1The distress of the times. 2The succeeding blessings and security of Christ's kingdom.
1AND 1in that day 2seven women shall 3take hold of one man, saying, We will eat 4our own bread, and wear our own apparel: 5only let us be called by thy name, 6to take away 7our reproach.
1 Namely, after the aforementioned calamities, whereof, among others, there is a notable example, 2 Chron. 28:6, 8. Others join this verse to the previous chapter.
2 That is, many women. From this may be gathered that but few men would be left alive. See Isa. 3:25.
3 That is, shall seek to be married.
4 The sense is: Whereas men are wont to maintain their wives, we will earn our own bread and our own apparel, thou shalt not need to take care of us, we will take care for our own livelihood.
5 Hebr. let thy name be called upon us, as Gen. 48:16. The sense is: Let us have the name only that we are your wives.
6 Hebr. snatch, or, gather our reproach. See Psalm 26 on verse 9.
7 Namely, that reproach, that we would live and die without children. See Gen. 30:23; Luke 1:25.
28In that day shall the 9branch of the LORD 10be beautiful and glorious, and 11the fruit of the earth shall be 12excellent and comely 13for them that are escaped of Israel.
8 Namely, after the aforementioned calamities; or, after those things shall be fulfilled what God has threatened. This is added here for the comfort of the people. See Isa. 1:26.
9 Namely, Jesus Christ. Compare Isa. 11:1; Jer. 23:5; 33:15; Zech. 3:8; 6:12, with the annotations.
10 That is, it shall bring beauty or glory.
11 That is, Christ, Who shall be made Man, and be born of the virgin Mary here on earth, when the stem of Jesse or of David shall be cut down to the very root, Isa. 11:1.
12 Or, for eminence, or, for highness. The prophet foretells here that Christ shall not only be excellent and comely in and for Himself, but also for His church, whom He shall make partaker of His heavenly beauty, after that Israel would be fallen into oppression and contempt. See the Song of Solomon speaking at different places of the excellence and comeliness of the bride.
13 Hebr. to the escaping of Israel, that is, to them who would escape the aforementioned punishment.
3And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, 14shall be called holy, even every one 15that is written 16among the living in Jerusalem:
14 Hebr. holy shall be said unto him. Compare Isa. 5:20; that is, he shall be counted and esteemed holy before God by reason of the merits of Christ.
15 Namely, by God. Other, every one that is written unto life, shall be at Jerusalem, namely, in the spiritual Jerusalem or the congregation of believers. See of this phrase Exod. 32:32; Philip. 4:3. See the annotations at Psalm 69 on verse 28.
16 Namely, unto life eternal, in the book of life; for, here is spoken of the elect children of God. See Acts 13:48; Gal. 4:26; Heb. 12:22.
4When the Lord shall have washed away 17the filth 18of the daughters of Zion, and 19shall have purged 20the blood 21of Jerusalem 22from the midst thereof 23by the spirit of judgment, and 24by the spirit of burning.
17 Or, dung. Hebr. issue. It signifies all manner of filth that goes from a man, as Prov. 30:12. Yet here is spoken of the filth of sin.
18 That is, of the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
19 Or, have driven away, washed away, dried off.
20 Hebr. bloods. Understand here the manifold bloodsheds, which were committed within Jerusalem, and the authors thereof; and understand further under this term or notion all the sins and iniquities of the people. See Psalm 51:14.
21 That is, of the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
22 Namely, the city of Jerusalem.
23 By the Spirit, Who is zealous to punish the wicked, and to cleanse and purge the elect unto salvation.
24 Or, by the off-burning spirit. Hebr. by the spirit of burning, or, of heat, or, of taking away.
5And the LORD will 25create 26upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a 27cloud and 28smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all 29the glory shall be a defence.
25 That is, He will defend and protect the godly, as He did the Israelites in former times, when they came forth out of Egypt, and marched through the wilderness. See Exod. 13:21; 14:19.
26 That is, upon all the congregations of believers. The prophet uses in this and the following verse many rhetorical or figurative phrases.
27 That is, a cloud, as black or dark as smoke. See Exod. 13:21.
28 That is, a cloud, as black or dark as smoke. See Exod. 13:21.
29 Namely, in the sight of God, that is, upon all the godly, who are made glorious by the fellowship and communion which they have with God.
6And 30there shall be a tabernacle 31for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from 32storm and from rain.
30 The prophet intimates in these words that the Lord will be unto His children as an hut and a place of shadow.
31 That is, to make a shade.
32 Or, overflowing stream, that is, calamities, judgments, and plagues.