Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
Therefore wait ye upon me. Here Yahweh turns to the pious Jews. Amidst all these judgments on the Jewish nation, look forward to the glorious time of restoration to be ushered in by God's previous outpouring of wrath on all nations (Isaiah 30:18-33; where the same phrase, "blessed are all they that wait for Him" is used as to the same great event.) Calvin erroneously makes this verse an address to the ungodly: and so Maurer, 'Ye shall not have to wait for me in vain;' I will presently come armed with indignation: I will no longer contend with you by my prophets.
Until the day - i:e., waiting for the day, etc. So elsewhere the believing are told to "wait for" the fulfillment of God's word, though it seem to "tarry" (Habakkuk 2:3).
That I rise up to the prey - like a savage beast rising from his lair greedy for the prey. (Compare Matthew 24:28, Where "the carcass" of corruption is, there God's justice is ready, like "the eagles," to pounce upon "the prey.") Or, rather, as a warrior leading Israel to certain victory, which is expressed by "the prey," or booty, which is the reward of victory. The Septuagint and Syriac versions read the Hebrew х lª`eed (H5707), instead of lªad], 'I rise up as a witness' (cf. Job 16:8; Malachi 3:5). Yahweh being in this view witness, accuser, and judge (cf. Isaiah 33:22). The English version is better.
For my determination is to gather the nations - against Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:2), to pour out mine indignation upon them there (Joel 3:2; Zechariah 12:2-3).