1. 0/ crXoucr/o/, ye rich men) \who have neglected the true enjoyment of riches in doing good, ver. 2, 3. — Y. g.] In the writings of the prophets, foreign nations are often addressed by apostrophe, although the prophecy would not come into their hands, but to the Jews. Under the same figure, the apostle speaks of the rich, though he does not so much write to the rich themselves, -who are destitute of faith, as to the saints, that they may be induced to bear with pa-
1 This is the punctuation also of Lachm. But Vulg. “Si Dominus voluerit et
(Amiat. omits Si, which other MSS. here insert) vixerimus, faciemus hoc aut illud.” So Tisch E.
2 AB read tyoopiv xotl Trotviaopei/ ; Rec. Text, without very old authority, tyffaftsv and %or/iaa[A£v. — E.
3 As making the future contingent. — E.
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tience the violence of the rich, ver. 7.— ra\uivup/oug9 miseries) This was written a few years before the siege of Jerusalem. — Ivtpyophaig, coming upon you) unexpectedly and swiftly.
2 2g<r^-rg, are corrupted) The grasping avarice of the rich is set forth. — <friTGf3pwray moth-eaten) Job xiii. 28, Ipdnov 67ir6fipurovy a garment that is moth-eaten.
3. * O log ccvrcovj the rust of them) Synecdoche. Even the rust of their riches and garments will be a proof of the bondage in which their possessions were so held, that they were of no profit to any, but lay unemployed, without any return. — v/aTv, to you) against you. — <pdyera/y shall eat) with death. — <fdpxagy your flesh) while yet alive : he does not say xpsa. — ug nop, as fire) A proverbial expression, re- specting swift and total consumption ; whereas the process of rust- ing was before slow and partial. — sv ia^draig rgLip(ugy in the last days) Men are accustomed to lay up treasures for the time to come : ye have collected it too late ; you will not enjoy it. The same phrase occurs, 2 Tim. iii. 1, where see the note. The apostle here sets forth the coming of the Lord for the terror of the wicked ; in the 7th and following verses, for the comfort of the holy.
4. lKpd^6iy crieth) A cry ascends to heaven respecting those sins in particular, about which men are silent,2 as unchastity and injus- tice.3 Both the hire (of the labourers) kept hack , and the labourers themselves send forth that cry. A double cry. — iiGe’kyiXv&aaiv, have entered) The antecedent is here put by Metonymia for the conse- quent. The meaning is, Now the Lord comes as Avenger.
5. ’ErpupiiGarey ye have lived in pleasure) with specious delights, which you have supported from that very hire. — ivi rjjg yijgy on the earth) now about to be laid waste. — xai hvaruXtiaarsy and ye have been wanton) with luxury, sordid and mad, and wasting yourselves. Luxury (rpvpri) produces 'wantonness (avardXrpf ; and wantonness is closely joined to slaughter (r?j apayfi). James describes together the pleasure and the cruelty of the rich, as is suitable to the grada-
1 ruv oipiYiadvruv, who have reaped) It is remarkable, that though so great variety of injustice exists, Job xxii. 6-9, xxiv. 2-12, xxxi. 7, 13, that particular one of harvest -reaping should be the only one specified here. — V. g.
2 Or those sins which have a way of escape open to them in violence, so as that they may not pay the penalty in this world. — V. g.
3 In our days, on account of the want of ecclesiastical discipline , the whole life and conversation of all Christians, who are so called, constitutes almost, so to speak, one crying sin. In which respect the fault lies with, not merely the daringly wicked, but also those who, when they discharge public functions, are too cold and inert in action. — V. g.