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1. Tag srra tpidXag, the seven vials ) The Epistles to the VII. Churches are distributed into III. and IV. The VII. Seals are divided into IV. and III., and likewise the VII. Trumpets, as we have seen : and now also the VII. Vials. The Trumpets have shaken the kingdom of the world in a long circuit ; the vials with swift and sharp violence break to pieces the beast in particular, which had clothed himself with the kingdom of the world, and his followers and resources. Therefore the trumpets and the vials advance in the same order. The former set of four touch the earth , the sea , the rivers , and the sun : the remaining set of three fall in other quarters, and are much more violent.
2. 'O rrpurog, the first) Thus, the second , the third , the fourth , the fifth , the sixth, the seventh , without the noun angel.1 The style ex- presses a very quick outpouring of the vials, of w*hich quickness this also is a proof, that the vials have no periods of times expressed. These bear a great resemblance to the plagues of Egypt, which the Hebrews generally suppose to have been inflicted at intervals of months. See Meyer ad Seder Olam, p. 287. What if the same thing should be about to happen in the case of the vials ? Their whole outpouring indeed is as yet among the things to come. — g Xxog novYipov, a grievous sore) Deut. xxviii. 35, jn priBQ, in the lxx. ev sXxei novripG}. [This, I believe, will be a new and hitherto unheard of plague. — V. g.]
2 5. 'O ujv xai 6 w, which art and which wast) See on eh. xi. 17, and comp. D. Lang. Comm. Apoc. f. 188. — 6 o<nog) Others put xai be- fore 6, or for o, or omit xai o.3 Sound exegesis often distinguishes the pearls of a genuine reading from the filth of various readings : and Wolf excellently compares with this the passage, ch. i. 8, K vpiog b Qtbg, b u>v xai o yv xai o ep^o/aevog, o oravroxpdrup. It will also be pro-
1 Rec. Text adds oiyyehog in ver. 3, with B : AC h Vulg. oppose it. In ver. 4 also: ABCA Vulg. opposing it. In ver. 8, 10, 12 also, with h: ABC Vulg. opposing it. In ver. 17 also, with h : AB Vulg. and Syr. opposing it. — E.
2 tov Onpiov, of the beast) Therefore the vial of the first angel will be the first mark [“ character,” characterism] of the beast. — V. g.
3 Engl. Vers, has “which art, and wast, and shalt be” (omitting ooiog, and substituting kcc\ 6 iaopt-ivog or e pxopcsvog). ABC Vulg. support oaiog. h has et qui es pius. Rec. Text has xa\ 6 ooiog. — E.
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