Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins.
Ver. 2. Speak ye comfortably.] Speak to the heart, as Gen 34:3 Hosea 2:14. Cheer her up, speak to her with utmost earnestness, that your words may work upon her and stick-by her; do it solidly, not frigidly.
That her warfare is accomplished.] Militiam, not malitiam, as the Vulgate hath it; the word signifieth also a set term of time. See Dan 9:2 Galatians 4:4. God hath limited the saints' sufferings. Rev 2:10 Some by warfare here understand that hard and troublesome pedagogy of Moses' law, that yoke importable, Act 15:10 taken away by Christ.
That her iniquity is pardoned.] Heb., Her iniquity is accepted: perfectam esse poenam eius, so Piscator rendereth it. She might be under God's hand, though her sins were pardoned. The palsyman heard, "Son, thy sins are forgiven thee," some while before he heard, "Take up thy bed and walk."
That she hath received of the Lord's hand double,] i.e., Abundantly and in a large measure, satis superque, so much as to her merciful Father seemeth over and above, more than enough. "She hath received double for all her sins": and yet death is the just hire of the least sin. Rom 6:23 But this is the language of God's compassions rolled together and kindled into repentings; Jerusalem herself was of another judgment. Ezr 9:13 "Our God hath punished us less than our sins," and yet he reckoneth that we "fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ." Col 1:24