1The distress of Jerusalem by a siege, and the sudden destruction of the invaders by the hand of God. 9The Jews reproved for their insensibility, 13and hypocrisy, which is threatened with judgment. 17A promise of better things in succeeding times.
1WOE to 1Ariel, to Ariel, 2the city where David 3dwelt! 4add ye year to year; 5let them kill 6sacrifices.
1Ariel signifies as much as a strong lion, or a lion of God, as Ezek. 43:15, 16. But here we must understand by Ariel the altar of burnt offering in the temple at Jerusalem, yea, even the temple itself. The altar now is called a lion of God, because, like a strong lion, it devoured daily many cattle by the fire that was come down from heaven.
2 That is, the city of David, namely, the upper part or quarter of the city of Jerusalem, where David with his court resided, as also afterward other kings of Judah have done. Yet under the name of the city of David is here understood the entire city of Jerusalem, as elsewhere besides.
3 That is, lodged, kept his court.
4 This is an apostrophe or address directed to the Jews. The sense is: Keep every year your feast days.
5 Namely, the priests and Levites.
6 Or, cut off the heads of the sacrifices, or cut the throats of the sacrifices. See Exod. 23:18; the annotation at Psalm 118 on verse 27. The prophet reproves the folly of those who imagined that they had quitted themselves sufficiently before God, when they did only perform outward worship and service unto God by the offering of sacrifices, etc., supposing that by only doing this, they would henceforward go quite unpunished, because sundry years one after another were expired, and they had still escaped punishment. See 2 Peter 3:4.
27Yet 8I will distress Ariel, and 9there shall be heaviness and sorrow: 10and it 11shall be unto me as Ariel.
7 As if He said: It is in vain that ye think to appease and pacify Me with outward ceremonies. Compare Isa. 1:11.
8 That is, I shall make the altar of burnt offering to be destroyed, yea, likewise the temple.
9 Namely, among the Jews, for the breaking down of the altar of burnt offering.
10 Hebr. and it shall be unto me like Ariel, namely, that city of Jerusalem.
11 That is, I will likewise distress it, permitting it to be wasted and destroyed by the Babylonians; or, as in the temple dead animals do lie before the altar, which were slain to be sacrificed, as such shall likewise many dead bodies of the Jews, who are slain, lie in and about the city.
3And Ia will 12camp against thee 13round 14about, and will lay siege against thee 15with a mount, and I will raise forts 16against thee.
a Jer. 6:3; Ezek. 17:17.
12 Namely, the army of the Babylonians.
13 Or, in a circle. Hebr. with or as with a ball, that is, in manner or form of a ball, round about, in a circle, or in a round ring or compass.
14 Round about thee, O Jerusalem.
15 Properly: with works standing up or lifted up. Other, ramparts.
16 Or, round about thee.
4And 17thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thyb speech shall be 18low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, 19as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.
17 O city of Jerusalem, that is, ye inhabitants of Jerusalem.
b Isa. 8:19.
18 Still, low, weakly, or, thy speech shall be deep and low, as the speech of those who lie in a pit or ditch. The meaning is: thou shalt be brought to such a sad and miserable condition, as that thou shalt hardly dare speak or open thy mouth to make thy moan. Other, shall be lower than the dust.
19 Or, of a soothsaying spirit, spirit of divination. The wizards and those who, on account of the devil ask them for counsel, answer, are wont to answer them softly, and in such a way and manner as they cannot be well understood what they say, namely, with a dark and doubtful voice, as proceeding out of hollow ground. See Lev. 19 on verse 31; Isa. 8 on verse 19.
5Moreover 20the multitude of thy strangers 21shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the 22terrible ones shall be asc chaff that passeth away: yea, itd shall be at an instant suddenly.
20 These words may be taken in a twofold sense; first thus, that the words of the prophet may here be understood of the foreign soldiers who would come against the Jews; secondly, they may be understood of the foreign soldiers who were hired by the Jews to help and assist them.
21 That is, according to the opinion of those who understand this of the enemies of the Jews, in such a large number as the small, flying dust; but according to the opinion of others: It is totally of no importance, they shall be dispersed and come to nothing.
22 Or, of the tyrants.
c Job 21:18; Psalm 1:4; 35:5; Isa. 17:13.
d Isa. 30:13.
6Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts 23with thunder, and with earthquake, and 24great noise, with storm and tempest, and 25the flame of devouring fire.
23 That is, with a terrible attack and assault of the enemy, namely, of the Babylonians, who shall destroy and ruin all things. It may also be understood according to the letter.
