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186 ^Commentary
Chapter that Age and Time feldom correct ill Habits. The
XXIII. Word Her, is taken collectively in this and the fol-
L/'V^O lowing Verfe, fo as to include both the Sifters. So
the Singular Number is ufed TfaJ. xii. 7. ThoufJjalt
freferve him from this Generation for ever : where
our Interpreters rightly obferve in the Margin,
that the Word Him, fignifies every one of them.
Ver.44. Ver. 44. Tet they went in unto her, &c] Both
Samaria and Jerufalem defiled themfelves with the
Idolatries of all the Heathen round about them.
Compare Ver. 7, 17.
Ver. 45. Ver. 45. oAnd the righteous Men they fljalljudge
them.~\ By righteous or juft Men, fome underftand
the 'Babylonians, who tho' a wicked and idolatrous
People, were the Executioners of God's Juftice upon
a Nation that had finned againft a clearer Light
and greater Convictions. So Nebuchadnezzar and
other Heathen Princes are called God?s Servants,
as being Instruments of his Providence. But the
Expreflion may in a more proper Senfe be underftood
of the Prophets who foretold the Judgments
God would inflicl: upon Samaria and Jerufalem :
fuch as Hofea, oAmos, Jeremiah, &x. The Prophets
are laid to execute thofe Judgments which
they foretel : So Ezekiel faith of himfelf, that he
was fent to deftroy the City : Chap, xliii. 5. u e. to
Prophecy its Deftru&ion. To the fame Senfe we
read Hof vi. 5. / have hewed them by my Trofhets,
I have jlain them by the Words of my Mouth.
Seethe Notes upon Ifa. vi. 10. Jerem. i. 10. v. 14.
Ibid. (After the manner of oAdulterejJes, and after
the manner of them thatjhed 'Blood.'] See Ver.
37. and Chap.xvi. g8.
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