The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks.
Ver. 2. The Lord God hath sworn by his holiness] He hath sworn for more assurance, Hebrews 6:16,18, it being hard to persuade secure sinners of the certainty and infallibility of the threatenings; which yet will as surely befall them without repentance, as the coat is on their back, or the heart in their bodies. And, "by his holiness," he hath sworn; that is, by himself (as having none greater to swear by); confer Gen 22:16 Jeremiah 51:14 Isaiah 45:23; Isaiah 62:8, where God swears by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength. Exodus 17:16, he is brought in laying his hand upon his throne, and swearing to root out Amalek. And so some in this place think, that by God's holiness is meant heaven, the habitation of his holiness, and of his glory, Isaiah 63:15. But Drusius dislikes that, because swearing by heaven is condemned by Christ, Matthew 5:34. If God be holiness itself, let him be sanctified in righteousness, Isaiah 5:16, and let men swear (when called to it, and not till then; the Hebrew word Neshbang here used is passive, and signifieth to be sworn, rather than to swear) "in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness," Jeremiah 4:2 .
Behold, the days come] Certo et cito, surely and suddenly: even those dismal days of blackness and darkness, of greatest calamities; see Amos 5:18; Amos 5:20. And let this prediction be to you as the knuckles of a man's hand, to write you your destiny; or as a prophet, to read it unto you.
That he will take you away] i.e. Ye shall be taken away, and hurried into another country; like as Isaiah 8:4, He shall take away the spoil of Samaria, i.e. It shall be surely taken away; so Luke 12:20, They do require thy soul (απαιτουσι), that is, it shall be required of thee.
With hooks] Heb. with thorns, which were wont to be used in fishing, till iron hooks were more frequent. See Job 40:24 Ezekiel 29:4; Ezekiel 19:4, They brought him with hooks, that is, with chains, into the land of Egypt. Those that were overcome were wont to be linked and langold together; and so led captive by their conquerors.
And your posterity with fishhooks] Heb. that which is last of you; your children, and nephews, as Daniel 11:4. It is foretold of Alexander the Great that none of his race shall succeed him, but strangers. See enemies compared to fishers, Jeremiah 16:16 Habakkuk 1:16; and note, that hereby is intimated, that these insolent dames shall be no more like fat kine, that abide in their pastures; but as fishes hanging on the hook, that are easily pulled up, and quickly carried away with little labour, but much delight to the fisher. See a like comparison from swimming, Isaiah 25:11, the motion wherein is easy and not strong; to show, that God can subdue his stoutest adversaries with greatest ease.