Geneva Study Bible For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water, For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the rod {a} and the staff, the whole support of bread, and the whole support of water,
(a) Because they trusted in their abundance and prosperity he shows that they should be taken from them. The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient, The mighty man, and the man of war, {b} the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient,
(b) The temporal governor and the minister. The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counseller, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator. The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the skilful craftsman, and the {c} eloquent orator.
(c) By these he means that God would take away everything that was of any value, and which they had any opportunity to want in themselves. And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them. And I will give {d} children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.
(d) Not only in age: but in manners, knowledge and strength. And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable. And the people shall be {e} oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the elder, and the base against the honourable.
(e) For lack of good regiment and order. When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand: When a man shall {f} take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand:
(f) He shows that this plague will be so horrible that contrary to the common manner of men, who by nature are ambitious, no one will be found able or willing to be their governor. In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people. In that day shall he {g} swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people.
(g) Fear will cause him to forswear himself, rather than to take such a dangerous charge upon himself. For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory. For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory.
The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves. The {h} show of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe to their soul! for they have rewarded evil to themselves.
(h) When God examines their deed on which they now set an impudent face, he will find the mark of their impiety in their forehead. Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. {i} Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
(i) You that are godly be assured that God will defend you in the midst of these troubles. Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him. Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths. As for my people, {k} children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they who lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.
(k) Because the wicked people were more addicted to their princes than to the commandments of God, he shows that he would give them such princes, by whom they would have no help, but that they would be manifest tokens of his wrath, because they would be fools and effeminate. The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people. The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.
The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses. The LORD will enter into judgment with the {l} elders of his people, and with their princes: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.
(l) Meaning that the rulers and governors had destroyed his Church and not preserved it, according to their duty. What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts. What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, {m} and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
(m) That is, you show all cruelty against them. Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet: Moreover the LORD saith, {n} Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with {o} extended necks and {p} wanton eyes, walking and {q} mincing as they go, and making a {r} tinkling with their feet:
(n) He means the people because of the arrogancy and pride of their women who gave themselves to all wantonness and dissolution. (o) Which declared their pride. (p) As a sign that they were not chaste. (q) Which showed their wantonness. (r) They delighted then in slippers that creaked or had little plates sewn on them which tinkled as they went. Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts. Therefore the LORD will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts.
In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon, In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon,
The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,
The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings, The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,
The rings, and nose jewels, The rings, and nose jewels,
The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins, The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins,
The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails. The mirrors, and the fine linen, and the turbans, and the {s} veils.
(s) In rehearsing all these things particularly he shows the lightness and vanity of such as cannot be content with comely apparel according to their degree. And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty. And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.
Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war. Thy men shall fall by the {t} sword, and thy mighty in the war.
(t) Meaning that God will not only punish the women but their husbands who have permitted this dissoluteness and also the commonwealth which has not remedied it. And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground. And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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