deſcribing,and to the deſcription whereof he returns, ver.41. So the following Verſes are a Digrefſion, wherein he deſigns only to take an occaſion ro compare them with the Ijraelires, and to aggravate the fins of the 1/razlites above theirs, which he doth,ver:3 5,&c-and then returns to the former Deſcription,ver:41 Or rather, 2. The 1/rae- lites,who arc the principal Subjetts of this whole Diſcourſe ; and of whom he unqueſtionably ſpeaks, wer; 35- and thence to wer; 41. of whom alfo the laſt words of wver:33-are to be underſtood;and from thence he takes an occaſion to return to his main buſineſs, to relate, 2nd aggravate the ſins of ſael ; and thereby to juſtifie his ſevere proceedings againſt them,to all rhe World.So the ſenſe of the place 1s this; As the 1ſa:lites before their Captivity, gave theſe Nations an ill Example, in ſerving the Lord, and Baal together; fo, or after their former manner,they do unto this day,in the land of their Captivity. c Though they pretended to fear,and ſerve both the Lord & Idols, yet in truth they did not,and do not fear or worſhip the Lord,but their owa Calves,or other vain Inventions: and God will not accept thar mongrel and-falſe Worſhip, which they pretend to give to the true God. Or, this may intimate,that the [/raelites were worſe than their Succeſſors, becauſe theſe feared the Lord, and Idols too ; bur they did quite caſt off the Fear and Worſhip of God in their Capti- vity,and wholly degenerated iato Heatheniſh Idolatry. 4 7.e. Gods Law delivered to their Fathers, and to them, as their Inheritance, P/al:119:111. This is alledged as an Evide:1ce,that they did nor fear the Lord, whatſoever they pretended, becauſe they lived in the con- fant breach of his ſtatutes, e 7, e. Themſelves : the Nown put for the Pronoun ; which is uſual among the Hebrews. f A Name, ſignifying his ſpecial Intereſt in God, and Power with him,which was given to him,not only for himſelf, bur for his Poſterity alſo, whomGod frequently honours with that Name. And by tis great favour he aggravates their fin. : 35 With whom the LORD had made a covenant g, kis & and charged them,ſaying,* Ye ſhall not fear other gods, © nor bow your ſelves to them,nor ſerve them,nor ſacri- tice to them :
gs Containing many precious Promiſes, upor: the Condition here following : ſee G-n.17.7. Exod;19;5.and 24 7.
26 But the LORD who brought you up out of the land of Egypt,. with great power, and a itretched-out- arm, him fſhail ye fear,him ſhall ye worſhip, and to him ihall ye do ſacrifice.
27 And the ſtatutes,and the ordinances,and the law, and che commandment which he wrote for you, ye ſhall
Oblecve to do for evermore, and ye ſhall not fear other gods : |
38 And the covenant that T have made with you,ye thall nor forget, neicher ſhall ye fear other gods,
b Either, z- the Samaritans, whoſe Religion he hath hitherto been |
ſeveral qualities cr Actions : Hezekias in this, Thai hz fell upon | 302
N G &.
39 But the LORD your God 5 ye ſhall fear, and he ſhall deliver you our of the hand of all your enemies 3.
h t. e, God alone, as the whole Context ſhews. i And therefore you have no pretence of need to go to other gods for relief.
40 Howbeit,they did not hearken,bur they did after their former manner. |
4.1 So k theſe nations / feared the LORD,and ſervel their graven images, both their children,and their chi1- drens children : as did their fathers, ſo-do they unto this dav.
k i.e. In like manner, and afcer their Example. 1 Who came in
their ſtead. |
Hezekiah King over Judah his good Reign : HE: u not ofroid of the King of Aſſyria : and overcometh the Plilifines, 1 ——— $8 Sawaria is car« ried away Coptive by Salmanaſer King of Afſria : fur their ſins, g=--12, Sennacherib invadcth Judah : and Hezekin' payeth him Tribute, 13-16, Rabſhakeh ſent by Scnnacher:b, revileth B:zekiah : Blaſphemsth God: and #irreth up the People to mutiny : which is told the King, 17 37.
Ow it came to pals in the third year 2 of Hoſhea
of Ahaz king of Judah beg-n to rqggn. a In the third of thoſe nine years mentioned, £25.15. 1. of which 29: 1 ſee there. See below wer. 19.
gan to reign #5, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerulalem : his mothers name alſo was Abi c, the daughter of Zachariah. |