And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out [the inhabitants of] the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.
Ver. 19. Drave out the inhabitants of the mountain.] Or, Possessed the mountain: for the same Hebrew word Jarash, signifies to possess and to dispossess.
But could not drive out.] Indeed, for want of faith: else they might have driven them out; Si ex fide fortiter pugnassent: to faith all things are feasible. Is not the same God, God of the valleys also, as well as of the mountains? But as it is said that Mar 6:5 our Saviour "could do no mighty work" - that is, he would do no mighty work - "in his own country, because of their unbelief," so was it here.
These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
Ver. 19. Who separate] From Church assemblies, upon pretence of newer lights, greater holiness. The Arabic renders it, intermitters, sc. of Church worship. Such as upon pretence of a more than ordinary holiness, and I know not what imaginary perfection, thought they might give over hearing of the word, as having immediate teaching; and separated from holy duties, as the words following show.
Sensual] Gr. ψυχικοι, animal; such as have no more than a reasonable soul, and are yet in their pure naturals, 1 Corinthians 2:14, and by their profane practices animas etiam incarnaverunt, have turned their very spirits into a lump of flesh.
Having not the Spirit] Unless it be the spirit of delusion, as Muncer the Anabaptist had, who wrote a book against Luther, dedicated it "To the most illustrious Prince Christ" (as his words are), uphraideth Luther with want of the Spirit, and calleth him a carnal man, a silly soul. (Scultet. Annal. 338.)