And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.
Ver. 24. And they shall go forth and look upon the carcases.] Rhetoricians tell us that in the introduction to a discourse τα ηθη milder affections, suit best to insinuate; but in the conclusion τα παθη, passionate passages, such as may leave a sting behind them and stick by the hearers. This art the prophet here useth, for being now to period his prophecy, he giveth all sorts to know what they shall trust to. The godly shall go forth, i.e., salvi evadent, liberi abibunt; they shall have safety here, and salvation hereafter. "They shall also look upon the carcases," &c.; they shall be eye-witnesses of God's exemplary judgments executed on the wicked, that would not have Christ to reign over them, Rev 19:21 who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the glory of the Lord and from the presence of his power. 2Th 1:9 This the righteous shall "see, and fear, and laugh at them," Psa 52:6 giving God the glory of his justice and goodness. Some think they shall have at the last day a real sight of hell, and the damned there, Rev 14:10 and this may very well be. Oh that wicked men would in their daily meditations take a turn or two in hell, and so be forewarned to flee from the wrath to come! Is it nothing to have the worm of conscience ever grabbing upon their entrails, and the fire of God's vengeance feeding upon their souls and flesh throughout all eternity? Oh that sternity of extremity! Think of it seasonably and seriously, that ye never suffer it. The Jewish masters a have, in some copies, wholly left out this last verse, as in other copies they repeat - both here and in the end of Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, and Malachi - the last verse save one, which is more sweet and fuller of comfort; and that for this reason, that the reader may not be sent away sad, and so fall into desperation. But of that there is no such danger, since most people are over slight in their thoughts of hell torments, regarding them no more than they do a fire painted on the wall, or a serpent wrought in arras. And besides, non sinit in Gehennam incidere, Gehennae meminisse, saith Chrysostom: to remember hell, is a good means to preserve us from it. This verse hath sufficient authority from our Saviour's citing of it. Mar 9:44 See Trapp on " Mar 9:44 " Plato b also - if that be anything - in his description of hell, which be calleth πυριφλεγετων, a fiery lake, saith the same as here - that their worm dieth not, neither is their fire quenched. He might possibly have read Isaiah as he had done Moses. It is thought, Laertius telleth us, that he travelled into Egypt, where he conversed with some Hebrews, and learned much of them. c
And they shall be an abhorring to all flesh,] i.e., All good men abominate them now as so many living ghosts, walking carcases, Eph 2:2 Pro 29:27 and shall much more at the last day, when they shall arise again to everlasting shame and contempt. Dan 12:2
“ Scribendo haec studui bene de pietate mereri;
Sed quicquid potui, Gratia, Christe, tua est. ”
a Amama in Antibarb.
b In Phaed. p. 400.
c Inde dictus este, Moses Atticus.