Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness [which] they have prescribed;
Ver. 1. Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees.] Having denounced woe to wicked of all sorts, the prophet here threateneth wicked princes in particular, as the chief causes of God's judgments by their misgovernment. Periculosissimum prophetae factum, et cui seditionis dica scribi poterat! a This was boldly done of the prophet, and there wanted not those doubtless that would say it was sedition. Luther, for like cause, was called the trumpet of rebellion; sc., for declaring against the Pope's decrees and decretals, though never so unrighteous and vexatious; not much short of that made by Nero, Whosoever confesseth himself a Christian - so a Protestant - let him, without further defence of himself, be put to death as a convicted enemy of mankind!
And that write grievousness.] Or, And to the writers that write grievous things - viz., the public notaries, registrars, and other under officers; such as were those Persian scribes and posts, Est 3:12-13 who should, in such a case, have obeyed God rather than men.
a Scultet.