Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired;
Gather yourselves together - to a religious assembly, to avert the judgment by prayers, (Joel 2:16, "Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders," etc.) So Jerome (Grotius). Or, so as not to be dissipated "as the chaff" (Zephaniah 2:2). The Hebrew х hitqowshªshuw (H7197)] is akin to a root meaning chaff х qash (H7179)] (Kimchi). Gather yourselves, so as to rid yourselves of all chaff-like vanities and sins. Self-confidence and corrupt desires are the dissipations from which they are exhorted to gather themselves (Calvin). The foe, otherwise, like the wind, will scatter you "as the chaff." Repentance is the gathering of themselves meant. 'Collect yourselves, and be ye collected' - i:e., collect your thoughts, and look into your state of mind (Gesenius). So Chaldee, Syriac, and the Septuagint versions. Maurer and Henderson, not so well, take the word from a root х qowsh (H6983)], bent, or curved in back, answering to a similar Arabic word, 'Bend yourselves, and be ye bent' - i:e., break down your haughty spirits, afflict yourselves, and so turn to repentance.
O nation not desired - (cf. 2 Chronicles 21:20, "Jehoram reigned eight years, and departed without being desired") -
i.e., not desirable; unworthy of the grace or favour of God; and yet God so magnifies that grace as to be still solicitous for their safety, though they had destroyed themselves, and forfeited all claims on His grace (Calvin). Margin, from Chaldee version, has, 'not desirous'-namely, of returning to God. Maurer and Gesenius translate х lo' (H3808) nikcaap (H3700), from kaacap (H3700), to be pale], 'not waxing pale' - i:e., dead to shame. But the Hebrew is never used of being pale through shame. In Isaiah 29:22 a different Hebrew verb is used, "Jacob shall not be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale." The English version, "not desired," may be explained as Calvin explains it, or else better, 'not (now, as formerly) a nation in whom God has pleasure,' or a desire toward: as 2 Chronicles 21:20 uses the similar, though not the same, Hebrew phrase: also Jeremiah 12:10, "my portion of desire," margin; Psalms 45:11, "so shall the King greatly desire thy beauty." But I prefer, as margin, Kimchi, and Buxtorf, taking the Hebrew in the ordinary sense. 'Not desiring'-namely, to repent,-not desiring to do that to which they are here exhorted, to gather themselves together for a national humiliation and repentance.