Commentary on the Minor Prophets, Commentary 11 · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
Verſe 1. OPen thy doors O Lebanon This chapter is no leſſe comminatory, then the two former had been Conſolatory. The tartneſſe of the threatening maketh men beſt taſt the ſweetneſſe of the Promiſe. So wre and ſweet make the beſt ſawce: Promiſes and threatnings mingled, ſerve to keep the heart in the beſt temper. Hypocrites catch at the Promiſes, as children do at ſweet-meats: and ſtuff themſelves therewith a pillow as it were, that they may ſin more ſecurely. Here therefore they are given to underſtand, that God will ſo be mercifull to the penitent, as that he will by no meanes cleare the guilty. That's the laſt letter in Gods name Exod. 34.7. and muſt never be forgotten. It is fit the wicked ſhould be forewarned of their danger; and the god…y forearmed. This chapter h…ngs over Jeruſlaem as that blazing-ſtarr in the form of a bloody ſword is ſaid to … none for a whole y…eres-ſpace, a little before that laſt deſtruction of it, that is here … retold five hundred yeers before it fell out.
open thy doors O Lebanon] i. e. lay open thou thy ſelf to utter ruine: for it is … cannot be avoided. Lebanon was the confine of the countrey on that …, whereby the Romans made their firſt irruption, as by an inlet Doors … a…ttributed to this forreſt; becauſe againſt Lebanus is ſet A…thbanus, … mountain; which is joyned unto it as it were with a certain wail: ſo that theſe were and are narrow paſſages and gates kep ſometimes of the kings of Perſia by a ſpeciall officer,… the defended … 2. Neb. 2.8. and fortified by nature: yet not ſo ſtrongly, but that the Romanes brake in this way, and much waſted the for…eſt, to employ, the tree… for the beſieging of Jerualem; as Eſay 14 8. The Ch…ee Paraphraſt by Lebanon here underſtandeth the Temple, which was built of the Cedars of Lebanon: and Ezech, 17.3. Lebanon is put for Jeruſalem: which alſo had in it that houſe of the fo…reſt of Lebanon, built by Salomon 1 King. 7.2. wherein he had both his throne of judgement ver. 7. and his armonry chap. 10.17. So that by Lebanon may be very well meant the whole countrey of Judea: but eſpecially the city and Temple,Lib. …. de …ell. Jud. cap. 12. the iron gates whereof opened themſelves of their own accord, that had not been open in ſeven yeers before: and could ſcarce be ſhut by twenty men, ſaith loſephus. This fell out not long before the city was taken by Titus, R. David. I…ra Gala…in. l. 4. c. 8.whereupon R…ble Jonathan the ſon of Zach…i cryed out, En vaticinium Zach…riae, Behold the Propheſie of Zachary ſulfilled: for he foretold this, that this temple ſhould be burnt, and that the gates thereof ſhould firſt be opened.
that the fire may devour thy Cedars] Warr is as a fire, that feedeth upon the people Iſa. 9.19. or like as an hungry man ſnatcheth &c. ver. 20. there is in warr no meaſure or ſatiety of blood. the Greek word to warr ſignifieth much blood. foreignThe Hebrew word, devouring and eating of men, as they cat bread. The Latine Bellum, à belluis. it deſtroyes the Lord as well as the loſell, the cedar as well as the ſhrub. Tamberlanes coach horſes were conquered kings. Adonibezecks dogs, ſeventy kings gathering crumbs under his table. Let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the Cedars of Lebanon Iudg. 9.15. that is, Let fire come out ſ…om Abimeleck, and devour the men of Si…en. ver 20.
Verſe 2 Howle fir…rce that is ye of lower rank: or ye meaner cityes, thoſe daughters of le…uſalem, that felt the Romans force: …, take up a loud out-cry, a doleful ditty after the manner of thoſe that are carri… captive by the enemy. Pſal. 137 3. For there they, that carried …s away captive, required of us a ſong: and they that waſted us, qui contumulaban… nos, that threw us on … (ſo Tremellius …endreth…t, conſer Iſa. 25.2.) or thoſe that made us … noſtri, (ſo S…hindler) required of us mirth.
becauſe all the mighty are ſpoiled] the magnifico…s, the men of power as they are called Pſal. 76.5. ſtout hearted and every way able for ſtrength, courage and riches;… which oft take away the life of the owners, and exp…e them to ſpoile; as every man deſireth to lop the tice that hath thick and large boughs and branches.
howle O ye oakes of Baſhan] Ogs countrey, who only remained of the remnant of Gyants Deut. 3.11. The Iews fable that he eſcaped in the flood, by-riding aſtride on the Ark. By the oaks of his countrey underſtand, the ſtrong and eminent. The Chaldee rendreth it Satrapae provinciarum, ye provinciall Governours.
for the forreſt of the vintage] Or the defenced forreſt, viz. of Lebanon i. e. Ieruſalem that ſeemed impregnable, but at length came down ruit alto à culmine, as a cedar that is felled by a Mighty One Eſay 10.34. Death hewed its way thorough a wood or forreſt of men in a minute of time from the mouth of a murdering peece, or ſome ſuch warlike engine. When the ſword is once ſharpened, it makes a ſore ſlaughter: it contemneth the rod Ezek. 21.10. q. d. what does this ſilly rod do here? theſe leſſer and lighter judgements? let me come, Ile make work amongſt them: down with theſe oakes, down with this defenced forreſt &c.
