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How the gold has become dim! The most pure gold has changed! The stones of the sanctuary are poured out at the head of every street.
Verse 1. Colour. Hebrew “gold.” Septuagint “silver;” ( Bible.) denoting the patriarchs, (Theod.) chiefs, (Vatab.) or ornaments of the temple. Calmet.—It had formerly glittered with gold; now there was nothing but smoke and ruins. Worthington.
The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how they are esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
Verse 2. Best. Hebrew “gold of Phaz,” in Colchis. Genesis 2:11. Calmet.—In Solomon’s reign, they powdered their hair with gold dust. Jos. Ant. viii. 7.—Vessels. Isaiah 30:14.
Even the jackals offer their breast. They nurse their young ones. But the daughter of my people has become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.
Verse 3. Sea-monsters. Lit. Lamia. Hebrew Tannim. Bible.—The lamia has a face like a woman, and a body like beasts; and is cruel, yet feeds its young. Worthington.—The fabulous lamia is supposed to destroy all children, (Diod. Sic. xx. Ovid. Fast. vi.) and cannot be meant. But the sea dog, though most cruel will not neglect its young ones. Calmet.—Ostrich. Hebrew henim, ( Bible.) “swans.” Isaiah 13:21. Job 29:14. The ostrich is said to break some of its eggs. Elian iv. 37.)—Swans do the like, and devour their young; for which reason they are hated by the Indians. Elian xiv. 3.—Septuagint “their young (drajohs) have suckled the daughters of my people, so that they can find no remedy, like,” and so forth Bible.—Though the ostrich has wings it never flies, but dwells in desert places. Such is the condition of the Israelites. Theodoret.—The ostrich forsakes its eggs. Worthington.—All are solicitous for themselves.
The tongue of the nursing child clings to the roof of his mouth for thirst. The young children ask for bread, and no one breaks it for them.
Those who ate delicacies are desolate in the streets. Those who were brought up in purple embrace dunghills.
Verse 5. Scarlet. Lit. “yellow;” croceis. Bible.—Hebrew means purple. Those who have been educated in the most delicate manner, are forced to feed on the most disgusting things. 4 Kennicott. 6:25 and 18:27. Deuteronomy 28:54.
For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown as in a moment. No hands were laid on her.
Verse 6. In her. Sodom was destroyed by God. Her temporal misery was short. Bible.—Jerusalem was exposed to greater afflictions ( Calmet.) here, ( Bible.) and her ingratitude and abominations were greater. Ezekiel 16:46.
Her nobles were purer than snow. They were whiter than milk. They were more ruddy in body than rubies. Their polishing was like sapphire.
Verse 7. Old ivory. Whiteness shews its age. Pliny iii. 8.—As it grows old it turns yellow, and loses much of its value. But the ancients had the art of dyeing it scarlet. Æneid xii. Iliad iv. Ovid ii. Am. v. Calmet.—Hebrew poninim may signify ( Bible.) “pearls,” the shells of which are stained with a delicate red; though the epithet ruddy may mean “shining,” in which sense purpureus is used. Hor. iv. Od. 1.—The complexion of the Nazarites was fair, with a mixture of red. Song of Songs 5:10. They were probably clothed in white, and were highly respected. 1 Maccabees 2:49. Amos 2:11. Numbers 6:18. Calmet.
Their appearance is blacker than a coal. They are not known in the streets. Their skin clings to their bones. It is withered. It has become like wood.
Verse 8. Coals. Hebrew “blackness.” Septuagint “soot.” Bible.—The people were naturally brown. Fasting and distress cause them to turn black. Calmet. 5:10. Joel 2:6. Calmet.—They were so changed, that old acquaintances knew not one another. Worthington.
Those who are killed with the sword are better than those who are killed with hunger; for these pine away, stricken through, for lack of the fruits of the field.
Verse 9. For. Lit. “by the barrenness of the earth.” Bible.—Such a death was, no doubt, more painful than to perish quickly by the sword. Calmet.
The hands of the pitiful women have boiled their own children. They were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
Verse 10. Pitful. So their nature dictates. Worthington.—But hunger made them the reverse. Some think they slew their children, to prevent them being exposed to more cruel torments, ( Calmet.) as the people of Colchis do their sick. Chardin.—Sodden: boiled or roasted; coxerunt. verse 5. Deuteronomy 28:55. At the last siege of Jerusalem, this barbarity was manifested. Calmet. Jos. Bel. vii. 8. Greek 21. See Calmet. 2:20.—Daughter. So cities are styled. Worthington.