24 That is, with a great cry of war and alarm.
25 Namely, of the adversities and plagues. See Job 15 on verse 30.
7¶And the multitude of all the nations that fight against 26Ariel, even all that fight 27against her and her munition,e and that distress her, shall be 28as a dream of a night vision.
26 See verse 1.
27 Namely, against Jerusalem.
e fortress, stronghold
28 The meaning is: It shall happen to the enemies who shall distress you, as if they dreamt of a night vision. See verse 8; Psalm 73 on verse 20.
8It shall even be 29as when an hungry man dreameth, 30and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and 31his soul is empty: or 32as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is 33faint, and 34his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight 35against mount Zion.
29 The sense is: They shall not be able to be satisfied with the horrible cruelties which they shall have committed upon you, but they shall be still greedy to commit yet more abominable villainies against you, as having not yet sufficiently wreaked their wrath upon you; all the tyranny and cruelty which they in former times practiced, shall be but as a dream in comparison of that which they intend to do yet further unto you.
30 Hebr. that behold, he eateth, but when he awaketh. Also little later again.
31 That is, he himself; properly speaking: his body. Thus the word soul is taken for body, Psalm 16:10.
32 The sense is: They shall not be able to be satisfied with the horrible cruelties which they shall have committed upon you, but they shall be still greedy to commit yet more abominable villainies against you, as having not yet sufficiently wreaked their wrath upon you; all the tyranny and cruelty which they in former times practiced, shall be but as a dream in comparison of that which they intend to do yet further unto you.
33 Or, weary, that is, thirsty. See Psalm 63 on verse 1; Isa. 32:2.
34 That is, he himself; properly speaking: his body. Thus the word soul is taken for body, Psalm 16:10.
35 That is, against Jerusalem.
9 ¶ 36Stay 37yourselves, and 38wonder; 39cry ye out, and 40cry: 41they 42are drunken, but 43not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.
36 Namely, to believe the words of the prophets, and to mend their lives.
37 Namely, the wicked Jews.
38 Ye religious and godly ones.
39 Or, take your pleasure, and riot; that is, they give themselves to all pleasures and delights.
40 Namely, unto the Lord, that He be favorable and merciful unto you.
41 Namely, the wicked Jews.
42 The meaning is: they are so partial and self-conceited, as if they were void of all understanding, wisdom and prudence, not willing to entertain or follow the advice and counsel of the prophets.
43 But with a spirit of giddiness, which has blinded their understanding.
10For the LORD hath 44poured out upon 45you 46thef spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed 47your eyes: 48the prophets and 49your rulers, 50the seers hath he 51covered.
44 Hebr. mingled.
45 O ye wicked Jews.
46 So that you neither feel nor esteem it, though they threaten and preach to you long and often.
f Rom. 11:8.
47 Namely, the eyes of your understanding.
48 Namely, the false prophets.
49 That is, your regents.
50 See 1 Sam. 9 on verse 9.
51 Or, blinded. Hebr. covered, namely with darkness, that is, with blindness of mind. Compare Isa. 25:7.
11And 52the vision of all is become unto you 53as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one 54that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:
52 That is, all the predictions and prophecies of the true prophets whom God sent unto you. Or, the vision of all.
53 That is, hidden, unknown. See Isa. 8 on verse 16.
54 Hebr. that knoweth letters, or writing, or a book. The meaning of this 11th and the 12th verse is: that neither the learned nor the unlearned would understand the predictions or prophecies of God published and preached by the prophets.
12And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.
13¶Wherefore the Lord said, 55Forasmuchg as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and 56their fear 57toward me is taught by the precept of men:
55 Such were in Christ’s time the pharisees and scribes, yea also the greatest part by far of the people. Therefore Christ applies this speech or saying unto them, Mat. 15:8; Mark 7:6.
g Mat. 15:8; Mark 7:6.
56 Hebr. their fear on or towards me.
57 That is, which they serve Me.
14Therefore, behold, 58I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: forh the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men 59shall be hid.
58 Or, I will henceforth deal wonderfully with this people.
h Jer. 49:7; Obadiah verse 8; Mat. 11:25; 1 Cor. 1:19.
59 That is, it shall not serve them in any way at all.
15Woe unto them 60that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Whoi seeth us? and who knoweth us?
60 That is, who think that God sees them not, but that their devices are hid from Him. Or thus: that hide their counsel deep from the Lord.
i Psalm 94:7.
16Surely 61your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: forj shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?