Verſe 3. There is a voice of the howling of the ſhepheards] Potentes potenter torquebuntur. The loftineſſe of man ſhall be bowed down: and the haughtineſſe of men ſhall be made low: and the Lord alone ſhall be exalted in that day. Eſay 2.17.The ſhepheards were grown fooliſh ver. 15. Idol-ſhepheards 17. they cared for no other inſtruments but forcipes & mulctram the ſheares and the milk-paile: they were become greedy dogs, Eſay 56.11.which could never have enough (they were ſick of the bulimy or appetitus caninus) yea they were as ſo many yong lions ramping and ravening, as it is here, and Ezek. 19.2, 3.Pſal. 78.72. Both Princes and Prieſts were turned tyrants: and inſtead of feeding the people in the integrity of their hearts, and guiding them with the skilfulneſſe of their hands, prey'd upon them and pluckt the skin from off them, and their fleſh from off their bones Mio. 3.2.
for the pride of Iordan is ſpoiled] the ſwelling of Iordan dryed up by the Romans, as Hierome interprets it: Or the proud and ſtately palaces and poſſeſſions that the great Ones had gotten upon the banks of Iordan for fruitfulneſſe and pleaſance, as à Lapide; Or the numerous and proud nation of the Iews likned to the yearly overflowing of Iordan, whereof ſee Ioſh. 3.15. Ier. 49.19. as Diodate.
Verſe 4. Thus ſaith the Lord my God, Feed the flock of ſlaughter] ſo lately pulled out of the jawes of thoſe lions ver. 3. with Am. 3.12. and yet deſtined to deſtruction by the Romans, thoſe Raptores Orbis (their former preſervation being but a reſervation to future miſchief) for their deſperate obſtinacy and incorrigibleneſſe.
feed them] ſaith God to the Prophets: for their ordinary ſhepheards have caſt off all care of their good. Tell them what evill will betide them, unleſſe they repent: forewarn them to flee from the wrath to come:Mat. 3. Luke 21.36. to take courſe that they may eſcape all theſe things that ſhall come to paſſe. O the goodneſſe of God to a nation ſo ſhameleſly, ſo lawleſly wicked! Beſides himſelf, the Shepheard of Iſrael that led Ioſeph like a flock Pſal. 80.1. and neglected no good office of ſeeking and feeding them, of handling and healing them, of waſhing them and watching over them &c. how carefull was he ever to raiſe them up ſeven ſhepheards and eight principal men, Mic. 5.5.till at length he ſent the man Chriſt Ieſus who is the chief of ten thouſand, the chief Shepheard as St. Peter calls him 1 Epiſt. 5.4. that One and only Shepheard, as Solomon Eccleſ. 12.11. that gteat Shepheard of the ſheep, as Paul Heb. 13.20. who came to look up the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael, whom (to move compaſſion and affection) here calleth the ſheep of ſlaughter, untill the time prefixed for their totall diſperſion, by reaſon of their ingratitude.
Verſe 5. Whoſe Poſſeſſours ſtay them] flaying their skin from off them, eating their fleſh, breaking their bones &c. Mic. 3.3. feeding themſelves, and not the flock of God Ezek. 34.2, as if they had been Lords over Gods heritage 1 Pet. 5.3. Owners and Poſſeſſours as here, vel precio vel praemio: and as the Pope and his Curia Romana quae non vult ovem ſine lana, as the old Proverb was.
and hold themſelve not guilty] Non peccant. They fault not themſelves: they are not found guilty by others. Such an illimited power over Gods people they have uſurped, as if they might uſe them at their pleaſure, and never be once queſtioned, or puniſhed for the ſame; but ſcape ſcotfree. This was the extremity of tyranny; ſuch as the cruell Spaniards exerciſe over the poor Indians: they ſuppoſe they ſhew the wretches great favour, when they do not, for their pleaſures, whip them with cords; and day by day drop their naked bodies with burning bacon; which is one of the leaſt cruelties they inflict upon them.World encompaſſed by S. F. Drake 53.
