _Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will profa... [ Continue Reading ]
_Also thou son of man, shall it not be_, &c. This question is to be resolved affirmatively; _it shall be: in the day when I take from them their strength_ Their walls, fortifications, and defences, with all that is dear and valuable to them; _the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes_ Their k... [ Continue Reading ]