Verse 8

For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:

In that day — In the day when God should deliver the seed of Jacob out of trouble.

His yoke — The yoke of the king of Babylon, that power of his, which for seventy years he exercised over the Jews.

Of him — Of the Jews.

Verse 9

But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.

But — Either this must be understood of the kingdom of Christ, under which the Jews that received him were made spiritually free: or there is a time yet to come, when this ancient people of God shall be restored to a farther civil liberty than they have enjoyed ever since the captivity of Babylon.

Verse 11

For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.

In measure — Not in equity only, but with moderation.

Unpunished — But yet God will not let his own people go unpunished, that by it they may be reclaimed, and the world may take notice that God is of purer eyes than that he can, in any persons, behold iniquity.

Verse 12

For thus saith the LORD, Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous.

For — They had sinned to that degree that God had resolved they should go into captivity.

Verse 13

There is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines.

No medicine — The prophet's design was to convince them, that there was no present remedy, but patience, though their false prophets might promise a cure.

Verse 14

All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased.

Thy lovers — The Egyptians and Assyrians.

Verse 23

Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked.

A continuing — Not a sudden blast, that shall presently go over, but a vengeance that shall abide.

Verse 24

The fierce anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it.

Consider — And though at present they will not consider, yet afterward, when they see things come to pass, then they shall consider what I have told them.