and they that ſell them] Sell them for ſlaves (whom they ought to redeem rather with their own blood) and grow rich by them: being greedy of filthy lucre, not without foule blaſphemy againſt God, whom they entitle to their riches ſacrilegiouſly and moſt theeviſhly gotten; whileſt they ſay,
bleſſed be the Lord, for I am rich] Deo gratias, Bleſſed be God is a very good ſaying, and was much in Auſtins mouth. But as the fountain of goodneſſe will not be laden at with unwaſhen hands: ſo fair words from a foul mouth, are infinitely diſpleaſing to him that inhabiteth the praiſes of Iſrael. Pſal. 22.3.Hypocrites are not unfitly compared to Monkies, that have the graveſt countenances of all creatures; but are unceſſantly doing miſchief: or to the Harpies, that are ſaid to have Virgins faces, Vultures tallons. Mel in ore, verba lactis: Fel in corde, fraus in factis. Phariſees, under pretence of long prayers, devoured widdows houſes Mat. 23.14. whiles their lips ſeemed to pray or praiſe God, they were but chewing and champing ſome ſweet morſel ſnatcht from the flock, but ſawced with the wrath of God Job 20.15. See how our Saviour ſets them out in their colours Mat. 23.15, 16, 23. &c. Such fair profeſſours, but foul ſinners were their predeceſſours, Eſay 66.5. who when they had done evil as they could, thought to ſalve all by ſaying, Let the Lord be glorified. And ſuch alſo are their Succeſſours, The Pope and his followers. Verba tua Dei planè ſunt, facta verò diaboli (ſaid one once to Pope Innocent the third preaching peace but ſowing diſcord) you ſpeak like a God, but do like a divel: wherefore you ſhall receive the greater damnation. When one of our perſecuting Biſhops read the ſentence of excommunication againſt a certain Martyr: and began as the uſual form was,Act. and Mon. In the name of God, Amen, the Martyr cryed out, you begin in a wrong name. And it grew to a common proverb, In nomine Dei incipit omne malum. All miſchief begins on that maner. Gentilis that impious Anti-Trinitarian gave out, that he ſuffered for the glory of the moſt High God. Becket the Archtraitour pretended to ſubmit to his Soveraign, but with this falſe reſerve, Salv… honore Dei. The Swenckfeldians entituled themſelves the confeſſours of the glory of Chriſt. And Conradus Vorſtius his late monſter hath De Deo in the front: and Atheiſme and blaſphemy in the text.
and their own ſhepheards pitty them not] Which yet they ought to have done, had they had never ſo much right and reaſon to deſtroy them. A ſhepheard hath his name from friendly feeding: in Greek from earneſt deſire and love to the ſheep. David when he was hunted from Samuel the Prophet, he fleeth to Abimelech the Prieſt: as one that knew Juſtice and Compaſſion ſhould dwell in thoſe breaſts, that are conſecrated to God and his people. But theſe ſhepheards through want of Gods holy fear Iob. 6.14. had brawny breaſts, horny heart-ſtrings, their hearts firſt turned into earth and mud, did afterwards freeze into ſteel and adamant: curſed children they were,2 Pet. 2.24. having their hearts exerciſed with covetouſneſſe and cruelty.
Verſe 6. For I will no more pitty the inhabitants of the land] Or ſurely I will no more &c. A feareful ſentence, written in blood, and breathing out nothing but utter deſtruction, David knew what he did, when he choſe rather to fall into the hand of the Lord, then of men. For his mercies are many, and it ſoon repents him concerning his ſervants:Prov. 12 10. but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. Thoſe ſhepheards in the former verſe were grievous wolves: what wonder therefore that they ſpared not the flock?Act. 20.29. But yet whiles God pittied them there was hope in Iſrael concerning this thing, as He ſaid Ezr. 10.2. whereas now that Gods ſoul is disjoynted from them, and his bowels ſhut up, deſolation muſt needs be at …ext door by Ier. 6.8.Jer. 17.17. Be not thou a terrour unto me, O Lord, ſaid that Prophet, and then I care not, though all the world frown upon me, and ſet againſt me. But woe be to Lo-ruamah, the people of Gods wrath, and of his curſe. I have noted before out of Ier. 16.13. that Gods I will ſhew you no favour, was worſe then I will caſt you out of this land.
I will deliver the men] Heb. I will make them to be found, pulling them out of their ſtarting holes, and lurking places. Evil ſhall hunt the violent man to deſtroy him. Pſal. 140.11.
every one unto his neighbours hand] As into the hang-mans hand. this was fulfilled, eſpecially during the ſiege by the ſeditious within the walls of Jeruſalem,Joſeph…d bel. J…d. l. 6. cap. 2. and 4. one man proving a wolf, nay a devil to another.
and into the hand of his king! The Roman Emperour, who diſclaimed indeed the name of a king to avoid the hatred of the people, and yet exerciſed the full power of kings both at home and abroad. Theſe lews firſt ſubdued by the Romans and reduced into a province, did afterwards rebel (though they had once in oppoſition to Chriſt cryed out, we have no king but Caeſar) and were therefore, after five moneths ſiege utterly ruined: For what with extremity of famine and what with the fury of the ſword, there periſhed in Jeruſalem, and in the province adjoyning,Joſeph, v…i ſupra as Euſ…buis affirms about 600000. able men to bear armes. Or as Joſephus holds, who was an eye-witneſſe, and prelent in the war, there died 1100000. beſides others taken captive, to the number of 97000.
and I will ſmite the Land] So that it hath lain, as it were bed-ridden ever ſince.
