John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. Before the decree bring forth, [before] the day pass as the chaff , etc.] Which was like a woman big with child, ready to be delivered. The decree of God concerning the people of the Jews was pregnant with wrath and ruin for their sins, and just ripe for execution; and therefore, before it was actually executed, they are exhorted as above; not that the decree of God which was gone forth could be frustrated and made void by anything done by them; only that, when it was put into execution, such as repented of their sins might be saved from the general calamity; which they are called upon to do before the day come appointed by the Lord for the execution of this decree; which lingered not, and was not delayed, but slid on as swiftly as chaff before the driving wind. There is some difficulty in the rendering and sense of these words; some thus, “before the day, which passes as chaff, brings forth the decree” f29 ; that is, before the time, which moves swiftly, brings on the execution of the decree, or of the thing decreed in it, it is big with: others, “before the decree brings forth the day that passeth as chaff” f30 ; or in which the chaff shall be separated from the wheat, pass away, be dispersed here and there; that is, before they were scattered about by it as chaff: and to this sense the Septuagint and Arabic versions, “before ye are as a flower”; or, as the Syriac, “as chaff that passeth away”; and so the Targum more fully, “before the decree of the house of judgment come out upon you, and ye be like chaff which the wind blows away, and like a shadow which passes from before the day.” (see Psalm 1:4). Before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord’s anger come upon you ; these phrases explain the former, and show what the decree was big with, and ready to bring forth, even the judgments of God, in wrath and fierce anger; and what the day is, said to pass as the chaff; the day of God’s vengeance fixed by him, which should come upon them, and scatter them like chaff among the nations of the world: or rather the words may be rendered thus, as by Gussetius f31 , “whilst as yet the decree hath not brought forth, the day passeth away like chaff”; being neglected and spent in an useless and unprofitable manner; for which they are reproved; and therefore are exhorted to be wiser for the future, and redeem precious time; and, before the Lord’s anger comes upon them, do what is before exhorted to, and particularly what follows:
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-3 - The prophet calls to national repentance, as the only way to preven national ruin. A nation not desiring, that has not desires toward God is not desirous of his favour and grace, has no mind to repent an reform. Or, not desirable, not having any thing to recommend them to God; to whom God might justly say, Depart from me; but he says, Gathe together to me that you may seek my face. We know what God's decre will bring against impenitent sinners, therefore it highly concerns all to repent in the accepted time. How careful should we all be to see peace with God, before the Holy Spirit withdraws from us, or ceases to strive with us; before the day of grace is over, or the day of life before our everlasting state is determined! Let the poor, despised, an afflicted, seek the Lord, and seek to understand and keep his commandments better, that they may be more humbled for their sins. The chief hope of deliverance from national judgments rests upon prayer.
Original Hebrew בטרם2962 לדת3205 חק2706 כמץ4671 עבר5674 יום3117 בטרם2962 לא3808 יבוא935 עליכם5921 חרון2740 אף639 יהוה3068 בטרם2962 לא3808 יבוא935 עליכם5921 יום3117 אף639 יהוה׃3068
