_The burden of Nineveh_ Of Nineveh, see note on Jonah 3:3. When the prophets were sent to denounce judgments against a nation, or city, their message, or prophecy, was usually called the burden of that people, or place: see note on Isaiah 13:1. _The book of the vision_ As prophets were of old called... [ Continue Reading ]
_God is jealous_ For his own glory; _and the Lord revengeth _ Or rather, _avengeth_, namely, the cause, or ill treatment, of his people, as being the Supreme Governor, who, by office, is bound to deliver the oppressed, and punish the oppressor: he also vindicates his own insulted honour. _And is fur... [ Continue Reading ]
_He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry_ The rivers and the sea itself are dried up at his rebuke, as the Red sea and Jordan were of old; and the most pleasant and fruitful countries, such as Bashan, Carmel, and Lebanon, are parched up with drought when he is displeased. _The mountains quake at him_... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord is good_ But though God is thus terrible in his power, yet he is merciful, gracious, and beneficent in his nature, and is a sure refuge and protection to those who worship and serve him sincerely, and put their trust in him; and he knows and pays a particular regard to all such, so that th... [ Continue Reading ]
_With an overrunning flood he will make an utter end_ This seems to be spoken of Nineveh, and Bishop Newton is of opinion that the words allude to the manner in which it was taken. “Diodorus informs us,” says he, “that there was an old prophecy, that Nineveh should not be taken till the river became... [ Continue Reading ]
_What do ye imagine against the Lord?_ Having declared the dreadfulness of God's power and anger against the wicked, his goodness toward his people, and denounced future destruction against the Ninevites; he now expostulates with them, inquiring what it is they design against God, and on what ground... [ Continue Reading ]
_There is one come out of thee_ Or, _one hath gone forth of thee._ This is probably meant of Sennacherib, who uttered so many reproaches and blasphemies against the true God, one of whose royal seats was Nineveh, and who probably went forth from thence to invade Judea. But the term, _a wicked counse... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the Lord hath given a commandment_ God hath determined, _concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown_ The meaning of this seems to be, God had decreed that Sennacherib's family should not long preserve their royal dignity. His son and successor, Esar- haddon, was now probably at man's est... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold upon the mountains_ Which surrounded Jerusalem; _the feet of him_ Of the messenger; _that bringeth good tidings_ Tidings that Nineveh is destroyed; _that publisheth peace_ Deliverance from the tyranny and oppression of the Assyrians, through the destruction of their capital city, and the ove... [ Continue Reading ]