And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This [is] the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
Ver. 21. And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee.] Quum a tergo tuo dicent, when they shall say behind thee - viz., thy teachers: a metaphor, say some, from shepherds driving their sheep, and whistling them in when ready to stray. a
When ye turn to the right hand, or to the left.] Heb., When ye right hand it, and when ye left hand it. It is hard to hold the king's highway chalked out in the word, without swerving - to walk accurately, and as it were in a frame; yet this must be done, and all exorbitancies carefully shunned. Hereunto the word preached is a singular help: God by his Spirit also sends for us in our strayings, and sets us right again. There will be upon any miscarriage, singultus cordis, sobbing of heart, an upbraiding or rising of heart, as it is termed by Abigail; 1Sa 25:31 the Spirit will come in with his secret and sweet voice, both correcting and directing pro re nata for unfolding affairs.
a Subest comparatio a pastore sumpta, qui oves sequitur, et aberrantes in viam revocat.