Verſe 7. And will I ſeed the flock of ſlaughter, even you, O poor of the flock.] Or, as M…ntanus readeth it, for you, for your ſakes, O poor of the flock, i.e. O ye that are poor in ſpirit, pure in heart, my little little flock, as our Saviours expreſſion is in Luke. Even for your ſakes will I yet for a time ſpare the reprobate goates, feeding them by my Prophets, and provoking them to repentance. The word and Sacraments, and all Gods common temporal favours are, in reſpect of external participation, communicated to Reprobates by way of Concomitancy onelyonly: becauſe they are intermixed with the Elect. Thus tares mingled among wheat, partake of the fat of the land, and moyſture of the manure, which was not intended for them.
and I took unto me two ſtaves] viz. That I might therewith do the office of a ſhepheard: and yet in more then an ordinary manner. For ſhepheards commonly carry but one ſtaffe, or crook: or, at moſt, but a ſtaffe on their ſhoulders, and a rod in their hands, as David ſhews in his Paſtoral Pſal. 23.3. But here are two ſtaves taken: to ſhew, ſaith Mr. Calvin, that God would ſurpaſſe all the care and pains of men, in governing that people.
the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands] What theſe two ſhould mean, much adoe is made among Interpreters. Some are for the two Governants: Others for the two Teſtaments: Others for the order of Chriſts preaching, ſweet and mild at firſt, terrible and full of threatnings at laſt, as appeareth in Ma. 24.24, 25. But what a wilde conceit was that of Anth… Arch-Biſhop of Florence, who underſtood the words of Dominick and his Order; conſtruing them thus: I, that is God took unto me two ſtaves vir. Beauty, that is, the Order of Preachers,Hiſt. Proph. 3 tit. 23. and Bonds, that is, the Order of Minorites, who are girt with a cord? The ſounder ſort of lixpoſitours make it to be a figure, of the two wayes which Chriſt uſeth at all times in feeding of his Church; the one by love, guiding them by his word and Spirit: the other by ſeverity, puniſhing them by the cruel hand of their enemies. See Eſay 10.5. Thus Va…ai lus, D…odue &c. And that this is the true ſenſe, ſaith A Lapide, it appeareth: Firſt, becauſe this oracle of the Prophet is of the time to come, and not of the time paſt. Secondly the event, (that beſt interpreter of prophecies) maketh for it. For firſt Gods government of the common-wealth of Iſrael was beautiful, and gentle in the time of the Maccabees, and of Chriſt: and then terrible and deſtructory, in the time of the Romans, of Nero, Veſpaſian, Adrian &c. Thirdly becauſe that a little after the Prophet ſaith, that he brake both the ſtaves, that is, he utterly rejected the Jews, and brought his wrath upon them to the utmoſt, which cannot be meant of any other time then that of Chriſt, and of Titus. Eſpecially ſince (in the fourth place) the Prophet declareth Verſe 13. that the ſt…ff of Beauty was broken at the death of Chriſt, for their unworthy ſelling and ſlaughtering of him, as if he had been ſome ſlave or baſe perſon,
and I fed the ſlock] q. d. I did my part by them. Thy deſtruction therefore is of thy ſelf, O Iſrael. England is a mighty Animal (ſaith a Politician) which can never die, except it kill it ſelf. The ſame might be much more ſaid of the Jeſish Common-wealth, which Ioſephus truely and trimly calleth a Theocratia, or a God-government for the form and firſt conſtitution of it: and Moſes in this reſpect, magnifieth that nation above all other Deut. 4.6, 7.
Verſe 8. Three ſhepheards alſo I cut off in one monethmonth] That is, in a ſhort time, I took away and diſplaced even by the heathen Princes, many proud princes, and Prieſts: ſuch as were Menelaus, Jaſon the Ariſtobuli, Hireani, Annas, Caiaphas, and others: Or, I removed thoſe three ſorts of ſhepheards of the old Law, viz. Princes Prophets and Prieſts. Thus Theodoret and Vatablus. Diodate underſtands the text of the three chief Empires that had tyrannized over the people, ver. 6, 3, and 12,10. Namely the Caldean, Perſian, and Grecian Empire, which were deſtroyed by the Son of God, Dan. 2.45. But they do beſt in mine opinion, that by theſe three ſhepheards underſtand thoſe three ſects among the Jews at Chriſts coming in the fleſh; viz. Phariſees, Sadduces, and Eſſenes: whereof, though the Phariſees were the beſt, and moſt exact for the outward obſervation of the Law, yet are they in the Goſpel for their putid hypocriſy, firſt ſharply taxed by our Saviour (after the Baptiſt) and then plainly rejected, and even ſent to hell by a chain-ſhot of eight links of woes Mat. 23.
