The great day of the LORD [is] near, [it is] near, and hasteth greatly, [even] the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.
Ver. 14. The great day of the Lord is near, it is near] It is the "day of the Lord," that fatal day appointed by him to ruin the nation; for with him it is all one, whether it be done against a nation or against a man only, Job 34:29. Next, it is his great day; because therein the great God will set himself to do great matters: how much more at the day of judgment, called also "a great day," Revelation 6:17; Revelation 16:14 .
This great day is near, yea, very near, it hasteth greatly] It hath wings, and wind under those wings, as Zechariah 5:9; it will be upon men ere they are aware; neither will anything more hasten it than their security and fearlessness. Think the same of the last day, which cannot but be at hand, and then the transgressors shall be destroyed together; the end of the wicked shall be cut off, Psalms 37:38 .
Even the voice of the day of the Lord] Methinks I hear it.
“ Fallor? an arma sonant? non fallimur, arma sonabant.
Mars venit, et veniens bellica signa dedit. ”
Jerome speaketh thus to himself, whether I eat, or drink, or sleep, methinks I hear that last trump sounding these words in mine ears, Surgite mortui, venite in iudicium, Arise, ye dead, and come to judgment. A very necessary meditation.
The mighty man shall cry there bitterly] How much more the turba imbellis, the weak and cowardly! they shall take up a loud lamentation, and cry with the breaking of their loins.