Geneva Study Bible Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it. Come near, ye {a} nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is in it; the world, and all things that spring from it.
(a) He prophecies of the destruction of the Edomites and other nations which were enemies to the Church. For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter. For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly {b} destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.
(b) God has determined in his counsel and has given sentence for their destruction. Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood. Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.
And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree. And all the host of heaven {c} shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their hosts shall fall down, as the leaf falleth from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.
(c) He speaks this in respect to man's judgment, who in great fear and horrible troubles, think that heaven and earth perishes. For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment. For my sword shall be {d} bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Edom, and upon the people of {e} my curse, to judgment.
(d) I have determined in my secret counsel and in the heavens to destroy them till my sword is weary with shedding blood. (e) They had an opinion of holiness, because they came from the patriarch Isaac, but in effect were cursed by God, and enemies to his Church as the papists are. The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea. The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of {f} lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the LORD hath a sacrifice in {g} Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Edom.
(f) That is, both of young and old, poor and rich of his enemies. (g) That famous city will be consumed as a sacrifice burnt to ashes. And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness. And the {h} unicorns shall come down with them, and the bulls with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness.
(h) The mighty and rich will be as well destroyed as the inferiors. For it is the day of the LORD'S vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion. For it is the day of the LORD's vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion.
And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch. And its streams shall be turned into pitch, and its dust into {i} brimstone, and its land shall become burning pitch.
(i) He alludes to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Ge 19:24. It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever. It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever.
But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness. But the cormorant {k} and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of {l} confusion, and the stones of emptiness.
(k) Read Isa 13:21, Zep 2:14. (l) In vain will any man go about to build it again. They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none shall be there, and all her princes shall be nothing. {m} They shall call her nobles to the kingdom, but none shall be there, and all her princes shall be nothing.
(m) Meaning, here will be neither order nor policy nor state of commonwealth. And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls. And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls.
The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest. The wild beasts of the desert shall also {n} meet with the wild beasts of the isle, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest.
(n) Read Isa 13:21. There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow: there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate. There {o} shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow: there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate.
(o) Signifying that Idumea would be a horrible desolation and barren wilderness. Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them. Seek ye out of the {p} book of the LORD, and read: no one of {q} these shall fail, none shall lack her mate: for my {r} mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.
(p) That is, in the law where such curses are threatened against the wicked. (q) That is, beasts and souls. (r) That is, the mouth of the Lord. And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it unto them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation shall they dwell therein. And he hath cast the {s} lot for them, and his hand hath divided it to them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation shall they dwell in it. (s) He has given the beasts and souls Idumea for an inheritance. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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