I TI nced notſearch for ſuch among the Heathen Nations, for they are found even among them, that are called by my Name, whereas all my people ought ro have been holy. m Or contemplate miſ- chievous deſigns, under deceits,as Fowlers do hide themtclves, when they watch rhe Birds coming to the ſnare orner, Prov. 1. 11, Mic. 7. 2, & therefore rhe next expreſſion, he that ſet :eth Snares is but a peripkraſis for a Fowler, the Heb, word being always ſo taken : Pſal. g1. 3. Prov. 6. 5. andel{ewhere, or they pry, /. e. they narrowly look, wherethey may get anadvantage, hence En-mies are called pryers,or obiervers, as you may frequeatly find in the Pſa/s3 Pſal. 5, 8. & 27,L1,56,2. and 59. 40. and 92. £1. » Intimaring the tuccet> of their wicked Policies in' bringing their wicked decrees to paſs, Pal. 37. 7. as falle Witnziles and Trapanners uſ2 todo, when tney go about to entnare Men that are innocent ; fucha Trap did Jezazel jay tor Navors, : Kings 21, 9, 10. - Such in one was that Con!piracy of more than 40 Men aga:nft Paul, Atl; 23. 13, 14, 15-
chough
M14AR Chap.
P 0 i.e. They fill up their Houſes with the Goods and Wealth of
thoſe that they deceive, and overreach ; i1! gotten Goods a M:t9* 7ymy of the efficient ; as the Fowler carrics his Cage along with him, wherein he puts the Birds which he carcheth, to keep ſafe thar they ger not away, whien once they are caught, as alſo by tl;cir appearance, and tinging to entice others. p Shewing how and in what manner they got their riches, therefore, or by this means ; ſuch | as are gorren by a lying Tongue, Pr:v. 21. 6. called the rreaſures of Wickeaneſs, Mich. 6. 10. | . AM | 28 They are waxen * fat, they q ſhine : yea, they , EE | overpaſs the deeds of the r wicked : they judge not the 4%; — +81VOAF ſ cauſe of the fatherleſs, * yer they # proſper ; and the *ſob «2.0|MM righe of the needy do they not judge. _ © Pial. 73. IMO q Or, ſo far that they ſhine ; by reaſon of their wealth and riches 12 - 0 they pamper themſelves till their ezes fand our with farnsſs, Þ[z). Chap 12.1 73- 7. their wrinkles are filled up with fat, which makes their faces 4 ſhine, YEither, they go beyond the very Heathens themſelves in wickedneſs, Ezek. 5.6, 7, or rather, they eſcape the hardſhips and ſufferings that others undergo, Pſal 73.5, 6 7, 8. they '[cape better than others ; or they ſlightly paſs aver judgments rhreatned. {Such whom even the Law of Narure commits to their parronage, they either diſregard them, or wrong art! injure them, either by refuſing them a fair hearing, Ja. 8. 23. or giving wrong ſentence again{t them in Courts of Judicature, Zech 7. 10. expreſly forbidden, Exod, 22.22, *t Thingsgo well with them, they live happily according to theirdelire, proſperum ſcelus, Job 21.7, &c. Or, that they m 'g5F proſper, viz. that God might bleſs them. re | 29 Shall I not vitit for theſe s things ? ſaith the Ge : ſhall not my ſoul be avenged on ſuch a nation as this ?
# Itisexpreflſed as a thing taken for granted, he certainly will. Can I be a God, and wink at ſuch things ? Ic cannot be, See this explained, Perſe 9g.
39 [|| A wonderful and x horrible thing is commirted in the y land. So aftoniſhmens |
x So prodigious, or ſtupendious a Crime, that it is beyond the and fl:his | thought or apprehenſion of Man.to conceive, much moreto expreſs, neſs. and fo abominable, that a Man would even loath the thoughts of.
What this is, we have in the next Yerſe. y Heb. Thrs land aggravating the greatneſs of the wonder, that ſuch a thing ſhould be in ſuch 8 land - See 1/2. 26, $0. |
31 The prophets propheſie z * falſly, and the prieſts * Chap. [| bearrule by their means; and my people love to have 14: '4 ir b10: add what will ye do in the end ec thereof ? Each
z Either ſpreading and diſperſing abroad the Lyes of their Idols, ” nas os Il
particularly Baal, chap. 2,8. or venting their Lyes inthe Name of the 4 Or, rake true God, chap. 4.10. a By this means it comes to paſs, tha the ;,;q heir Princes and Prieſts are encouraged to do all their miſchiefs, whether hands it were in corrupting Judgment by Bribes, or countenancing fraud - and oppreſſion, and hardening themſelves againſt Gods Threarnings, or whatever elſe, they were encouraged by the Lyes of the falſe Prophets, they and the Prieſts and Princes combining, and ſetting themſelves againſt the true Prophets of God, Chap. 26.8. and thus the Prieſts in effe& take the management of all the affairs into their own hands; ſo the Heb. rake into their hands, which intimatcs the. Authority they uſedin their Miniſtry. 6 They are very well pleaſed with the Flatteries and Lyes of the falſe Prophets, nor being able to bear the Truths that were delivered them from God, Mic. 2. 11» £9. 4, Whither do you think theſe things will tend? You muſt look for nothing bur utter ruine as the fruit and eff:& of ſuch doings, Mic. 3+1t, 12. when this City, which you look upon to be perpe- tuated, ſhall be overthrown, and you utterly periſh in its ruine, how miſerably will you find your ſelves to be deluded by your falſe Prophets, and diſappointed in your hopes ? A ſad 4pofopaſis concere ning the extermunarting of the People by the Chaldeans.
} Or, . __ [|
> | +. :
* ”-
SH ADP. vi
God ſendeth and ftrengthneth the Babylonians again Judah, ! her Oppreſſion and Spoils, 6 8. and Obſtinacy; which provokes God's Wrath and th:ir Deſtrufion, 9g 12: Their Covetouſneſs, falſe Confidence, and Impudence ; People and Prieſts refuſe to obey God, 134 —17, Their Hypocritical Warſhip ſhall not prevent their [ure Deſtrufion, 18 === 25 The People called to mourn. 26. The Prophet encouraged under . their
Wickeaneſs, and the Fruitleſneſs of his Miniſtry among them, 27 30. Ye children of a Benjamin, 6 gather your ſelves
5. ft
|
| () to flee out of the midſt of Jeruſalem, and blow
the trumpet in c Tekoa : and ſer up a fign of 2 fire in Bech-haccerem : for evil appeareth out of the e North,