1God is to be sought unto, and not idols. 3As he visited his flock for sin, so will he save and restore them.
1ASK1 ye of the LORD rain in the time of 2the latter rain; so the LORD shall make 3bright clouds, and give 4them showers of 5rain, to every one grass in the field.
1 The sense is: If ye want anything, make your address unto the LORD for it by your prayers; whether it is rain, for the growth and increase of your fruits, or whatever else it may be, but do not run unto the idols, as your fathers have done, and were punished for it by Me.
2 Of the latter rain see Deut. 11 on verse 14, and compare Zech. 8:12; Hag. 1:10; 2:18. See also Prov. 16:15; Joel 2:23.
3 Or, squall of rain, splashing rain, rain like clouds. See Job 38:25.
4 Namely, those who shall pray Him for it. Here is a change of person, them for you, or, unto you.
5 Hebr. rain of the squall of rain, or, rain, yea, squall of rain; also stated in Psalm 40:2 of the miry clay, for thick mire.
26For the idols have spoken vanity, and the divinersa7have seen a lie, and have told falseb dreams; they comfort in vain: 8therefore 9they 10went their way as a flock, 11they were troubled, because there was 12no shepherd.
6 Or, Verily, surely, the idols, etc. Hebr. teraphims. Here the reason is given why the godly ought to address God for what they stand in need, namely, because the idols are nothing but vanity. See Psalm 115:3, 4, etc. See also Jer. 10:8; Hab. 2:18. Of the teraphim see Gen. 31 on verse 19.
a predictor using magic, etc.*
7 This is here as much to say: have prophesied or foretold, namely, by the mouth of their prophets.
b Prov. 5:6.
8 Namely, because they honored the images and believed the soothsayers.
9 Namely, the Jews, your fathers.
10 Namely, into the Babylonian captivity.
11 Or, they have openly confessed, or said, that they had no shepherd.
12 Neither priests nor governors heeded their offices, nor took any course to draw away the people from that idolatry. Compare Jer. 23:1; Ezek. 34:2; Mat. 9:36.
3Mine anger was kindled against 13the shepherds, and I 14punished 15the goats: for the LORD of hosts 16hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath 17made them 18as his goodly horse in the battle.
13 Spoken of in verse 2.
14 Namely, in My wrath.
15 That is, governors, or the rich and mighty ones, as Isa. 14:9; Ezek. 34:17; Dan. 8:5.
16 That is, after He shall have chastened His people, He shall thus equip them as a fair and garnished horse, that is, He shall give them heart and courage to resist and subdue their enemies. Spiritually understood, this signifies that God endues and strengthens His church with the power of His Holy Spirit, that they become sufficiently able to withstand valiantly the devil and all their other enemies, and to trample them under foot, Rom. 16:20.
17 That is, hath equipped.
18 That is, as His glorious and garnished horse, upon which He trusts His own person in the battle or war.
419Out of him came forth 20the corner, out of him 21the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him 22every oppressor together.
19 From or out of the house of Judah, that is, out of the same church God shall provide His people with advocates. Other, From him, namely, from the Lord, that is to say, unto protection of His people.
20 Or, the cornerstone. See Zeph. 1 on verse 16, the annotation; 3:6. The rulers of the people are likewise called in 1 Sam. 14:38; Isa. 19:13 corners.
21 Or, pin, namely, such wherewith they used to pitch and fasten their tents; by this is signified the chief ruler, as Isa. 22:23, 25, but here especially captain, as is plain by the sequel.
22 Hebr. all or every driver.
5¶And 23they shall be as mighty men, 24which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the LORD is with them, and 25the riders on horses 26shall be confounded.
23 Namely, they of the house of Judah and all true members of the church; for, these words suit well with which is stated in verse 3.
24 Other, which shall trample their enemies in the battle, as the mire of the street.
25 That is, the enemies of God’s church, although they were so well horsed and armed for the battle.
26 That is, shall be disgraced.
6And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will 27save 28the house of Joseph, and 29I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them.
27 Or, deliver, as Zech. 9:16.
28 Understand hereby first of all the ten tribes and thereafter all true Israelites, who shall be gathered together into the church of Christ.
29 The Hebrew verb here seems to be made one from two melted together, signifying: I shall set them in and bring again. Other, I will set them (or, cause to dwell) quietly.
730And they of Ephraim shall be 31like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall 32see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice 33in the LORD.
30 Other: And the Ephraimites shall be as a valiant man.
31 That is, valiant and cheerful. Compare Psalm 78:9, etc.
32 That is, behold, hear and take notice of it with gladness.
33 On account of the Lord, namely, because of His gracious protection.
8I will 34hiss for them, and gather them; 35for I have redeemed them: and 36they shall increase as they have increased.
34 That is, call and gather them into My church by the preaching of the Holy Gospel, Mat. 11:28; Mark 16:20; John 7:37. If this hissing or the calling together an assembly of God’s people is understood to withstand their enemies, then it is an argument that it is very easy for God, whenever it pleases Him, to raise and gather great hosts together. See Isa. 5 on verse 26, the annotation; 7:18.
35 Or, when I shall deliver them, namely, by the blood and Spirit of My Son Jesus Christ.
36 Or, they shall grow many or great as, etc.
9And 37I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember 38me in far countries; and they shall 39live with their children, and 40turn again.
37 That is to say, I shall cause My church, which shall be dispersed all over the world, to spread itself more and more and to be fruitful as seed sown. See Hosea 2 on verse 22. See the fulfillment in Acts 2:5; 8:1, 4; 1 Peter 1:1.
38 That is, they shall believe in Me, call upon and serve Me; yea, shall also proclaim My Name. This came to pass especially in the time of the preaching of the Holy Gospel by the apostles and their companions.
39 This is to be understood of a spiritual life; yet some take it for a happy and prosperous life here on earth.
40 Namely, unto God, by conversion, or unto their earthly possession after their deliverance out of the hand of their enemies.
1041I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; 42and place shall not be found for them.
41 The sense is: As in former times I delivered and led forth My people Israel out of Egypt and other countries, where for a long time they were kept in misery and bondage, and brought them into the land of Canaan, so will I likewise deliver My chosen people out of the blindness, idolatry and servitude of Satan, to bring them into My church, and save them everlastingly.
42 Other, but there shall not be found place enough for them, namely, to inhabit; they shall be too great in number. Of the signification of the Hebrew word see Num. 11 on verse 22, the annotation; Hosea 12:9.
11And 43he shall pass through the sea 44with affliction, and 45shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and 46the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and 47the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away.
43 Namely, the Lord Christ.
44 Hebr. he shall pass through the sea with oppression or anxiety. The sense is: He shall terrify the sea, as He formerly did to the Red Sea. See Psalm 114:3; Isa. 11:15, etc. That is, God shall open a wonderful passage for His elect to go forth out of the spiritual Egypt of this world and to enter into the heavenly Canaan. Other, And it (namely, My people) shall pass through the sea of distress, or anguish, before it shall be placed into the heavenly Canaan.
45 Namely, the Lord, Who shall take away all impediments.
46 Or, the eminence.
47 That is, government, all rule, as Gen. 49:10; for, the Assyrians and Egyptians, together with all other heathen nations, who were wont to persecute the church of God, shall subject themselves to the scepter and government of Christ.
12And 48I will strengthen them 49in the LORD; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the LORD.
48 Namely, God the Father shall strengthen my people.
49 That is, in the faith in Jesus Christ, Who is the Head of His church.