If you will open your eyes, you may see the lowering day of vengeance: see Ezekiel 7:7. The rod hath blossomed: this and what follows may refer either,
1. To Nebuchadnezzar and his Chaldeans, the rod of God's anger; they flourish, are strong and heavy, like to last too long in their strength to break Israel. Pride hath budded; as they flourish in strength, they exceed in pride and arrogance, which buddeth forth in the haughty designs they lay of raising themselves on the ruins of all countries.