“Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof. turneth: Heb. perverteth the face thereof”
Earth. After the ten preceding threats, the prophet denounces destruction to the whole world, (Worthington) at the day of judgment; though he may also allude to the desolation of the promised land, as our Saviour joins both in the same prediction, Matthew xxiv. (Calmet)
“And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him. priest: or, prince”
Priest. All distinctions shall be disregarded. (Worthington) — When Jerusalem was taken, all became captives.
“The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish. the haughty: Heb. the height of the people”
Weakened: Joakim, &c., are made prisoners. The greatest monarchs must come before God’s tribunal.
“Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.”
Sin. Towards the end of the world iniquity will abound, and men shall rage against each other, Matthew xxiv. (Worthington) — They will also feel the effects of sin. — Mad: abandoned to their passions, (Deuteronomy xxviii. 28.) excepting only the elect. (Menochius) — Few. The Chaldeans permitted only a few of the poorest sort to remain, 2 Paralipomenon xxix. 10.
“They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it.”
The drink. Hebrew shecar, “palm wine.”
“The city of confusion is broken down: every house is shut up, that no man may come in.”
Vanity. Jerusalem, (Calmet) or any other city, will be all in confusion. (Haydock) — In, as was the case in times of mourning, Jeremias ix. 21. (Calmet)
“They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the LORD, they shall cry aloud from the sea.”
Sea. The few elect (ver. 13.) being rescued from the misery of the world, shall praise God. (Haydock) — They are exhorted to lift up their heads, Luke xxi. 28. (Menochius)
“Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires, even the name of the LORD God of Israel in the isles of the sea. fires: or, valleys”
Instruction. The Church is like an island, compared with the rest of the world; or it preaches the gospel to all nations, and to the islands, like Great Britain. (Worthington) — Apostolic men are required to preach incessantly to all sorts of people. Hebrew, “in light;” or Pagnin, “in vales.” (Menochius)
“From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously. uttermost: Heb. wing My leanness: Heb. Leanness to me, or, My secret to me”
I said. The prophet, or any other, may speak thus in the latter days. (Calmet) — Myself. I cannot recount what horrid pains I beheld. (St. Jerome) (Menochius) (2 Corinthians xii. 4.)
“Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.”
Snare. He alludes to the methods of taking wild beasts, Job xviii. 11. — Opened, as they were in the days of Noe[Noah]. (Calmet) — All sorts of misery hang over us.
“The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.”
Night, unexpectedly, (Haydock) and with the utmost speed. (Calmet)
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. punish: Heb. visit upon”
High. The stars, which in many places of the Scripture are so called. Some commentators explain that these words here signify the demons of the air. (Challoner) — The apostate angels will be judged, 1 Corinthians vi. 3., and Matthew xxiv. 29.
“And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited. as prisoners: Heb. with the gathering of prisoners pit: or, dungeon visited: or, found wanting”
Visited. Hence Origen (Prin. iii. 6., &c.) took occasion to assert, that the damned would one day be released, though the Scripture so often declares the contrary. The prophet speaks of the future liberation of the Jews; (Calmet) or he intimates that after many days, yea throughout eternity, the reprobate will still be punished. (Menochius)
“Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously. before: or, there shall be glory before his ancients”
Blush: be turned into blood, Joel ii. 10. Dreadful calamities shall ensue, to usher in the great day of judgment. (Calmet)