Geneva Study Bible How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street. How is the {a} gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out at the head of every street.
(a) By the gold he means the princes, as by the stones he understands the priests. The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter! The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen {b} pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
(b) Which are of small value and have no honour. Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness. Even the sea monsters {c} draw out the breast, they nurse their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the {d} ostriches in the wilderness.
(c) Though the dragons are cruel, yet they pity their young, and nourish them, which Jerusalem does not do. (d) The women forsake their children as the ostrich does her eggs, Job 39:17. The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them. The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them.
They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills. They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.
For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her. For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.
Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire: Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:
Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick. Their {e} visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.
(e) They who were before most in God's favour are now in greatest abomination to him. They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field. They that are slain with the sword are better than they that are slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for lack of the {f} fruits of the field.
(f) For lack of food they pine away and consume. The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people. The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
The LORD hath accomplished his fury; he hath poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof. The LORD hath accomplished his fury; he hath poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof.
The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem. The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem.
For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her, For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of {g} her,
(g) He means that these things are come to pass therefore, contrary to all men's expectations. They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so that men could not touch their garments. They have wandered as blind men {h} in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so that {i} men could not touch their garments.
(h) Some refer this to the blind men who as they went, stumbled on the blood, of which the city was full. (i) Meaning the heathen who came to destroy them could not abide them. They cried unto them, Depart ye; it is unclean; depart, depart, touch not: when they fled away and wandered, they said among the heathen, They shall no more sojourn there. They cried unto them, Depart ye; it is unclean; depart, depart, touch not: when they fled away and wandered, they said among the heathen, They shall no more sojourn there.
The anger of the LORD hath divided them; he will no more regard them: they respected not the persons of the priests, they favoured not the elders. The anger of the LORD hath divided them; he will no longer regard them: {k} they respected not the persons of the priests, they favoured not the elders.
(k) That is, the enemies. As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save us. As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for {l} a nation that could not save us.
(l) He shows two principal causes for their destruction: their cruelty and their vain confidence in man: for they trusted in the help of the Egyptians. They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come. They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.
Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness. Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.
The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen. The {m} breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the nations.
(m) Our king Josiah, in whom stood our hope of God's favour and on whom depended our state and life was slain, whom he calls anointed, because he was a figure of Christ. Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz; the cup also shall pass through unto thee: thou shalt be drunken, and shalt make thyself naked. Rejoice and be glad, {n} O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz; the cup also shall pass through to thee: thou shalt be drunk, and shalt make thyself naked.
(n) This is spoken by derision. The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will no more carry thee away into captivity: he will visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will discover thy sins. The punishment of thy iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he {o} will no more carry thee away into captivity: he will visit thy iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will disclose thy sins. (o) He comforts the Church because after seventy years their sorrows will have an end while the wicked would be tormented for ever. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
    |