and my ſoul loathed them] Or, was taken off from them, or was ſtraitned for them; becauſe I ſaw that they received my grace in vain, and conſidered not of my care for their good. Theodotion and Srmmackus render it Anima mea exanimata eſt, I am diſpirited as it were, and even diſheartened to do any more for them.
and their ſoul alſo abhorred me] And ſo they became God-haters as Rom. 1.30. and therefore hateful to God Tit. 3.3. hateful as hell (ſo the word imports) yea more,foreign. and worſe, for hell is but an effect of Gods juſtice: but wickedneſſe is a breach of his Law. The Prophet here ſeemeth to allude to thoſe murmurers in the wilderneſſe, that diſdainfully cryed out, Our ſoul loatheth this light bread Num. 21.5. Let Gods ſervants take heed how they hang looſe toward him: and leſt, by diſuſe and diſcontinuance of a duty, there grow upon them an alienation of affection, a ſecret diſreliſhing and nauſeating at that which we oughtmoſt deeply to affect, and duely to perform. Surely as loathing of meat and difficulty of breathing are two ſymptomes of a ſick body: ſo are careleſneſſe of hearing, and irkſomneſs of praying two ſure ſignes of a ſick ſoul.
Verſe 9. Then ſaid I, I will not feed you] Now the wrath of the Lord aroſe againſt his people, ſo that there was no remedy, as 2 Chron. 36.16. Now his decree brought forth Zeph. 2.2. Now he growes implacable, inexorable, peremptory. Wherein nevertheleſſe the Lord might very well break forth into that ſpeech of the Heathen Emperour, when he was to paſſe ſentence upon a malefactour, Non niſi coactus, I would not do this, if I could do otherwiſe. Chriſt could not tell Ieruſalem without tears, that her day of grace was expired, that her deſtruction was determined. As a woman brings not forth without pain: as a hee ſtings not, till provoked: ſo neither doth God proceed againſt a ſinfull people or perſon, till there be an abſolute neceſſity; leſt his truth and juſtice ſhould be queſtioned and ſlighted. See Ezek. 12.22, 23, 24, 25. Fury is not in God, till our ſins put thunderbolts into his hands: and then, who knoweth the power of his anger? Pſal. 90.11. Eſ. 33.14.who can abide with everlaſting burnings? If he but caſt a man off as here, and relinquiſh the care of him, he is utterly undone. Saul found it ſo, and complaines dolefully (but without pitty) that God had forſaken him,1 Sam. 28.15. and the Philiſtines were upon him: all miſeries and miſchief came ruſhing into him, as by a ſluce. Let us ſo carry matters, that God may not abandon us: that he may not refuſe to feed us, and take the charge of us as a ſhepheard. He yet offereth us this mercy, as Alexande did thoſe he warred againſt, while the lamp burned.
that that dieth, let it die] viz. of the murraine, or peſtilence, For man being in honour, if God but blow upon him, abideth not, but is like the beaſts that periſh, pecoribus morticinis, ſaith Tremellius the beaſts that die of the murrain. Vatablus thinks peſtilence, ſword and famine, are here threatened under the names of death, of cutting off, and of devouring one another. All which befell the refractary Jews in the laſt ſiege: the hiſtory whereof will make any mans heart bleed within him, that hath but the leaſt ſpark of grace, or good nature. It went hard with them, when the reſt, that the peſtilence and ſword had left, fell to eating the fleſh one of another; when the mother killed and boyled the dead body of her harmleſſe ſuckling, and eating the one half, reſerved the other for another time. Behold O Lord, and conſider to whom thou haſt done this? ſaith the Prophet: Shall the women eat their fruit and children of a ſpan long? Lam. 2.20Oh the miſery, or rather mock of mans life! And oh, the venemous nature of ſinne, that moves God (who is not foreign, a man-hater, but delights in mercy) to deal ſo ſeverely with his poor creature.
