Jerusalem a cup of trembling to herself, and a burdensome stone to her adversaries. The victorious restoring of Judah. The repentance of Jerusalem.
Before Christ 517.
IT is not difficult to perceive, that the prophesies in this and the two following Chapter s relate to future times, and most probably to those predicted of by Ezekiel in the 38th and 39th Chapter s; where it is said, that Israel after their restoration and return to their own country would be assailed by a combination of many nations. Such an invasion is also here foretold; but it is not to be expected, that all the particulars of a distant prophesy should be clearly understood before the time of its accomplishment. It is at least likely, that when the time shall come for the re-establishment of the Jews (of which sufficient intimation is given in the prophesies both of the Old and New Testament), and they shall begin to collect themselves, and attempt a settlement in their ancient possessions, such a measure would create jealousy, and uneasiness in those powers more especially, who are interested in the dominion over those countries. The Turks, we know, are at present, and long have been, in possession of the country of Palestine; and in the opinion of many, who have brought specious arguments to justify it, particularly of the learned Jos. Mede, (p. 674 and 816.) their prince is intended by Gog, prince of Meshech and Tubal, Ezekiel 38:2; Ezekiel 38:23 and by the king of the north, Daniel 11:40; Daniel 11:45 concerning whom the like things are prophesied in those Chapter s respectively. Now should that power subsist at the time, it may fairly be presumed, that he, and any other power in the like circumstances, would oppose, with all their might, an attempt to set up an independent sovereignty in those parts. But without pretending to determine precisely concerning the invaders, the substance of the prophesy in this, and on to the seventh verse of the next chapter, will be found to amount to this: that Jerusalem will be besieged by a multitude of hostile nations, to the great terror of the people in its vicinity, as well as of Judah itself; but that the attempts of those nations will be frustrated through the special interposition of God, and will terminate in their total discomfiture and ruin, and in the permanent peace and prosperity of the victorious Jews. After which the Jews will be brought at length to see and lament the sin of their forefathers in putting their Messiah to death; will be admitted as members of the gospel-dispensation; and through the great atonement of the Messiah, and the grace of his Spirit, shall be cleansed from past guilt, will renounce all their former offensive practices, and carefully abstain from a future repetition of them.