The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus [shall be] the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, [shall be] toward the LORD.
Ver. 1. The burden] i.e. The bitter and burdensome prophecy. See Trapp on " Mal 1:1 "
In the land of Hadrach] Better, on the land of Hadrach; because Messiah is chad, sharp, to the nations, but rach, gentle, to the Israelites; whereby is meant, not thy land, O Immanuel, or O Messiah (as Jerome, after Rabbi Benaiah), nor a country that is near or lying round about another country, as Junius and Danaeus expound the Syrian word; but either a province or a city of some note in Syria, not far from Damascus. Diodati maketh it to be an idol of the Syrians, which represented the sun; from which the country took its name, as Isa 8:8 Jer 48:46 Hosea 10:5 .
And Damacus] The metropolis of Syria, built, say some, in the place where Cain slew Abel; and there hence called Damesech, or a bag of blood; a great scourge to Israel; chiefly famous for Saint Paul's conversion there, and his rapture into the third heaven, during that three days' darkness, Act 9:9 cf. 2 Corinthians 12:2 .
Shall be the rest thereof] sc. Of that bitter burden which shall here abide, and be set upon its own base, as Zechariah 5:11. See a like expression John 3:36, the wrath of God abideth upon an unbeliever, tanquam trabali clavo fixa; he can neither avert nor avoid it.
When the eyes of man, &c.] That is, of other men, the Gentiles also, who as yet are carnal, and walk as men, shall be toward the Lord, lifted up in prayer and confident expectation of mercy. See Psalms 122:2 .