_In the last days it shall come to pass_, &c., The first three of these verses are the same as Isaiah 2:2, where see the notes. They evidently “contain a prophecy which was to be fulfilled by the coming of the Messiah; when the [believing] Gentiles were to be admitted into covenant with God, and the... [ Continue Reading ]
_In that day_ At that time; _will I assemble her that halteth _ Or, her that is weak, or bowed down; namely, the Jewish people, weakened with the hard usage of oppressing conquerors. _And I will gather her that is driven out_ Captive Judah, driven out from their own land. _And her that I have affli... [ Continue Reading ]
_And thou, O tower of the flock_ Or, of _Eder_, as Archbishop Newcome and many others translate the word, considering it as a proper name; a tower in or near Beth-lehem; see Genesis 35:21. Or, as some think, a tower near the sheep-gate in Jerusalem, (Nehemiah 3:1; Nehemiah 3:32,) put here for the wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now_ Now I have promised such great things to you, _why dost thou cry out aloud_ As a woman in the anguish of her travail? Here the Jewish people are addressed, as bewailing themselves under the miseries of their captivity. _Is there no king in thee?_ Thou hast lost the king Zedekiah, but thy God,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now also_ The time is at hand; _many nations are gathered against thee_ This may be understood of the Chaldeans and their associates, who pleased themselves with the thoughts of profaning the temple, laying waste the city of Jerusalem, and looking upon it in that condition. Or, it may be understood... [ Continue Reading ]
_Arise and thrash, O daughter of Zion_ The _daughter of Zion_ means the Jewish people, whose power and victory over their enemies are here foretold. The expressions made use of are figurative, alluding to the manner of separating the corn from the chaff in Judea, which was done chiefly by treading i... [ Continue Reading ]