Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, and is polluted with blood.
Divine institutions corrupted
It is supposed that Gilead here means Ramoth Gilead: the metropolis of the mountainous region beyond Jordan and south of the river Jabbok, known by the name of Gilead (Joshua 21:28; 1 Kings 4:18). It was here that Jacob and Laban entered into a sacred covenant with each other. It was once a very sacred place; it was one of the celebrated cities of refuge (Deu 20:23; Jos 23:28). The place, which was once a city of refuge, an institution of the God of heaven, had now been desecrated by wicked men, and become the scene of “iniquity” and “blood.”
I. That Divine institutions, specially designed for man’s good, are often corrupted by him. Whilst all places on earth are for the good of man, Gilead had a specific appointment.
1. The Bible is a special ordinance of God for good. Men have corrupted that by perverting its doctrines.
2. The Gospel ministry is a special ordinance of God for good.
II. That Divine institutions specially designed for man’s good, when corrupted become the worst of all evils. Holy Gilead, once the scene of Divine mercy, was now filled with “iniquity” and “blood.”
1. A corrupted Bible is the worst of all books. Political tyrannies, slaveries, wars, persecutions, have all been sanctioned and encouraged by a corrupted Bible.
2. A corrupted pulpit is the worst of all ministries. (Homilist.)