Bible Commentaries

Now [is] the end [come] upon thee, and I will send my anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all ^a thy abominations.

(a) I will punish you as you have deserved for your idolatry.

An end is come, the end is come: it ^b watcheth for thee; behold, it is come.

(b) He shows that the judgments of God ever watch to destroy the sinners, who notwithstanding he delays till there is no more hope of repentance.

The ^c morning is come upon thee, O thou that dwellest in the land: the time is come, the day of trouble [is] near, and not the joyful ^d shouting upon the mountains.

(c) The beginning of his punishments is already come.

(d) Which was a voice of joy and mirth.

Behold the day, behold, it is come: the morning is gone forth; the ^e rod hath blossomed, ^f pride hath budded.

(e) The scourge is ready.

(f) That is, the proud tyrant Nebuchadnezzar has gathered his force and is ready.

^g Violence hath risen into a rod of wickedness: none of them [shall remain], nor of their multitude, nor of any of theirs: neither [shall there be] wailing for them.

(g) This cruel enemy will be a sharp scourge for their wickedness.

The time is come, the day draweth near: let not the buyer ⁱ rejoice, nor the seller ^k mourn: for wrath [is] upon all its multitude.

(i) For the present profit.

(k) For he will lose nothing.

For the seller shall not ^l return to that which is sold, although they were yet alive: for the ^m vision [is] concerning its whole multitude, [which] shall not return; ⁿ neither shall any strengthen himself in the iniquity of his life.

(l) In the year of the Jubile, meaning that none would enjoy the privilege of the law, (Leviticus 25:13) for they would all be carried away captives.

(m) This vision signified that all would be carried away, and none would return for the Jubile.

(n) No man for all this endeavours himself or takes heart to repent for his evil life. Some read, for none will be strengthened in his iniquity of his life: meaning that they would gain nothing by flattering themselves in evil.

^o They have blown the trumpet, even to make all ready; but none goeth to the battle: for my wrath [is] upon all its multitude.

(o) The Israelites made a brag, but their hearts failed them.

As for the beauty of his ^p ornament, he set it in majesty: but they made the images of their abominations [and] of their detestable things in it: therefore have I set it far from them.

(p) Meaning, the sanctuary.

And I will give it into the hands of the ^q strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a spoil; and they shall pollute it.

(q) That is, of the Babylonians.

My face will I turn also from them, and they shall pollute my ^r secret [place]: for the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it.

(r) Which signifies the most holy place, into which none might enter but the high priest.

Make a ^s chain: for the land is full of ^t bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence.

(s) Signifying that they would be bound and led away captives.

(t) That is, of sins that deserve death.

Wherefore I will bring the worst of the nations, and they shall possess their houses: I will also make the pomp of the strong to cease; and their ^u holy places shall be defiled.

(u) Which was the temple that was divided into three parts.