Verſe 10. And I took my ſtaffe even Beauty, and cut it aſunder] In token that he had caſt off his office of ſhepherd, he breaks his ſtaffe the enſigne and inſtrument of his office: and this in token that he had broke his covenant which hee had made with all the people … i. e. with all the tribes of Iſrael, which were as ſo many ſeverall peoples, over whom God had reigned (but now rejected) and in whom He delighted more then in all the nations of the world beſides. The Saints are called All things, Coloſ. 1.20. becauſe they are of more worth then a world of wicked men, Heb. 11.38. And the Jews have a ſaying, that thoſe ſeventy ſouls that went with Iacob into Egypt, were as much as all the ſeventy Nations in the world. What great account God once made of them above others, ſee Eſay 43.3, 4. Deut. 33.29. But now behold they are diſcarded, and diſcovenanted: I have broken my covenant, and (ver. 11.) it was broken in that day] that is, in the day that they put themſelves out of my precincts, I put them out of my protection. That peace that I had granted to my people, that they ſhould bee no more moleſted by any ſtrange Nation (which was verified from the time of the Maccabees till a little before the coming of Chriſt) ſhall now be forfeited. The glory is departed, the Beauty broken in pieces, the golden head of the picture, Religion defaced, and good order baniſhed: all things out of order both in Church and State, for ſo they were when Chriſt came to his own, and his own received him not: he found them in Dothan, that is, in Defection, as Ioſeph found his brethren) therefore he now diſowns and diſavowes them as much as once he did when they had made a golden calf. Thy people which thou broughteſt out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themſelves, ſaith God to Moſes; upon whom he now fathereth them,Exod. 32 7 as if he had never been in covenant with them. Danaeus upon this Text concludeth, that the Jews are now ſtrangers from the covenant of God: and that this is hereby confirmed, for that they are without Baptiſme, the ſeal of the covenant.
Verſe 11. And it was broken in that day] When they filled up the meaſure of their fathers ſinnes, and added this to all their other evils, that they crucified the Lord of glory: the Mediatour of the new Covenant, Heb. 12.24. Now they were, by an irrevocable decree, to bear their iniquities, and to know Gods breach of promiſe, as once was threatened to their faithleſſe fathers, Num. 14.24.
and ſo the poor of the ſlock] i. e. the lowly and meek,Mat. 11.19 the Apoſtles and other of wiſdomes children, theſe all juſtified her, and glorified God when they ſaw his ſeverity againſt their refractary countreymen,Euſeb. Hiſt, lib. 3. cap. 5. and themſelves ſweetly ſecured and provided for at Pella. See the Note on verſe 7.
that waited upon me] Heb. that obſerved me, by obeying my precepts. Pagnine tendreth it, Qui cuſtodiunt me, ſc. as their moſt precious treaſure, wherein they hold themſelves very happy, and wealthy, though otherwiſe poor and indigent.
Knew that it was the word of the Lord] Were ſenſible of Gods heavy diſpleaſure upon the land; which others paſſed by as a common occurrence, or a chance of war. The Elect made benefit of that generall viſitation: and acknowledged that the warres moved by the Romans were the effects of Gods providence, according to the ancient prophecies. This the rich and noble (whoſe hearts were fat as greaſe, Pſal. 119.70. Qui animas etiam incarnaverunt, who were deſperately bard and bruitiſh) took no notice of.
Verſe 12. If ye think good, give me my price] Pay me for my pains, lay mee down my ſhepherds wages. Is not the labourer worthy of his hire? Shall I be forced to ſay of you as my ſervant David of Nabal, that unthankfull churl; Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow had in the wilderneſs, 1 Sam. 25.21.ſo that nothing was miſſed of all that pertained unto him, and he hath requited me evil for good. If God will be Davids ſhepherd, David will dwell in Gods houſe to all perpetuity, Pſal. 23.1, 6. If the Lord deal bountifully with him, he will ſit down and bethink himſelf what to render unto the Lord for all his benefits, Pſal. 116.7, 12. A Chriſtian counts all that he can do for God, by way of retribution, but a little of that much he could beteem him: and thinks nothing more unbeſeeming himſelf, then to receive the grace of God in vain. His two mites of thankfulneſſe and obedience, he daily preſents: and then cries out as the poor Grecian did to the Emperour, If I had a better preſent, thou ſhouldſt be ſure of it. foreign.But Ingratitude is a grave, which receives all the bodies (the benefits) that are put into it; but will render none up again, without a miracle. Hence that paſſionate expoſtulation, Deut. 32.6. Do ye thus requite the Lord, O ye fooliſh people and unwiſe? Sic etiam ſtomachosè loquitur Deus hoc loco, ſaith Calvin upon this text: i.e. So likewiſe doth the Lord here in high diſpleaſure and with great animoſity, or ſtomach beſpeak his people, Give me my wages howſoever: or, if not, forbear till I fetch it, till I recover it: you ſhall be ſure to pay then, not the debt onelyonly, but the charges likewiſe: I will be paid both for my pains and patience too. In the mean ſpace I need you not, nor care for your wages; for I am no hireling, &c.
So they weighed for my price, thirty pieces of ſilver] that is, thirty ſhekels, or ſhillings. The price of a ſlain ſervants life, Exod. 31.22. This they weighed, as the manner of paying money then was, Gen. 23.16. Jer. 32.9. But they heaved their hands very high, it ſeems, when they valued the Lord Chriſt at ſo vile a rate. See Mat. 26.15. with the Note.
