Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
Ver. 2. Speak to the children of thy people.] I say, "of thy people"; for I can scarce find in my heart to own them, they be so bad.
When I bring the sword upon a land.] The sword is of God's sending; Eze 14:17 and whencesoever it cometh, it is bathed in heaven. Isa 34:5 Think the same of any other public calamity, Amo 3:6 and therefore frame to a patient and peaceable behaviour under it. Among philosophers the most noted sect for patience was that of the Stoics, who ascribed all to fate.