Bible Commentaries

Behold, the LORD maketh the ^a earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad its inhabitants.

(a) This prophecy is as a conclusion of that which has been threatened to the Jews and other nations from the 13th chapter and therefore by the earth he means those lands which were named before.

And it shall be, as with the people, so with the ^b priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of interest, so with the giver of interest to him.

(b) Because this was a name of dignity it was also applied to them who were not of Aaron's family, and so signifies also a man of dignity, as in (2 Samuel 8:18) ; (2 Samuel 20:25) ; (1 Chronicles 18:17) and by these words the prophet signifies a horrible confusion, where there will be neither religion, order nor policy, (Hosea 4:9).

The earth ^c also is defiled under its inhabitants; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.

(c) That is, does not give her fruit for the sin of the people, whom the earth deceived of their nourishment because they deceived God of his honour.

Therefore hath the ^d curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell in it are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are ^e burned, and few men left.

(d) Written in the law, as in (Leviticus 26:14) ; (Deuteronomy 28:16) thus the prophets used to apply particularly the menaces and promises which are general in the law.

(e) With heat and drought, or else that they were consumed with the fire of God's wrath.

The city of ^f confusion is broken down: every house is shut up, that no man may enter.

(f) Which as it was without order so now should it be brought to desolation and confusion: and this was not only meant of Jerusalem, but of all the other wicked cities.

[There is] a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the ^g mirth of the land is gone.

(g) Because they did not use God's benefits correctly their pleasures would fail, and they would fall to mourning.

When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, [there shall be] ^h as the shaking of an olive tree, [and] as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done.

(h) He comforts the faithful, declaring that in this great desolation the Lord will assemble his Church which will praise his Name, as in (Isaiah 10:22).

They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the LORD, they shall cry aloud from ⁱ the sea.

(i) From the utmost coasts of the world, where the gospel will be preached as in (Isaiah 24:16).

From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, [even] glory to the ^k righteous. But I said, ^l My leanness, my leanness, woe to me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously.

(k) Meaning to God, who will publish his gospel through all the world.

(l) I am consumed with care, considering the affliction of the Church, both by foreign enemies and domestic. Some read, My secret, my secret: that is, it was revealed to the prophet, that the good would be preserved and the wicked destroyed.

And it shall come to pass, [that] he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the ^m windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake.

(m) Meaning that God's wrath and vengeance would be over and under them, so that they would not escape no more than they did at Noah's flood.

And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the LORD shall ⁿ punish the host of the high ones [that are] on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.

(n) There is no power so high or mighty, but God will visit him with his rods.

And they shall be gathered together, [as] prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be ^o visited.

(o) Not with his rods as in (Isaiah 24:21) but will be comforted.

^p Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign on mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.

(p) When God restores his Church, the glory of it will so shine, and his ministers (who are called his ancient men) that the sun and the moon will be dark in comparison to it.