The Pulpit Commentary — Jude — Section 41

angels who valued not their role and their habitation. Lordship over them (In Christ) they despised; dignities (belonging to tho heavenly world) they railed at. 'l'hey did this when they should have been warned by the judgments on Israel and on the angels, Both these characteristics were displa_ved by them in their dreamings, i.e. "in the arbitrary fancies of their own perverted sense, which rendered them deaf to the truths and warnings oft.he Divine Word." V. TrrEIR CONDUCT CONTRASTED WITH THAT OF MICHAEL, 1. Micltael. "But Michael the archnngel, when contending with t.he devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not b1ing against him a railing judgment, but said, The Lord rebuke thee." " -;nd the Lord buried hi~ in a valley in the ~an~ of Moab, over against Beth-peor; bu, no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this aay." There was a Jewish tradition that the grave of Moses was given to the special custody of Michael, There seems also to have been a tradition (which cannot be traced) of a dispute which Michael had about the body of :Moses. 'l'hat the dispute was matter of fact is here certified. It throw~ light both on the importance of Moses and on the spirit of Michael. Of so much impor~nce was Mo~es to the Israelites that there was danger of their worshipping him after Ills death. His body was therefore put beyond their search, and placed under the care of Michael. 'l'he devil. assuming a claim to the body as death's prey, sought to get it back for the enticement of the Israelites. Michael, contending with him in defence of his charge, was indignant at the attempt to thwart the Divine purpose; but he did not allow himself to be abusive in his condemnation, Ha.vin<T respect to his adversary's original dignity, he simply said, "'l'he Lord rebuke thte." The same language wa.s used when a.n attempt was made to stop the building of the temple. Satan is represented as at the right hand of Joshua, the high priest, in the net of resisting him. The Lord (as Joshua's defender) said unto Sa.tan," The Lord rebuke thee.'' 2. Contrast. " But these rail at whatsoever things they know not: and what they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason, in these things are they destroyed." In contrast with Michael, these had no proper knowledge of the heavenly dignities that they railed at (of the nature and position given by God); there wa.s a. brutish kind of knowledge in which they were well advanced to their destruction. VI. DE~7JKCIATION OF THEM BASED ON .AFFINITIES TO EVIL MEN. "Woe unto them ! for they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah.n Jude, at this stage, becomes so impassioned that he regards the woe he pronounces on these men as already carried out. When Caiu would not listen to the Divine remonstrance, but went on his wilful way, and was punished by being made a fugitive and a vagabond, they were made fugitives and vagabonds with him. When Balaam was told not to go and curse Israel, but was swayed into a precipitous course by Balak:'s tempting offer, they were infatuated with him. When Kora.h set himself against the Divine appointment of Moses and .Aaron, and was swallowed up alive, they perished with him, VIL DESCRIPTION OF THEM BY .ASSOCIATION WITII CERTAIN NATURAL OBJECTS, 1. Iloclc.s. "'l.'hese are they who are hidden rocks in your Jove-feasts when they feast with you, shepherds that without fear feed themselves." In the same impassioned tone Jude seizes upon natural objP.cts to describe them, First of all he calls them "hidden rocks" (which is the right translation). When he contemplates them as "hidden rocks" is at the love-feasts. It wa0 the fact of their being bidden in their true characters that Jed to their having a place at the love-feasts. It was also the fact of their being hidden that made them so dangerous there, as it is the rock that is just covered with water that is so dangerous to vessels. It is wrong and confusing to bring in " shepherds;'' .All that is conveyed is that, with the characters they had, they should have been afraid to present themselves at the love-feasts; but instead of that, they feasted themselves at their pleasure. It was their want of moderation that was dangerous by way of example to others. 2. Clouds. "Clouds without water, carried along by winds." In seasor,s of druugh t cl,,uds sometimes appear in the sky that hold out the promise of rain to those who have been long artd anxiously looking for it; but they a.re only e. deception--they have nu rain in them to give out, and are carried past by the winds, So the men of whom Jude writes held out the promise of being a. blessing especially to the Christian society, but they were only a deception, having no spiritual influences in them to give forth to uny. ::S. T,UB. ".Autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the 1-25.] THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF JUDE. 41