Ver. 4. Lord. The triple repetition shews the vain confidence of the people, who blindly imagined that the temple would screen them, (C.) and that external sacrifices would suffice. But they were rejected with the temple. W.

Ver. 7. Dwell. Heb. and Sept. as v. 3. H.

Ver. 9. Not, which have done you no good, and deserve not to be styled gods. C.

Ver. 10. Because. Hebrew also, "although," (Sa. Grot.) "to perform," (Chal. Mont.) or "by doing." God must surely approve of our conduct, since we are unmolested. S. Tho. Lyr. --- But the Vulg. seems preferable, and the people attribute their success to idols. C. xliv. 17. and 2 Par. xxviii. 23.

Ver. 11. Robbers. Our Saviour alludes to this. Mat. xxi. 13. --- Seen. Think not to hide yourselves, as in a den. My temple shall not be an asylum for wretches. C.

Ver. 12. Beginning, under Josue. H. --- The sins of a few priests caused this place to be abandoned, (1 K. ii. 22. and iii. 4. Ps. lxxviii. 60.) and shall the crimes of a whole people escape? C. --- It is true, that place and Jerusalem were once sanctified: but the people being criminal, God retires. W.

Ver. 13. Early. Sparing no opportunity of reclaiming you. C.

Ver. 15. Ephraim. The ten tribes (W.) had been led into captivity in the days of Ezechias, the great-grandfather of Josias. C.

Ver. 16. Praise, offered to appease my wrath. H. --- This admirably shews the force of the saints' intercession, which God does not reject, but rather encourages by such declarations. Abraham and Moses did not leave off praying for the guilty, (Gen. xviii. 23. Ex. xxxii. 10.) and the Lord complains that there was none to withhold him. Is. lxiv. 7. Ezec. xxii. 30. C.

Ver. 18. Heaven. That is, the moon, which they worshipped under that name. Ch. --- Some understand the sun also the stars. C. xliv. 17. Is. lxv. 11. All the family contributes to promote this idolatry.

Ver. 21. Flesh. I reject your holocausts. Keep them for yourselves. C.

Ver. 22. I commanded them not: viz. such sacrifices as the Jews at this time offered without obedience; which was the thing principally commanded: so that in comparison with it, the offering of the holocausts and sacrifices was of small account. Ch. --- The observance of the decalogue would suffice. Victims were to teach internal piety. Lev. i. W. --- God "brought them out of Egypt, not for the sake of their sacrifices, but that they might...hear his word." S. IrÃ¦n. iv. 17. --- This was the principal design. See Mat. ix. 13. Os. vi. 6. and 1 Cor. i. 17. Maldon. M. C. --- The rules for sacrifices were given after the adoration of the calf, as necessary preservatives against idolatry. S. Tho. i. 2. q. 102. a. 3. --- Yet the paschal lamb, &c. had been already commanded. C. --- Many such absolute expressions imply a condition or comparison. Gloss. Prov. viii. 10. --- I brought. Several MSS. read thus more accurately than the Heb. "He brought," (Ken.) which Prot. abandon, (H.) though the present reading may stand. Chappel. Crat. --- Every variation should be noticed, as this and the former verse "seem greatly corrupted; perhaps the Syr. version will be the best guide to their true meaning." Kennicott. --- Yet the passage is sufficiently intelligible in the Vulg. and Sept..

Ver. 27. Thee. Sept. omit this verse, which Grabe replaces. The people will be more inexcusable. H.

Ver. 29. High. People lamented in such places. C. ix. 13. Judg. xi. 35. C. --- Wrath, which he treats with the utmost severity. H.

Ver. 30. Abominations. Heb. We have lit. "stumbling-blocks," offendicula. H. --- Manasses placed idols in the very temple, as the last kings of Juda did. 4 K. xxiii. 4. Ezec. viii. 3.

Ver. 31. Valley, to the south of the city. Here Moloc was adored, and Josias therefore contaminated the place. 4 K. xxiii. 10. C. --- It was very delightful. S. Jer.

Ver. 32. Place, elsewhere. H. --- This was verified when Nabuchodonosor and Titus besieged the city. C. --- The latter was quite shocked. Jos. Bel. vi. 14. See C. xix. and xxxi. 40.

Ver. 34. Bride. None shall think of marrying, (C. xvi. 9. and xxv. 10. C.) all being filled with lamentation. M.