Online Bible 1995 March/ROM-1025.iso/olb/gill/5_600_p.lzh/5_634.TXT

Text File | 1994-08-15 | 7KB | 128 lines

to the Lord on this errand, to get a word from him;
and by h!m had eatrested him for it, in the most sup-
pliant manner. The word from the Lord follows:
Ver. 10. If ye will still abide in this land, &c.3 In
the land of Judea, their native country, where they had
always lived, and where they continued when their
brethren were carried captive; and yet they thought
of going out of it, which the Lord knew; and therefore
to enconrage them to abide in it, and not think of de-
parting into Egypt; that if they would take up their
residence in it, and determine to continue there, he
thus promises them: then will I build you, and not pull
you down: and I will plant you, and not pluck you up;
that is, they should be firm and stable, happy and
prosperous; and abound with all kind of blessings, and
increase in numbers, wealth, and riches. The meta-
phors are taken from building houses, and planting
fields and vineyards: for I repent me of the evil that I
have done unto you; not that he had done any unjust
thing to them; or that he changed his mind concern-
ing them; but that he had compassion on them, and
would change his way and course of providence to-
wards them, according to his unchangeable will.
Ver. 11. Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of
whom ye are afraid, &c.] Lest he should revenge the
death or' Gedaliah upon them, which was a groundless
fear; see ch. xli. 18. or that they should be dealt hardly
with by him, and be cruelly oppressed, and not able
to live in subjection to him; see ch. xl. 9: be not afraid
of him, saith the Lord: who, being omniscient, knew
they were; and, being omnipotent, a greater King than
the king of Babylon, the King of king?, they had no
reason to fear any thing from him, since they were
under his protection: .for I am with you to save you,
and to deliver you from his hand; from Iris avenging and
oppressing hand; though they were not to be delivered
as yet from subjection to him, or being tributaries to
him; which they might be, and yet dwell in peace and
safety.
Ver. 12. And I will shew mercies unto you, &c.] Be-
stow blessings of goodness upon them, out of pure
mercy and compassion to them, and not according to
their merits; or I will cause others to shew mercy to
them, even the king of Babylon, as follows: God shews
mercy to men when he stirs up the compassion of
others towards them: that he may have mercy upon you;
and not avenge the death of Gedaliah, or any way
cruelly oppress them, but shew them all the fayour
they could wish for or expect under such a govern-
ment, and in such circumstances; giving them vine-
yards and fields, and allowing them to gather the fruits
of them, and enjoy them: and cause you to return to
your own land: this is said, not of the captives in Ba-
bylon, as Kimchi and Abarbinel, since these were not
to return till seventy years were ended; and when
they did, it was not by the order and direction of the
king of Babylon, but of the king of Persia: this is said
of those who, from the time that Jerusalem had been
besieged, had deserted their houses and fields, but
should have liberty to return to them; or of those
who more lately had been carried captive by Ishmael,
from the places where they had settled, but should be
returned to them again, and live peaceably and com-.
fortably there. under the government and protection of
the king of Babylon.
Ver. 13. But if ye say, we will not dwell in this land,
&c.] Or continue any longer in it, but go into Egypt :,
neither obey the voice of the Lord your God; or, so as not
to hearken to or obey, &c. {u}; for they did not say in so
many words that they would not obey the voice of the
Lord; they had promised they would; but resolving,
against Iris declared will, that they would not abide in
the !and, but go into Egypt, was interpretatively say-
ing they would not obey his voice.
Ver. 14. Saying, no, but we will go into the land of
Eg!/pt, &c.] It was all one as if they had said, no, we
will not obey the voice of the Lord to continue in our
own land; we are determined to go into Egypt, in-
duced by the following reasons: where we shall see no
war; either intestine, or with a tbreign enemy; as
both of late in their own land, and which they feared
would be again; but promised themselves exemption
from both in the land of Egypt, and therefore coveted
to dwell there: nor hear the sound of the trumpet; nei-
ther hear of wars nor rumours of wars; not the sound
of the trumpet in the armies of the enemy, or among
themselves, to gather together and prepare for battle;
or, as Jarchi thinks, the sound of the trumpet blown by
the watchman, giving notice to the people of the ap-
proach of an enemy: nor have hunger of bread; as they
had had whilst Judea was invaded and Jerusalem be-
sieged, and a foreign army in the land; and though
they had no reason to fear this now, yet they thought
they should be more out of the danger of it in Egypt, a
fruitful country, overflowed by the Nile: and there will
we dwell; in peace, prosperity, and safety: this was
their resolution, to go and abide there; and this their
confidence, that such would be their happy state.
Ver. 15. And now therefore hear the word of the Lord,
ye remnant ofJudah, &c.] A small remnant indeed, a
few that were left in the land; who ought therefore to
have admired tim distinguishing goodness of Provi-
dence in preserving them in it; where they should
have continued and made use of their privilege, to the
glory of God and their mutual good: thus saith the
Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; the Lord of armies
above and below, the Lord God omnipotent, and so
able to protect them in their land; and who had a pe-
culiar fayour to Israel, and stood in a particular rela-
tion to them, and therefore would do it, of which they
had no reason to doubt; but, disobliging him, what
judgments might. they not expect? if you wholly set
your faces to enter into Egypt: are resolved upon it,
and are actually engaged in it; turning their faces
from Judea towards Egypt, and obstinately pursuing
it, nor can be reclaimed from it: the phrase expresses
their resolution, impudence, and obstinacy: and go to
sojourn there: td be sojourners and strangers there, as
their fathers had been before; the remembrance of
which was enough to set them against going into
Egypt any more.
Ver. 16. Then it shall come to pass, &c.3 That the
several judgments following should come upon them:
that the sword, which ye feared, shall overtake you there

{u} \^emv ytlbl\^ ita ut non auscultetis, Piscator, Cocceius; ut non
obediatis, Pagninus, Schmidt; ut non audiatis, so some in Vatablus.