Geneva Study Bible Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Who is this that cometh {a} from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? {b} I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.
(a) This prophecy is against the Idumeans and enemies who persecuted the Church, on whom God will take vengeance, and is here set forth all bloody after he has destroyed them in Bozrah, the chief city of the Idumeans: for these were their greatest enemies,and under the title of circumcision and the kindred of Abraham. (b) God answers them that asked this question, Who is this? etc. and says You see now performed in deed the vengeance which my prophets threatened. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? {c} Why art thou red in thy apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the wine press?
(c) Another question, to which the Lord answers. I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.
For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. For the day of vengeance is in my heart, and the {d} year of my redeemed is come.
(d) Showing that when God punishes his enemies, it is for the profit and deliverance of his Church. And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore my own {e} arm brought salvation to me; and my fury, it upheld me.
(e) God shows that he has no need of man's help for the deliverance of his, and though men refuse to do their duty through negligence and ingratitude, yet he himself will deliver his Church, and punish the enemies, Isa 59:16. And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth. And I will tread down the people in my anger, and make them {f} drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.
(f) I will so astonish them and make them so giddy that they will not know which way to go. I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses. I will {g} mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.
(g) The prophet speaks this to move the people to remember God's benefits in times past, that they may be confirmed in their troubles. For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour. For he said, Surely they are my {h} people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.
(h) For I chose them to be mine, that they should be holy, and not deceive my expectation. In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. In all their affliction he was {i} afflicted, and the angel {k} of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bore them, and carried them all the days of old.
(i) He bore their afflictions and griefs as though they had been his own. (k) Which was a witness of God's presence, and this may be referred to Christ, to whom belongs the office of salvation. But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them. But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.
Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him? Then he {l} remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them out of the sea with the {m} shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his Holy Spirit within {n} him?
(l) That is, the people of Israel being afflicted, called to mind God's benefits, which he had bestowed on their fathers in times past. (m) Meaning, Moses. (n) That is, in Moses that he might well govern the people: some refer this giving of the spirit to the people. That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name? That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?
That led them through the deep, as an horse in the wilderness, that they should not stumble? That led them through the deep, as an {o} horse in the wilderness, that they should not stumble?
(o) Peaceably and gentle, as a horse is led to his pasture. As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD caused him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name. As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD caused him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name.
Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained? {p} Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy {q} zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they {r} restrained?
(p) Having declared God's benefits showed to their forefathers, he turned himself to God by prayer, desiring him to continue the same graces toward them. (q) Your great affection, which you bore for us. (r) Meaning, from the whole body of the Church. Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting. Doubtless thou art our father, though {s} Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.
(s) Though Abraham would refuse us to be his children, yet you will not refuse to be our father. O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance. O LORD, why hast {t} thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy {u} servants' sake, the tribes of thy inheritance.
(t) By taking away the Holy Spirit from us, by whom we were governed, and so for our ingratitude delivered us up to our own concupiscence, and punished sin by sin according to your just judgment. (u) Meaning, for the covenant's sake made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob his servants. The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary. The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little {x} while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary.
(x) That is, in respect to the promise, which is perpetual: even though they had now possessed the land of Canaan for 1400 years: and thus they lament, to move God rather to remember his covenant, than to punish their sins. We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name. We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
    |