Matthew Henry

and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the women who sew magic charms on their wrists and make veils for the heads of people…

“Or perhaps the expressions are figurative: they did all they could to make people secure, which is signified by laying them easy, and to make people proud, which is signified by dressing them fine with handkerchiefs, perhaps laid or embroidered on their heads.”

You have profaned Me among My people for handfuls of barley and scraps of bread.

“But they did it for poor gain; if they could get no more for it, rather than break they would sell you a false prophecy that should please you to a nicety for the beggar's dole, a piece of bread or a handful of barley…”

Because you have disheartened the righteous with your lies, even though I have caused them no grief, and because you have encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil…

“Nor can any thing strengthen the hands of sinners more than to tell them that they may be saved in their sins without repentance, or that there may be repentance though they do not return from their wicked ways.”

therefore you will no longer see false visions or practice divination. I will deliver My people from your hands. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”

“God's people shall be delivered out of their hands. When they see themselves deluded by them into a false peace and a fool's paradise, and that though they would not leave their sin their sin has left them, and they see no more vanity nor…”

Then some of the elders of Israel came and sat down before me.

“Note, It is no new thing for bad men to be found employed in the external performances of religion. The account which God gave the prophet privately concerning them.”

“Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I consult with them in any way?

“Note, Sinners are their own tempters ( every man is tempted when he is drawn aside of his own lust ), and so they are their own destroyers.”

Therefore speak to them and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘When any Israelite sets up idols in his heart and puts a wicked stumbling block…

“God will punish them as he usually punishes idolaters, that is, when they stand in need of his help he will send them to the gods whom they have chosen, Judg. x.”

Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Repent and turn away from your idols; turn your faces away from all your abominations.

“Let this separate between you and them, that they separate between you and God; because they set God's face against you, do you turn away your faces from them, " which denotes, not only forsaking them, but forsaking them with loathing and detestation: "Turn from…”

in order that the house of Israel may no longer stray from Me and no longer defile themselves with all their transgressions.

“Note, Those whom God takes into covenant with himself must first be cleansed from the pollutions of sin; and those who are so cleansed shall not only be saved from ruin, but be entitled to all the privileges of God's people.”

“Son of man, if a land sins against Me by acting unfaithfully, and I stretch out My hand against it to cut off its supply of food, to send famine…

“The denying and withholding of common mercies is itself judgment enough, there needs no more to make a people miserable.”

then even if these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were in it, their righteousness could deliver only themselves, declares the Lord GOD.

“That, though pious praying men may not prevail to deliver others, yet they shall deliver their own souls by their righteousness, so that, though they may suffer in the common calamity, yet to them the property of it is altered; it is not to them…”

then even if these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were in it, their righteousness could deliver only themselves, declares the Lord GOD.

“Noah, Daniel, and Job, are supposed to pray for this people, and yet, because the decree has gone forth, and the destruction of them is determined by a variety of judgments, their prayers shall not be answered,”

Or if I bring a sword against that land and say, ‘Let a sword pass through it,’ so that I cut off from it both man and beast,

“It is bad enough if the sword do but enter into the borders of a land, but much worse when it goes through the bowels of a land. By it God cuts off man and beast, horse and foot.”

Yet, behold, some survivors will be left in it—sons and daughters who will be brought out.

“Note, It is a very comfortable sight to see people, when they are under the rod, repenting and humbling themselves, justifying God and accepting the punishment of their iniquity.”

Can wood be taken from it to make something useful? Or can one make from it a peg on which to hang utensils?

“Among the plants, the roots of some, the seeds or fruits of others, the leaves of others, and of some the stalks, are most serviceable to us; so, among trees, some are strong and not fruitful, as the oaks and cedars; others are weak but…”

No, it is cast into the fire for fuel. The fire devours both ends, and the middle is charred. Can it be useful for anything?

“When it is good for nothing else it is useful this way, and answers a very needful intention, for fuel is a thing we must have, and to burn any thing for fuel which is good for other work is bad husbandry.”

Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so…

“Note, Those who are not fruitful to the glory of God's grace will be fuel to the fire of his wrath; and thus, if they give not honour to him, he will get himself honour upon them, honour that will shine brightly in that flaming…”

Then I bathed you with water, rinsed off your blood, and anointed you with oil.

“When God said, Israel is my son, my first-born--Let my people go, that they may serve me, that word, backed as it was with so many works of wonder, thoroughly washed away their blood; and when God led them under the convoy of the pillar…”

Therefore I stretched out My hand against you and reduced your portion.

“For this they were justly chastised by the Philistines. Or it may refer to the inroads which the Philistines made upon the south of Judah in the reign of Ahaz, by which it was weakened and impoverished, and which was the beginning of sorrows to…”

He took some of the seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil; he placed it by abundant waters and set it out like a willow.

“This was one of the seed of the land, a native, not a foreigner, not one of his Babylonian princes; he was planted in a fruitful field, for so Jerusalem as yet was; he placed it by great waters, where it would be likely to…”

It sprouted and became a spreading vine, low in height, with branches turned toward him; yet its roots remained where it stood.

“This plant grew, and though it was set as a willow-tree, and little account was made of it, yet it became a spreading vine of low stature, a great blessing to his own country, and his fruits made glad their hearts; and it is better…”

But there was another great eagle with great wings and many feathers. And behold, this vine bent its roots toward him.

“Those two great potentates, the kings of Babylon and Egypt, were but two great eagles, birds of prey.”

So you are to tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Will it flourish?

“He needs not great power and many people to effect his purposes; a handful will serve if he pleases.”

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Now say to this rebellious house: ‘Do you not know what these things mean?’

“He promises hereafter to raise the royal family of Judah again, the house of David, in the Messiah and his kingdom,”

“Now say to this rebellious house: ‘Do you not know what these things mean?’

“Let us now see what the matter of this message is. Nebuchadnezzar had some time ago carried off Jehoiachin, the same that was called Jeconiah, when he was but eighteen years of age and had reigned in Jerusalem but three months, him and his princes…”