61 Namely, that you pervert the nature of things, desiring as we say, to lord it or play the master above God, whereas thou art but His creature. Other, O your perverseness! Shall the potter be esteemed like unto the clay? Namely, which neither does, nor understands anything. If the clay denies that it is formed by the potter, and that he understands anything, then the potter is esteemed as the clay. The sense is: In that you have such an opinion of your own dexterity, craftiness and subtlety, as if you were able to deceive even God the Lord and were able to hinder and frustrate His purpose, is that not as senseless as if the clay could exalt itself against the potter to dispute with him, and to control him for not doing his work well?
j Isa. 45:9.
17Is it not yet a very little while, 62and Lebanon shall be turned 63into a fruitful field, and 64the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?
62 The meaning is: Barren places shall become fruitful. And on the contrary, etc. The spiritual meaning is: The wild, truculent hearts of the elect Gentiles shall in Christ’s time grow fruitful, that is, they shall be born again by the Holy Ghost; and on the contrary, the hearts of the wicked Jews, who by reason of their hypocrisy seem to be fruitful, shall be hardened and grown wild.
63 Or, Carmel. See the annotations at 2 Kings 19:23; Jer. 2 on verse 7.
64 Or, Carmel. See the annotations at 2 Kings 19:23; Jer. 2 on verse 7.
18¶And in that day shall 65thek deaf 66hear the words 67of the book, and the eyes 68of the blind shall see 69out of obscurity, and out of darkness.
65 The healing of this deafness and blindness may in the first place have respect to the miracles of Christ upon the bodies of men, Mat. 11:5, but it has special respect to the spiritual illumination or enlightening, of which is the sense: that those who were formerly incapable to hear the Word of God, shall be made capable, by the power of the Holy Ghost, to understand the mysteries of salvation.
k Mat. 11:5.
66 That is, understand.
67 Namely, of the Holy Scripture, as Psalm 40:7; Heb. 10:7. See verses 11 and 12.
68 See the 65th annotation.
69 That is, being enlightened by the Spirit of God.
19The 70meek also shall 71increase their joy 72in the LORD, and 73the poor among men shall rejoice 74in the Holy One of Israel.
70 See Psalm 10 on verse 17.
71 Hebr. add unto joy.
72 That is, because of the saving knowledge of the Lord.
73 That is, the poor in spirit, Mat. 5:3.
74 That is, in God, Whom the people of God do hallow and honor. See Psalm 71 on verse 22.
2075For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and 76all that watch for iniquity are cut off:
75 That is, when the wicked Jews shall be cut off. Other, For the tyrant shall have an end, etc.
76 That is, all who are diligent to commit iniquity.
21That make a man 77an offender 78for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth 79in the gate, and turn aside the just 80for a thing of nought.
77 Hebr. cause him to sin, or make him a sinner, that is, accuse him, as if he had committed a great offence.
78 Not being able to endure that their sin would be seriously reproved. This is fulfilled in our Savior Christ Jesus and in His apostles.
79 That is, in judgment (see the annotations at Gen. 22:17; 34:20). Or, in the gate, that is, openly in the public assembly; see Amos 5:10. Other, and lay snares for him in the gate that reproveth them, that is, seek his destruction by false accusations.
80 Where they can find no food or relief, and where all things are dreadful and terrible. The sense is: which by their false accusation cause the righteous to be condemned in judgment, and to be scattered to misery and calamity. Other, for a thing of nought.
22Therefore thus saith the LORD, who 81redeemed Abraham, 82concerning the house of Jacob, 83Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax 84pale.
81 Namely, from idolatry. See Gen. 12:1; Joshua 24:2, 3.
82 Or, unto the house of Jacob, that is, concerning the posterity of Jacob. Understand the godly and devout Jews, or the church.
83 The Jews, being now turned unto God, and having amended their lives; or the church in general.
84 Namely, through shame or fear.
23But when 85he seeth 86his children, 87the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, 88they shall 89sanctify my name, and sanctify 90the Holy One of Jacob, and shall 91fear the God 92of Israel.
85 Namely, Jacob, that is, Jacob’s house, or the church, as in the previous verse.
86 Which shall be born unto him by the preaching of the Holy Gospel.
87 The children whom I shall have be born again, and as created anew by the Holy Ghost. See Isa. 19:25; Eph. 2:10; Heb. 2:10.
88 Namely, the posterity of Jacob.
89 That is, laud and praise.
90 That is, the true God, Whom Jacob has praised and magnified.
91 Or, respect, that is, show honor.
92 That is, of the Israelites.
24They also that erred in spirit 93shall come to understanding, and 94they that murmured 95shall learn doctrine.
93 Hebr. shall know understanding.
94 Who murmur against God and His prophets on account of the calling of the Gentiles. Compare Mat. 20:11; Luke 15:28; Rom. 10:19.
95 Or, shall suffer themselves to be instructed. Hebr. shall learn instruction. See Job 11 on verse 4.