men came from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, even eighty men, having their beards shaved and their clothes torn, and having cut themselves, with meal offerings and frankincense in their hand, to bring them to the LORD’s house.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 5. Rent, as people mourning. Lit. “dirty.” Hebrew and Septuagint “cut.” Bible. Calmet. 16:6. Leviticus 19:28.—Lord, Masphath, were people performed their devotions, as well as they could. Judges 20:1 and 1 Maccabees 3:46. Jeremias had probably ordered an altar to be erected, as Samuel had done. 1 Kennicott. 7:6. Calmet.—Others think that these people went thither for a priest, to offer what they had brought on the altar of Jerusalem. Baruch 1:10. Tirinus.—Masphath lay to the south. Calmet.—It seems many of the people about Samaria were true believers, and even more affected at the destruction of the temple. Bible.—Their city had been demolished by Salmanasar ( Calmet.) long before, and many fresh inhabitants introduced, who adhered to idols. Bible.