þ Some think this Prophecy was fulfilled in Nehemiah and Zoro- bab:1, who were pious and good Governours, and conſulted in cheir Government the good of the people committed to their trult, Neh. 2.10. and 5.14. Others rather underſtand it of Chriſtian Princes and Governours under the Golpel. 7 Under whom they ſhall live peaceably and ſecurely. k And none of them ſhall pe- r1:ih. The two laſt paſſages of this Verle incline Interpreters to tHink,that this promiſe doth not ſo much reter to their coming out of Babylon, as to their ſpiritual deliverance by Chriit; for after their return out of B:by/0n they were not lecure long, but feared Sanb4llut and Tobiah, the Grecians and Romans and other Enemies; beſides that the laſt words exattly agree with Fobn 10. 28, when Chriſt ſaith his Sheep ſhould nor periſh, and it appears Ver. 6. that the Prophet is ſpeaking of a time, when not Fudah only, but Iirzel alſo ſhould be ſaved, and the nexc Verie doth manifeſtly re- fer unto'Chritt.
& 49.11. that I will raiſe unto David,-a righteous branch /,
Chap. I4,1 Fo
Dan. 9. 24. Joh. 1-45»
* Deut.33.
<.v.;
* Chap. 33. 16, T Heb. F-hovurh-
55* a king ſhall reign, and proſper, and ſhall execute ju-
ſtice and judgment 1a the earth m.
1 Though fome Interpreters think that Zorobabel may be here intended, who was defcended trom David, and ruled the peoplc when they came our of Babyl;r, yet, even the Fewiſh Doctors themſcelves, as well as the £hri/tian Interpreters, underſtand this as a Prophecy, and promiſe of the Meſſiah; the Prophecies and Promiſes of whom are uiually uſhered in with this Particle Behold, to ſtir up Peoples attention, and who alſo was the Son of David, and who is ca)led the branch, Iſa. 4.2, and 53. 2+ Zech.3.8. I/e. I1.1. Wherethe reaſon is alto given, he being there called 4 rod out of the ſtem of Jeſſe, a branch out of his root. Beſides that, the application to him ot the Name K7ng,ordinarily applied to Chriſt, never given to Zorobab.!, and the term Righteous makes it evi- dent, Chap. 33.15. He iscalled a branch of Rzghteouſaeſs, which is the ſame wich the Rzghteous Branch, here mentioned : He is called the Righteous Branch, not only becauſe himſelf was Righteozs,
cauſe he miketh his people Righteous, I/a.5 3.11. 8& 60.21. m Jelus' Chriſt anſwering the Type of Mclchizedech the Ring of Salem, and | who is the King of Kings, 1 Tim. 6. 15. ſhallreign ſpiritually and | ſhall not be like Fecontuh of whom God ſaid he ſhould not proſper, | bu: he ſhall proiper and ſhall execute Juſtice and Fudgment, pro- | tedting the innocent, and defending his People throughout the World, judging the Prince of the World, and by his Spirir go- verving his People, $9 as the Prophet relieveth the People of God under their Oppreſiions by theie latter Kings of Fudah, with | the promile of the Kingdom of Chriſt ; an uſual argument made | ute of by the Prophet to comfort the people of God in thoſe days | againſt any Evils come, cr coming upon them. |
6 In his days Judah ſhall he * ſaved, and Iſrael
ſhall dwell ſafely : and * this zs his name whereby he ſhall be called che THE LORD OUR RIGHTE-
OUSNESS mw. | u During the Reign and Kingdom of the Meſſias ( whoſe King-!
He threacned Fehoiahim and F-hoiakin or Feconi41, that they
5 Behold, * the days come, faith the LORD, |
'
therefore called the Righteous One, Affs 3.14. & 13. 35. but be-!
; whole courſe of their aCtions was naught, and particularly the!
M14 H
7 Therefore belold the days come, ſaith the LORD, that they ſhall no more ſay, The LORD li- veth, which brought up the children of Iſcacl cut of Egypt.
8 But the LORD liveth, which hrouzht up, and which led the feed of the houſe of Iſr1-i out of th: north-country, and from all countreys whether | had driven them, and they ſhall divell in their ow: land x.
x See the Notes on Chap. 16. 14, 15. Where much the {4Te words are to be found. The Prophet ageravate:th-the greats wt that Salvation which ſhould be brought by Chriit co 311 the trus Ifratl of God, by comparing it with the deliverance of the ancienr {[razl of God out of the Land of Egyp: ; which he faith ir ſhould fo far tranſcend and excel, that the Deliverance out of Ezyp: ſhould not be named, when this Salvation ſhould appear, which ſhou!4 be after their return from Babylon, and when God ſhould gather them from all Countries, which was fulfiled, when by the preaci:- ing of the Goſpel, notthe Gentiles only were converted, but ma- ny of the Jews alſo which were ſcattered abroad, J:m-s r. 1. r P21. 1. 1. Poſſibly part of this promiſe or prophecy remiins vet to be accompliſh-d ; tor the Jews are not yet come to dwell in 55+: own Land ; unleis that term be to be expounded of Chriſt ans,v1o during the times of perſecution in the prunitive Church, were icattered adroad, but upon the ceaſing of choſe perſecutions. when Chriſtian Emperours came to have the Governmegt, re- turned co their own Countries, where they enjoyed a more 2i'] and quiet Habitation.
9 Y Mine heart within me is broken, becauſe of che prophets all my bones thake y - I am like a drun- Ken man, and hkea man whom wine hath overcome ; becauſe of the LORD z, aud becauſe of the words of his holineſs 4.
y The Prophet having denounced the Wrath of God again the wicked Rulers of Jud2h ander the Notion of Paſtcrs, cometh here codilcharge the lixe truſt with reference to thole orders of perſons a:nongſt the Jews, whole Otfice it was. or at leaſt, who took upon caem co reveal the Mind and Will of Godto the people, and who were upon that account called Prophets ; for thele he declares 2 great paſhon and trouble ; eicher tor their fake i proſpect of that Vengeance of God which he ſaw was like to be poured out upon them, or for the peoples ſake who had been deceived bv their un- taichful Revelations of the Divine Will,and led into wick-dnets by their vile Examples. For this he faith his heart was broken, his bones ſhaked. And he was even aftoniſhed and ftupified, and I:ke a drunxen Man he knew not what he did; he was fo ftriken at the | apprehenſtons of the Wrath ot che Lord ready to be reveaied a- | gainſt them. 4a And to confiier what words the Holy God had ' put into his Mouth, to ipeak againſt them.
10 For * the land 1s fult of Adulterers 6, for be-* Chap. caule of || ſwearing the land monurneth c *: the HA-ge {pleaſant places of the wilderneſs are dried up 4, ; 5,
Chap. XX
and their || courle is evil, and their force :5 not ;;--,
right e.