Verſe 13. Caſt it unto the potter] q. d. Do they deal with me as with ſome ſordid ſwineherd? Do they award me leſſe then Carters wages? throw't away, let the potter take it: and let us ſee how many tiles he can afford us for it, to repair the roof of the Temple. Their undervaluing and vilipending of me in this ſort, is not onelyonly injurious, but contumelious: it is to turn my glory into ſhame; to ſpet in my face: or to uſe me as homely as Rachel did her fathers gods, which ſhe laid among the litter, and ſat upon.
A goodly price that I was valued at of them] So he calleth it by an Irony, or a holy jear. Poor Joſeph was ſold for leſſe; for twenty pieces of ſilver, Gen. 37.28. They ſold the juſt one for ſilver, and the poor for a pair of ſhoots, Amos 2.6. The Hebrews tell us,Pirk R. Eliez. cap 38. that of thoſe twenty ſhekels, every of the ten brethren had two to buy ſhooes for his feet. The Jews that bought Chriſt for thirty pieces of ſilver (this goodly price) of the traytour that ſold him, were themſelves afterwards (by a juſt hand of God upon them) bought and ſold thirty of them for a peny by the Romans,Hegeſipp. de excid. Hieroſol. p. 680. ad illudendum, ſaith mine Authour, for a ſcorn to their Nation. God loves to retaliate; and to ſet the ſcales even; mens cruelty in the one, and their reward in the other. If we be at any time under-rated by the world, (as we are ſure to be; for the world knows us not, 1 Joh. 3.2.) what ſo great matter is it, ſith Chriſt himſelf was no more ſet by? We muſt be content to paſſe to heaven (as he did) as concealed men. It muſt ſuffice us, that our precious faith ſhall bee found to praiſe, honour, and glory at that great fair-day: when all fardles ſhall be opened, and our beſt wares expoſed to publike view.
and caſt them to the potter] I gave them for the potters field, 1 Pet. 1.7as the Lord appointed me, ſaith the Evangeliſt, expounding the Prophet, and applying the words to Chriſt,Mat. 27.10 who is hereby alſo proved to be God. So true is that obſervation of Divines, that the old Teſtament is both explained and fulfilled in the New, by an happy harmony.
in the houſe of the Lord] That thereby he might the more ſharply prick the Prieſts: whoſe care it ought to have been, that God ſhould be better prized by the people, and his ſervice better obſerved.
Verſe 14. Then I cut aſunder mine other ſtaffe, even Bands] Or, Binders: the the bond of unity, ſay ſome: by ſending a ſpirit of perverſities among them, ſuch as that was which made way for the ruine of Egypt, Eſay 19.14, 16, 17. But ſee for the ſence hereof what is noted on verſe 7. of this chapter. God ſeems to ſay, that he will now no more govern this people in mildneſſe and clemency: nor yet exerciſe his ſhepherdly ſeverity in ſaving corrections and viſitations, as formerly hee had done …
that … houſe of … Rehoboam beſides … twelve thouſand at … And in Jeruſalem … and of the children … brotherly conjunction, and … it, or a nationall covenant. This God … to … …ſo that Ephraim ſhall be againſt Manaſſeh, …… and both againſt Judah, Not many, yeers hefore … two brethren Hircanul and Ariſtobulus fell out about the … prieſthood; and called in Pompey, who ſubdued the … a province. And not many yeers after Chriſts … utterly broke the brotherhood between … them, that like thoſe prieſts in Ezra, they have … not one another by their tribe, or family, nor … of them that were in Spain, and are now … they hold to be of the tribe of Judah: and the other … of the tribe of Benjamin: who in honour of the more … with them the better, do learn the Spaniſh tongue, which …
Verſe 15. Take unto thee yet the inſtruments … preſent in a type, or figure the wicked and depraved … puniſhment of their frowardneſſe, and … people The inſtru…nts of a fooliſh ſhepherd, that … ſeeking Magiſtrate, are not virg a & …, a … mulctra, ſheers to clip them, and a milk-pail to, … they look after. Now it is threaten … hate you ſhall reigne over you … bed in the next verſes England was … burdens and impoſitions.… An Emperor … the King of France was king of Aſſes … his Exactours received from his ſubjects … ſaith our Chronicler … … fections; the joynts … A … the third, became a precedent to the next … greateſt, popular inſurrection that ever was ſeen … of our Hiſtorians. and what ſad effect … duct-money, and other opprelin … known to all. But, what … lancthon; that when he want … of his, and reqire of him what he … would knock out firſt one of his teeth … like by all the reſt, in caſe the money …ere not brought in by … not this one of thoſe fooliſh, or rather … in the next … eat the fleſh of the fat, and tear their … that ſhall … drink thy milk, as another Prophet phraſeth … lit… quam … Chriſte: … plaineth. And no leſſe … Another, Some follow the … as a trade onelyonly: with an unquenchable, and unconſcionable … juſtifieth the common … of ill Governours … the ſheep … defence in weather, he is ſure to lo…e … ſeek to Courts of Juſtice to he … his mind: who … to hell, and the other to the … to … the other.
