Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 4. He hath bent his bow-he stood with his right hand] This is the attitude of the archer. He first bends his bow; then sets his arrow upon the string; and, lastly, placing his right hand on the lower end of the arrow, in connection with the string, takes his aim, and prepares to let fly.
John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 4. He hath bent his bow like an enemy , etc.] God sometimes appears as if he was an enemy to his people, when he is not, by his conduct and behaviour; by the dispensations of his providence they take him to be so, as Job did, ( Job 16:9,10,13,14); he bends his bow, or treads it, for the bending or stretching the bow was done by the foot; and as the Targum, “and threw his arrows at me:” he stood with his right hand as an adversary ; with arrows in it, to put into his bow or with his sword drawn, as an adversary does. The Targum is, “he stood at the right hand of Nebuchadnezzar and helped him, when he distressed his people Israel:” and slew all [that were] pleasant to the eye ; princes and priests, husbands and wives
, parents and children, young men and maids; desirable to their friends and relations, and to the commonwealth: in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion he poured out his fury like fire ; that is, either in the temple, or in the city of Jerusalem, or both, which were burnt with fire, as the effect of divine wrath and fury; and which itself is comparable to fire; like a burning lamp of fire, as the Targum; or rather like a burning furnace or mountain; (see Na 1:6).
Matthew Henry Commentary
- The fate of Zedekiah. (Jer. 52:1-11) The destruction of Jerusalem (Jer. 52:12-23) The captivities. (Jer. 52:24-30) The advancement of Jehoiachin. (Jer. 52:31-34)
Jer. 52:1-11 This fruit of sin we should pray against above any thing Cast me not away from thy presence, Ps. 51:11. None are cast out of God's presence but those who by sin have first thrown themselves out Zedekiah's flight was in vain, for there is no escaping the judgment of God; they come upon the sinner, and overtake him, let him flee wher he will.
Jer. 52:12-23 The Chaldean army made woful havoc. But nothing is s particularly related here, as the carrying away of the articles in the temple. The remembrance of their beauty and value shows us the more the evil of sin.
Jer. 52:24-30 The leaders of the Jews caused them to err; but now the are, in particular, made monuments of Divine justice. Here is a account of two earlier captivities. This people often were wonders bot of judgment and mercy.
Jer. 52:31-34 See this history of king Jehoiachin in II Kin. 25:27-30 Those under oppression will find it is not in vain for them to hope an quietly to wait for the salvation of the Lord. Our times are in God' hand, for the hearts of all we have to deal with are so. May we be enabled, more and more, to rest on the Rock of Ages, and to loo forward with holy faith to that hour, when the Lord will bring agai Zion, and overthrow all the enemies of the church _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew דרך1869 קשׁתו7198 כאויב341 נצב5324 ימינו3225 כצר6862 ויהרג2026 כל3605 מחמדי4261 עין5869 באהל168 בת1323 ציון6726 שׁפך8210 כאשׁ784 חמתו׃2534
