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Misery is mine! Indeed, I am like one who gathers the summer fruits, as gleanings of the vineyard. There is no cluster of grapes to eat. My soul desires to eat the early fig.
Verse 1. Figs, which are the worst. Saint Jerome Saint Ambrose in Lu. vii. 3. Yet they were eagerly sought after, before the other figs came to maturity. They had escaped the rigours of winter. Such Christ ( Calmet.) seemed to expect. Mark 11:13.
The godly man has perished out of the earth, and there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; every man hunts his brother with a net.
Verse 2. Holy man. Hebrew chasid, ( Bible.) “the pious” Assidean. 2 Maccabees 14:6. The disorder of Israel was great, though some were religious. Calmet.—Such expressions only mean that few could be found, and that the far greatest number rejected the prophet’s advice. Worthington.
Their hands are on that which is evil to do it diligently. The ruler and judge ask for a bribe. The powerful man dictates the evil desire of his soul. Thus they conspire together.
Verse 3. Giving. Septuagint “speaks words of peace.” He flatters the prince, ( Bible.) and dares not oppose the unjust. Syr. “he says, bring presents.”—Troubled it; or, “have thy?” and so forth Hebrew “they confirm it.”
The best of them is like a brier. The most upright is worse than a thorn hedge. The day of your watchmen, even your visitation, has come; now is the time of their confusion.
Verse 4. Brier. Hebrew chedek, or “thorn.” Septuagint “a consuming moth.”—Inspection, or of thy chiefs ( Bible.) and prophets. Calmet.
Don’t trust in a neighbor. Don’t put confidence in a friend. With the woman lying in your embrace, be careful of the words of your mouth!
Verse 5. Bosom. In times of general distress, even domestics are not trusted; because all are solicitous for themselves, even to the prejudice of others. Worthington.—Before the ruin of Israel civil wars raged. 4 Kennicott. 15. Our Saviour alludes to this passage. Matthew 10:35. Lu. 12:52 and 21:16. People will rise up to oppress true believers; and these must abandon their nearest relations, when they prove an obstacle to salvation. Thus is the moral, and the other the literal sense. Calmet.
For the son dishonors the father, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house.
But as for me, I will look to the LORD. I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.
Don’t rejoice against me, my enemy. When I fall, I will arise. When I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me.
I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my case and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light. I will see his righteousness.
Then my enemy will see it, and shame will cover her who said to me, “Where is the LORD your God?” My eyes will see her. Now she will be trodden down like the mire of the streets.
Verse 10. She; Babylon, my enemy. Challoner.—It was taken by the Medes and Persians, who set the Jews at liberty, to the great mortification of their enemies. Worthington.—God thus displayed his justice or mercy, rescuing his people from the nigh of misery.—Streets. Cyrus treated the fallen city with contempt. It stood for some time afterwards. Calmet.
A day to build your walls! In that day, he will extend your boundary.
Verse 11. Law of thy enemies, who have tyrannized over thee. Challoner.—The walls of Jerusalem are ordered to be rebuilt. Agg. i.
In that day they will come to you from Assyria and the cities of Egypt, and from Egypt even to the River, and from sea to sea, and mountain to mountain.
Verse 12. Fortified. Hebrew also, “Egypt, and from Egypt to the river Euphrates,” and so forth The Jews shall occupy their ancient limits. Amos 8:12. Calmet.—The fenced cities may be Pelusium, Gaza, Tyre, and so forth From all parts the captives shall return. Bible.—They were very numerous under the Machabees, and in the time of Christ. Calmet.
Yet the land will be desolate because of those who dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings.
Verse 13. Land of Babylon, ( Challoner.) or “the land of Judea ( Bible.) has been,” and so forth It might also be again made desolate, because the captives built houses for themselves, and neglected the temple. Agg. 1:10.
Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your heritage, who dwell by themselves in a forest. Let them feed in the middle of fertile pasture land, in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.
Verse 14. Alone: destitute of all things, or in full security. Jeremiah 15:17. Numbers 23:9. God will feed his people ( Calmet.) in the most fertile places, designated by Carmel and Basan. Bible.—A pastor must maintain sound doctrine and discipline. Worthington.
“As in the days of your coming out of the land of Egypt, I will show them marvelous things.”
Verse 15. Wonders. The prophets speaking of the return, have Christ and his religion in view; so that they seem not to find terms sufficiently magnificent. Isaiah 9:15 and 43:16. Zechariah 10:11. We know from Esdras that nothing so surprising attended the liberation of the people. Calmet.
The nations will see and be ashamed of all their might. They will lay their hand on their mouth. Their ears will be deaf.
Verse 16. Strength, because they cannot overcome the Hebrews or Christians. Menochius.—Deaf, being astonished. Job 21:5.
They will lick the dust like a serpent. Like crawling things of the earth, they will come trembling out of their dens. They will come with fear to the LORD our God, and will be afraid because of you.
Verse 17. Serpents, (Genesis 3:14) out of respect or rage. Calmet.—Converts shall humbly apply to the ministers of Christ to receive baptism and confirmation. Theod. Sanct. lxvii.
Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity, and passes over the disobedience of the remnant of his heritage? He doesn’t retain his anger forever, because he delights in loving kindness.
Verse 18. No more, for past offences. Yet, if they transgress again, they must not expect impunity. The Jews still bleed for the murder of the Messias. Calmet.
He will again have compassion on us. He will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
Verse 19. Away. Prot. “subdue,” ( Bible.) or trample upon. Calmet.
You will give truth to Jacob, and mercy to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.
Verse 20. Truth, performing what he had promised out of mercy to Abraham. Worthington.
NAHUM
THE PROPHECY OF NAHUM