The LORD has accomplished his wrath. He has poured out his fierce anger. He has kindled a fire in Zion, which has devoured its foundations.
The kings of the earth didn’t believe, neither did all the inhabitants of the world, that the adversary and the enemy would enter into the gates of Jerusalem.
Verse 12. Believed. God had so often protected this city against Sennacherib, Holofernes, and so forth Bible.—It had been also so strongly fortified. 2 Kennicott. 5:6. Calmet.
It is because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the middle of her.
Verse 13. Priests. They too generally favoured Bible. the false prophets. Calmet. 2:26. and so forth They were judges, and condemned the innocent: or exposed ( Calmet.) the citizens to destruction, by not warning them to amend, ( Bible.) and to submit to the Chaldees. Calmet.—Impostors are called prophets, as they have the same outward appearance. Worthington.
They wander as blind men in the streets. They are polluted with blood, So that men can’t touch their garments.
Verse 14. They. Septuagint “Her guards have tottered in,” and so forth—When. Prot. “so that men could not touch their garments,” as they were defiled. Bible.—These hypocrites were afraid of touching blood, as they observed external ceremonies, while they disregarded the spirit of religion.
“Go away!” they cried to them. “Unclean! Go away! Go away! Don’t touch! When they fled away and wandered, men said among the nations, “They can’t live here any more.”
Verse 15. Depart. They were not ashamed to speak thus to others, or the citizens address the priests contaminated with blood. Even the Chaldees looked upon the Jews with abhorrence, as an abandoned people.—For they. Hebrew “but they understood not, and wandered about. They, ( Calmet.) the Gentiles, said.” Bible.
The LORD’s anger has scattered them. He will not pay attention to them any more. They didn’t respect the persons of the priests. They didn’t favor the elders.
Verse 16. They, the Jews; or rather the prophet thus describes the Chaldees. Calmet. 5:12. Deuteronomy 28:50.
Our eyes still fail, looking in vain for our help. In our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save.
Verse 17. Save. The Egyptians attempted it in vain. Calmet. 34:8 and 37:10.
They hunt our steps, so that we can’t go in our streets. Our end is near. Our days are fulfilled, for our end has come.
Verse 18. Streets. There were enemies within as well as without. Calmet.
Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the sky. They chased us on the mountains. They set an ambush 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 will live among the nations.
Verse 20. Christ, and so forth According to the letter, is spoken of their king, who is called the Christ; that is, the anointed of the Lord. But is also relates in the spiritual sense to Christ our Lord, suffering for out sins. Challoner. Isaiah 53:5. Saint Augustine de Civ. Dei. xviii. 33.—It literally speaks of Josias, or of Sedecias. Worthington.—Josias was slain by the Egyptians. Saint Jerome in Zac. xxii.—But Sedecias seems chiefly to be meant. The people were much attached to him, though he was wicked; and they expected that he would have rescued them from the power of the Chaldees, as his league with the neighbouring Gentiles ( Calmet.) seemed to insure, ( Bible.) if they had proved faithful. Calmet.—But all was useless against the Lord. Bible.
Rejoice and be glad, daughter of Edom, who dwells in the land of Uz. The cup will pass through to you also. You will be drunken, and will make yourself naked.
Verse 21. Rejoice. Edom had manifested her joy at the misfortunes of Juda. The prophet hints at this with a cutting irony. Psalms 136:7. Obadiah 11.—Come, as at a feast. Edom was visited five years after the Jews. Calmet. 49:7.—Naked. Septuagint “and shalt pour it out,” ( Bible.) or vomit. Calmet. Grot.
The punishment of your iniquity is accomplished, daughter of Zion. He will no more carry you away into captivity. He will visit your iniquity, daughter of Edom. He will uncover your sins.
Verse 22. Accomplished, and sufficiently punished by exile. Calmet. 50:20. Isaiah 40:2.—Discovered. Genesis 44:16 and 3 Kennicott. 17:18. Calmet.—In vain wouldst thou hid them. Bible.