Therefore, thou son of man, prepare thee stuff for removing,.... Or, "vessels of captivity" s, such as persons take along with them when they go a journey, or into a far country; such as a staff, scrip, purse, shoes, c. or household goods such as tables, chairs, and the like, which are removed when a person goes from one house to another; by which sign they of the captivity were to be taught that Zedekiah and the people of the Jews should in like manner be carried captive into Babylon; which they were not willing to believe, and the false prophets had told them the contrary:
and remove by day in their sight; be carrying the stuff out, day by day, several days running, as Jarchi from Menachem interprets it; that they may see and take notice of it, and ask the reason of it; which, when known, they might send to their correspondents at Jerusalem, and acquaint them with it:
and thou shall remove from thy place to another place in their sight; from the house in which he dwelt, to another house at some distance; yet so as to be seen by them, both from whence and whither he moved:
it may be they will consider; or "see" t; make use of their eyes, and of their understandings, and think better of things. The Targum is,
"perhaps they will fear;''
the Lord, and regard his prophets, and be afraid of his judgments:
though they [be] a rebellious house; such who are the most obstinate may be reclaimed.
s כלי גולה "vasa transmigrationis", Pagninus, Montanus, Starckius; "instrumenta migrationis", Junius Tremellius, Piscator, Polanus. t אולי יראו "fortasse visuri sunt", Junius & Tremellius, Polanus "fortasse videbunt", Piscator, Starckius.