The Prophet is commanded to abſtain from Marrizge, from Mourning, or Feſtival Aſſemblies ; hereby repreſenting to them their approach- ing Miſery, 1, —— 9. Their Sins which cauſed it, 10, — 13. Their ftrange Deliverance from Babylon, 14, 15. Afeer that their Iniquity is recompenced, 16, -— 18- The Prophet's Comfort in the calling of the Gentiles, 19, — 21.
I HE word of the LORD came alſo unto me, ſaying, |
2 Thou ſhalt not take thee a wife, neither ſhalt thou have ſons nor daughters in this place a.
4 It is uncertain whether what we have in this Chapter, be # new Revelation, or a Continuance of his former Prophecy. God commandeth the Prophet 1in it under certain Types, to foretell their utter Ruin and Deſtruftion. Firſt, he commandeth him to marry no Wife, nor have Sons or Daughters. He expoundeth this Command, Verſe 3, 4.
3. For thus faith the LORD concerning the ſons, and concerning the daughters that are born in this place, and concerning their mothers that bare them, and eoncerning their fathers that begat them in this
land, *Ch.15.2; 4 They ſhall die of * grievous deaths, they ſhall + 5 2roug
not be * lamented, neither ſhall they be buried ; b-t ,,, they ſhall he as dung upon the face of the earth, and
they ſhall He conſumed by the ſword, and by famine, *Pſal.-0; and their * carcaſes ſhall he meat for the fowls of, 7”
heaven, and for the beaſts of the earth b. Chap. 7. 3 b God in theſe Verſes opens the Reaſon why he would not have 33. and iT
the Prophet marry nor multiply Relations. In evil and calamitous 15. 3. and .2
times, thoſe who multiply Relations do but multiply Sorrows 34. 20.
and Affffiitions to themſelves. The Apoſtle in evil times tells the
Corinthians, that married Perſons ſhould have trouble in the fleſh,
I Cor. 7. 28. and Chriſt pronounceth a Woe to thoſe that ſhould
be with Child, and to thoſe that gave ſuck at the time when Hije-
ruſalem ſhould be beſieged. God tells the Prophet, he was re- +
ſolved that the People of this Land, both Young and O19, ſhould *
die miſerable Deaths, and die to faſt, that there ſhould be none ay
to bury them. They ſhould die by the Sword and the Famine,
and be devoured by the Fowls and the Beaſts ; and therefore it
was better for him to abide free from Relations, for whoſe. Miſe-
ries he would be as much concerned as for his own Affliction.
5 For thus ſaith the LORD, Enter not not into the houſe of || mourning «6, neither go to lament, norj Or; bemoan them : for I have taken away my peace from Mourning this people, faith the LORD, ever loving kindneſs -
and mercies d. | c MN, Marzeach, There is ſo great a difference in the Tran-
flation of this Word, that Amos 6. 7. the very ſame Word fignifieth a Banquet, and is ſo tranſlated, yet is there no Contradidtion ; for Banquets are now ( and probably anciently were ) in the Houſes of Mourning, as well as in the Houles of thoſe that rejoiced, It apeareth plainly by the Words that follow, that the Prophet was here forbidden togo to Funeral Feaſts, or to lament and bemoan any. 4d For ( faith God ) I have, that is, I will take away Peace from this People. Poſſibly the meaning of God might be this, Do not go to comfort ſuch as mourn for any Relations dead, ( for their Feaſtings upon thoſe Occaſions were upon a conſolatory account ; thence ver. 7. you read of a Cup of Conſo- lation ; ) for ſaith God, they have no need of it ; thoſe that die are moſt happy, for I will take away the peace of this People, and deprive them of al] my Mercy and Lovingkindneſs which I have hitherco ſhewed them. ; 6 Both the great and the ſinall ſhall die in this n land : they ſhall not be buried, neither ſhall mer la- ment for them e, nor * cut themſelves, nor * make * cy. 0.
themſelves bald for them f. 28. e There ſhall ſo many of all ranks and ſizes die in this land, Deut. 14- that Men ſhall have no time ro bury them, or there ſhall not r.
precions Truths of Gol from the vile Conceits of Men ; or ra-
be enough lett living to bury che dead ; nor ſhail Men, for their * Iſa. 22. Own T2.
Chap
[| Or,bret;; breai for them, as Ezex.. 24 17.
* Ia. 24. 7,8.
Chap.7. and the voice of gladneſs, the voice of the bride-
6;
34+ & 2 k.
10.EZe 26. 13.
* Chap. 5 19. & 13.
2 2,
* Ch.7.26. fl Or, jtab- bornne(;
. XVI.
own miſeries have leiſure to lament for the Miſertes of other Men, f Cutting themlelves in their fleſh, and cutting oft rhexr Hatr, were Pagan Cuſtoms, which God torbad his own People, bur yet it ſhould teem they practiſed thele barbarous Cuſtoms, bur faith God, I will put an end co that practice, Mena ſhall die fo taſtand in tuch MuJtitudes, as they ſhall have no letlure to cut themſelves, for luch asar2dead,they ſhall r.0: have tuch lolemn mournings as they have had. | -
7 Neither ſhall mee || tear themſelves for them in mourning to comfort them for the dead g, neither hall »c2 give them the cup of conſolation to driak for their tathcr or for their mother . BED