And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?
Ver. 2. And he spake before his brethren] i.e., before his companions and acomplices, who would second him and say the same, his Aiones and Negones, as one calleth such.
And the army of Samaria] The garrison soldiers; or those that lay there billeted, to observe the people.
What do these feeble Jews?] These beggarly shiftless fellows, these Asinarii (as Molon and Appion of Alexandria disgracefully called the Jews); like as Tertullian tells us that the Pagans painted the God of the Christians with an ass's head and a book in his hand; to note that they were silly and despicable people. Bishop Jewell, in a sermon of his, citeth this out of Tertullian, and addeth, Do not our adversaries the like at this day against all that profess the gospel?
Will they fortify themselves?] Heb. Will they leave to themselves, sc. anything to trust unto? Junius renders An sinerent eos? should they (sc. the officers and soldiers) suffer them thus to do?
Will they sacrifice?] sc. at the dedication of their new walls? Will they do this all at once? and think they, without more ado, to have the liberty of their sanctuary?
Will they make an end in a day?] It should seem so by their Cito, Cito, quick despatch of their parts and task, &c.
Praecipita tempus; mors atra impendet agenti (Sil. Ital.).
Will they revive the stones, &c.] Stones they lack for their new wall: where will they have them? will they glue together the old stones, and revive them out of the rubbish? will they do this? or, what will they do?