This Verſe countenanceth their Conje&ure who take the Locuſts and Vermin to be emblematical in part as well as literal ; for it ſeems not very ſutable, to call their Teeth, Teeth of a Lion. r An innumerable multitude of Locuſts and Caterpillars, called a Nation here, as Solomon calls the Conies and the Ant, Prov. 30. 25, 26. A Prognoſtick of a very numerous and mighty Nation, that e're long: will invade Fudah, $s Or ſuddenly will come rs upon Canaan whichs
on F- ecult eaten ; and that which the locuſt hath leff, hath the _ calls bs Land, =— PRONE tive boos IDeS, Fudth 1c i canker-worm eaten; and that which the cankerworm | FIF1y, rakene | # Mighty in Tourer, anc undaunted in Courage, - hath Bros you refer 1t to the Afſyriin Or BaUy:ontans 3 1 tot ole Vermin, they e 0 ih left, hath the caterpillar caten. are, though each weak by it ſelf, yet in thoſe Multitudes whick Four ſorts of Inſe&s pernicious to all ſorts of Trees, Corn and | come, {trong enough, and irrefiſtable, and ſhall do God's Work 3
erbs, are here mentioned, which did ſucceed each ather, and de- *Oured all that might be a future Support ro the Jews 3 wherice "led a grievous Famine for four Years together, ſay the Jewiſh Jn- yrerers, tho there is nv cogent Reaſon in what they mention for roof hereof. Theſe Inſefts might in the ſame Year ſucceed each nngh, the one, as is uſual, might come ſooner, the reſt ſuccefively, *2CN 1N It's
2 (I do believe) really ; and tho thele might be Emblems of ſome We Devaſtation, yet it ſeems m2ſt arable to Reaſon, and the
Seaſon, and ſo ſpoil the ſpringing of all things, which they |
|
that is, waſte the Land, and devour all before them. x Not fimply numberleſs,. vut in ſuch Multitudes none of you ſhall be able to re- count them. » A ſtrong Lion, of the middle Age, that hath Whelps, and hunts the Prey for them. #4 Which is old, and the more Ferce and terrible in his Looks, no way lefjcned in his Strength, and thar
preys for his young ones ; now what Waſte fuch Lions make, ſuch n
theſe Locuſts will make, ſuch 4jly-t2n5 will make.
” I
208
| . ws laid my fc 7 He a hath laid my vige waſte 6, and + barked c my ,;.. y *£
FC u
h2-tree :4..! ;- - . w
Chap. I.
| Or,af#a- corn is waſted t: the nzw wine is |} dried up 4, the oil x
med,
Rg-tree : he hath made it clean bare d, and caſt zt away e, the branches f thereof are made white.
a That Nation of Locufts, ver. 6. both literally and myſtically un- derſtood. & Made it a Deſolation, 7. e. moſt deſolate, which is more particulariy declared in what followeth. ©c PeePd off the Bark, which 15 certain Deſtruction to the Tree, 4 Eat off all the Rin, and green Bars, and Jett the Budy of both Vine and Fig-tree bare and ftript. e As Vermin-caſt out of their Mouth the Chewing of what they ſpoil ; lo here. j All the Branchcs of both Vine and Fig-tree are by thele devouring Vermin made uv Þite, all their green being eaten oft ; ſo miterably defolate will the Enemy fignified by theſe Locuſts make Fudah God's Vine. _ "© ;
8 & Lament f like a Virgin g girded with ſackcloth þ for the husband of her youth z.
The Vicious and Wicked among the Jews were alarmed and threatned in the !tormer part of the Chapter; Now the Prophet beſpeaks the Good and Gcdly among them, to prepare tor mourntul
Times. f Thus is minatory, and threatens calamitous Times ſhall |
come, as well as direit:iv?, what to do V hen they are come ;z when God calls for weeping, we muſt not rejoice. & This tells us to whom the Prophet diretts this part of his Sermon z tis to thoſe who amidft the Jews were like chaſte and modeſt Virgins, whole Heart was fixed on one, her own, her cholen beloved Husband. þ In deep Mourn- ings the People of thoſe Countries did ule Sackcloth in their Mourn- izg-Habit,and wore it girded clole to their kin, 7 Either married to her in youth, or eſpouled to her, but lnatchd away from her by an untimely Death, which ſhe doth moſt birterly lament.
9 The mcat-offering k, and the drink-offering ! js cut off 1 from the houſe of the LORD x ; the prieſts o the
LORDS miniſters p mourn 7. {
& Which b; Divine Appointment was tO be cf tne Flower, Oil and Erankincenſe, as ev. 2, I, &c. ant 6. 14, So This Meat-offering was neceſſary 10 every Sacrifice ottered under the Law ; ſo that with- out the Mincha, or Meat-offering, the Sacrifice was maimed and ille- gal, 1 Required daily, as appears £594. 29. 40, 41, and Numb,2s.s, a fourth part of a Hin of Wine, tor one Lamb, Numb, 28.7, m By the Deftrucion of the Vines, by the Locults fore-mentioned, all that Wine (out of which they ought to offer the Drink-offering, ) did fail. z It was to be poured out it Wine, and part ot the Meat-offering was ro be burnt on the Altar ; lo both wee .lipotedaccording to the Law, in the Houle of the Lord. 0 Sons of A:ron, with the Lev r's, p Who did fervethe Lord in the Services of the Temple, q Grieve :nwardly, and expreſs it by outward Signs ; theſe had more cauſe than others to mourn : for as they had equal caule with others in reſpect to God, whoſe Service hereby failed, lo the Prieſts, in reſpect to their private
f0 EL.
Growth, and that doth rile under the Weight which would depret it, Pſul. 92. 12. With thele Fz-kiel's Temple was adorned, chap, Ne 18, 25, 26. with the Branches of thele triumphant Shews were I made, but theſe are wither'd and dry. g The Fruit wheregf __ very uſeful, and did -ordinarily well recompenſe the Care of the Planter ; but now as other Trees fail them. h None ſo hardy and able to bear unkind Scalons, but are now deftroyed by the Tua
ments of God in Drought and Locufts, 4 Not as in Antumn, yy, the Leaf falleth, but becauſe the Root fails, is either dead or BR
Ee IIS
| k Or, therefore, or, ſurely; for the Particle here uled is oftentimes. | aſſertive, not cautal, 1 All Mirth and Liveline(s of Men is blaſte? with this diſmal Blaſt upon their Labours and Hopes, they canoe rejoice who foreſee they ſhall be, nay are alreaty pinci'd with war. and Famine. " [0 Gird 1 your ſelves, and lament m1, ye Prieſts y
howl +, ye Miniſters of the altar o : come, lie all night þ in ſackcloth, ye Miniſters of my God q : for the Mea. | offering, and the Drink-oftering is withholden trom the | houſe of your God x.