The LORD hath purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion: he hath stretched out a line, he hath not withdrawn his hand from destroying: therefore he made the rampart and the wall to lament; they languished together.
Ver. 8. The Lord hath purposed to destroy.] Non casu, non subito, non temere, sed maturo el destinato decreto. God's providence (which is nothing else but the carrying on of his decree) extendeth to smallest matters, much more to the subversion of states and cities.
He that stretched out a line,] scil., Of destruction, or a levelling line. See 2Ki 21:13 Isaiah 34:11. Jerusalem was built by line, and so it was destroyed by him who doeth all things in number, weight, and measure.