Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them.
Ver. 5. Thus the Jews smote all their enemies] It was the Lord's work, and therefore to do it negligently, to keep back their swords from blood, had been to incur that curse, Jeremiah 48:10, as Saul did in sparing Agag, 1 Samuel 15:9; Ahab in showing mercy to Benhadad, whom God had destined to destruction, 1 Kings 20:42. These Jews, as so many judges, were set up by God to do to death these desperate enemies; and since there was no hope of curing, to fall to cutting, Immedicabile vulnus ense recidendum est, Incurable wound inflicted by a sword, that others might hear and fear, and do no more so, but see and say with the psalmist, Verily there is a reward for the righteous; verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth.
With the strokes of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction] Here then we see what punishments they deserve that are enemies to the Church, and sooner or later they shall be sure of. For as hard weather rotteth not in the air, so neither do the judgments against persecutors. God himself hath against them, and will surely have his pennyworths of them; his hand that is lifted up in threatening, Isaiah 26:11, will not fail to fall down in punishing; and the higher it is lifted the heavier it shall fall. Subito tollitur qui diu toleratur. Suddenly he was destroyed who for a long time was endured. "They shall fall by the sword; they shall be a portion for foxes," Psalms 63:10. The spoiler shall be spoiled, Isaiah 33:1; and he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword, Revelation 13:10 2 Thessalonians 1:6 .
And did what they would unto those that hated them] Where it is to be hoped, that they furbished the sword of justice with the oil of mercy, that they remembered that of the philosopher, Posse et nolle nobile est, to be able and unwilling is noble, that in some cases a man must not do all that he may do; as there be some, again, wherein severity ought to cast the scale. The Turks' severity I can by no means like, that will rather cut off two innocent persons than let one guilty man go free. Nor that of the Venetians, who punish with death such as steal from the State but one penny, if it be proved against them. Again, care must be taken that justice be not executed (whether in a civil or military way) with a vindictive mind, but all selfish actions carefully strained out. Private revenge leaveth a stain upon a man some ways innocent, witness Jehu; and puts an innocence upon the greatest offender, witness Abner.