For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,
Ver. 1. For behold, in those days, and in that time] In his diebus illis ipsis, et in hoc tempore ipso, in those very selfsame days and in that selfsame time, sc. in the time of the Messiah, in the days of the gospel, when God shall deliver Jerusalem and call the remnant of the Gentiles, and so bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, of the whole Israel of God, preaching liberty to the captives, Isaiah 61:1, and proclaiming the everlasting jubilee, Job 8:3,6. In those happy days, I say, Jeremiah 23:5,6, woe to the wicked enemies of the Church, it shall go ill with them. They are sure to be broken with a rod of iron, to be dashed in pieces like a potter's vessel, Psalms 2:9, dashed against Christ the King, who, as he is piorum rupes, a rock of refuge to his people, such as was that to Moses, Exodus 33:22, so he is reorum scopulus, a rock of revenge to persecutors, to split them to pieces, such a rock as that out of which fire arose, Judges 6:21, the fire of God's jealousy, Zechariah 1:14, which burneth unto the lowest hell, Deuteronomy 32:22. Let them, therefore, have grace (as the apostle from this ground adviseth, Heb 12:28-29). Let them, at least, have so much wit for themselves as Pilate's wife had in a dream, to take heed of having anything to do with just men. Let them do as Tertullian counselled Scapula, If thou wilt not spare us, yet spare thyself; if not thyself, yet spare Carthage thy country, which will certainly suffer for thy cruelty to Christians: si non nobis, tibi; si non tibi, Carthagini parcas. God will reduce the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, which shall be as a cup of poison to all the people round about, as a burdensome stone, as a hearth of fire, Zechariah 12:2,3; Zechariah 12:6; See Trapp on " Zec 12:2 " See Trapp on " Zec 12:3 " See Trapp on " Zec 12:6 " Their destruction must needs go along with the saints' salvation, Php 1:28-29 Isaiah 8:9 Proverbs 11:8. The Jewish doctors collect from this and other like places in the prophets, that when the Messiah cometh, he shall recollect the Jews into the land of Canaan, where they shall get the better of their enemies, and have a most flourishing commonwealth and glorious Church. For this they daily expect the visible appearance of the Messiah, often throwing open their windows to behold, and crying all together to God, Let thy kingdom come, let it come quickly, even in our days, quickly, quickly, quickly (Buxtorf). That he stays so long is for our sins, say they, which are many. See Trapp on " Zec 14:2 " see Trapp on " Zec 14:3 "