_THE LAND OF ISRAEL IS COMFORTED, BOTH BY THE DESTRUCTION OF THE HEATHEN, WHO SPITEFULLY USED IT, AND BY THE BLESSINGS OF GOD PROMISED UNTO IT. ISRAEL WAS REJECTED FOR THEIR SIN, AND SHALL BE RESTORED WITHOUT THEIR DESERT. THE BLESSINGS OF CHRIST'S KINGDOM._ _Before Christ 587._... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE THE ENEMY HATH SAID— This prophesy is a continuance of that preceding. The Idumeans had made their boast, that they should become masters of the mountainous parts of Judaea, where the ancient fortresses were placed, which commanded all the rest of the country. See Lowth and Calmet.... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE THEY HAVE MADE YOU DESOLATE, &C.— _Because the residue of the nations, which surround you, gape ever you, since you were laid waste, that you may become their possession; and ye are,_ &c. Houbigant. The meaning of the last phrase in the verse is, "Your calamities have made you become a prove... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, &C.— We may point thus: _Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my fury. Because ye have borne the reproach of the nations, therefore,_ &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THEY ARE AT HAND TO COME— _For these things are about to happen in a short time._ "The time of the deliverance of my people approacheth." There can be no doubt that, though this prophesy may have an immediate reference to the return of the Jews from Babylon; yet it has a farther reference to the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL MULTIPLY MEN UPON YOU— _I will cause that you may abound with a multitude of men from the whole house of Israel; that the cities may be inhabited, and the waste places built._ Houbigant.... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE, &C.— _The Lord was with them, yet are they driven out of his land._ Houbigant. As much as to say, "See what profligate wretches these are, who call themselves by the name of God's peculiar people; when it is evident that they are not so, by his having expelled them for their cr... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I HAD PITY— _I will therefore spare, for mine holy name, which the house of Israel hath,_ &c. Houbigant.... [ Continue Reading ]
I DO NOT THIS FOR YOUR SAKES— It cannot be denied, that it became the goodness of the God, to preserve the doctrine of the unity amidst an idolatrous world. But this could not have been effected according to God's plan of governing the moral world, but by a separation of one part from the rest; nor... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL SANCTIFY MY GREAT NAME— "I will give illustrious proofs of my power and goodness, and vindicate my honour from the reproaches wherewith it has been blasphemed among the heathens, because of your evil doings." This refers to the restoration of the Jews from Babylon; and it is observable, t... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN WILL I SPRINKLE CLEAN WATER, &C.— The prophets generally borrow their images from the ceremonies of the Jewish religion, to convey an idea either of the detestable wickedness of the Jews, or of their amendment, as in this passage. Hence likewise the Jews derived their opinion of the Messiah; th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND CAUSE YOU TO WALK IN MY STATUTES— "By preventing you with my grace, and inspiring you with a love for that which is good, which shall enable you to surmount your propensity to that which is evil. I will aid you with the succour of my grace, that you may thereby keep my judgments and do them.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THE HOLY FLOCK— The sheep and the lambs designed for the sacrifice at the three solemn festivals was very numerous, and at the same time the best of their kind. This also refers to Gospel-grace and blessings: and this whole prophesy will be fully accomplished at the general conversion and final r... [ Continue Reading ]