Verſe 16. For lo, I will raiſe up a ſhepherd in the land] Evil ſhe … is Rulers in State, and …, ſee Jer. 6.3. Nabum 3.1…. Eiſay 44.28 … are ſet …by. God for a puniſhment of a ſinfull people. See the Note on Verſe 1, The evil ſhepherd the pherd here meant; was Antiocha Ephiphanes, ſaith Theodoret: Herod the Infanticide, ſaith … Titus and the Romans, ſaith … Caſtro: All the perverſe Prieſts and Princes that … over the Jews, after the time of this Prophecy, ſaith A Lapides as Jaſon, Mentlaus, 2 Machab. 4. … Herod, Pilate, Annas and Caiaphas, the Scribes, and …ſees: But eſpecially Antichriſt, (according to Joh. 5.43.) whoſe fore-runners all the former were. Of one Pope, it is ſaid by thoſe of his own ſide, that he entred upon the government of the Church as a Fox, reigned as a Wolf, died as a Dog: and its true enough of all the reſt, and to them the following words do moſt fitly agree.
who ſhall not viſit thoſe that be cut off] Or, look for the thing that is loſt. Illos … erraverunt, non quaeret, ſaith the Chaldee: the word ſignifieth, ſuch as are hid in thickets, hang'd among thorns and briers, and there like to periſh without help.
neither ſhall ſeek the young one] the tender lambs of Chriſt, which Peter was double-charged to feed. Stolidam non requiret, ſaith the Tigurine Tranſlation. Lambs are ſilly things, very apt to ſtraggle; and leaſt able of any creature to find their way home again.
nor heal that that is broken] David, by leaping over the pale (as it were) of Gods precepts, brake his bones, Pſal. 51.8. and felt the fall the longeſt day of his life: So may any of Chriſts flock. The good ſhepherd therefore in pera geſtat unguentum, hath his medicines ready in ſcrip, to apply as need requireth. Not ſo the Idol ſhepherd, who will rather break the ſound, then bind up the broken.
nor feed that, that ſtandeth ſtill] Or, that is well underlaid, and is full of vigour: Vatablus rendreth it, Eam quae reſtitat, non portabit. He will not carry that which can go no further. Hitherto the negligence of theſe evil-ſhepherds. Followeth next their cruelty, and that is more then beſtiall. For the ravening beaſts lightly leave ſome foot or bone undevoured, Am. 3.12. But theſe do not onelyonly eat the fleſh of the flock, and ſuck the fat, but barbarouſly tear the claws alſo in pieces, exerciſe utmoſt immanity; as it is here graphically and gallantly deſcribed.
Verſe 17. Wo to the idol ſhepherd] The Vulgar hath, O paſtor & idolum, O thou ſhepherd and idol: thou that haſt the ſhew onelyonly, and ſemblance of a ſhepherd; the name, but not the thing, thou that art the ape of a ſhepherd, non verus ſed vanus, non vivus ſed pictus & fictus paſtor, that art cleped a ſhepherd, as an idol is a god: but ſhouldſt be called rather a dumb-dog, a greedy-dog; a ſhepherd that cannot underſtand, Eſay 56.10, 11. a fooliſh ſhepherd, as verſe 15. an foreign,foreign Per agnominationem alludit ad foreign ver. 15 one that hath nothing in him of any true worth; but art vain and vile, and of no value, as this word is rendred, Job 13.4. and 11.17. Vae, vae, vae, tibi. Chriſt (the great ſhepherd of the ſheep) will ſurely pull off they viſour, waſh off thy varnifh with rivers of brimſtone, brand thee for an hireling, that leaveth the flock] to ſhift, as it can, among theeves and wolves, Joh. 10.13. See the Note there.
The ſword ſhall be upon his arm, adn upon his right eye] i. e. The curſe of God ſhall light upon his power,Many Paſtors ſay as He, Pan cures oves oviumque magiſtres. Virg. and policy, both which ſhall be blaſted.
his arm ſhall be clean dried up] as a keck, or ſtick.
and his right eye ſhall be utterly darkned] Or, ſhrivelled up, wrinkled and dusk: as in old biſons. The idle and evil ſervant had his talent taken from him, and worthily. The barren fig-tree was cut down from cumbring. God will recover his gifts from thoſe that miſuſe,Mar. 25.28 Luke 13 Moſ. 2.9 or but diſuſe them, Away they go, as ſtrength went from Sampſon, wiſdome from Solomon: they cry unto God under our abuſe, who thereupon gives them the wings of an Eagle, and layes aſide their owner, as ſo many broken veſſels; cauſing them to be even forg otter as dead me…out of mind. Eſal. 31.21. This is now eſpecially fulfilled among the Jews, who … ſon have been without God, without a teaching prieſt, and without … 15.3.