And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this [is] a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah.
Ver. 7. And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead] A lump of lead, the weightiest metal; noting the immoveable and immutable decree of God for the punishment of the wicked. Say to the wicked, tell him so from me, it shall go ill with him, Isaiah 3:11; iniquity shall be his ruin. This lump of lead is first lifted up, and then let down upon the ephah as an adequate covering; and betokeneth the grievousness and long continuance of the Jews' punishment and banishment for their parricide, or rather deicide, in crucifying the Lord of glory. A day of grace they had, but they knew it not; therefore is wrath come upon them to the utmost, or, until the end, or finally, so as it shall never be removed; so some interpret it (εις τελος, 1Th 2:16).
And this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah] In medio modii: and so she went forth or moved forward with an open face, and upper parts appearing, as not ashamed; the show of her countenance witnessed against her, she declared her sin as Sodom, Isaiah 3:9, and as Lot's daughters, who savoured too much of Sodom when, glorying in their shame, they called their incestuous brats Moab, that is, the begotten of my father, and Benammi, which sounds to the same sense. This woman is also said to sit, as resolved of her course. Confer Psalms 1:1; Psalms 50:20 : the Jews are still a stubborn and refractory people. Antiquum obtinent: "Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion!" &c., Psalms 14:7. Deus nos dignabitur clarissima visione cum reducet Zion, saith Jachiades, one of their Rabbis. I add, Fiat, Fiat. Do it, do it.