Speak unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the excellency of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pitieth; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left shall fall by the sword.
Ver. 21. Behold, I will profane my sanctuary.] I will put it into the hands of profane persons to be spoiled and polluted, for a punishment of your manifold pollutions of it.
The excellency of your strength.] The Jews had too high a conceit of, and did put too much confidence in, their temple, which therefore they called, as here, the "excellency of their strength," the "desire of their eyes," and that which their soul pitied, animarum indulgentiam. "The temple of the Lord!" they cried; but the Lord of the temple they cared not for. Jer 7:4