“But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.”
Last days. This sometimes means after this, Isaias ix. 1. But here it denotes the time which shall elapse from Christ till the day of eternity. The Jews allow that this prediction regards the Messias, though they will not explain it of Jesus Christ. Their exceptions are well refuted by Ribera. (Worthington) — It is plain that it can be verified nowhere else, but in the Church of Christ; though some expressions may, as usual, refer to the return of the captives. Isaias, (ii. 2.) &c., had already used the like terms under Ozias. Juda is here comforted, after its ruin had been denounced.
“And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”
Jerusalem. No other nation ever embraced the Jewish law. But all received the gospel, (Calmet) which was first preached at Jerusalem, by people of that country. (Haydock) — “We are of yesterday, and we fill all your places.” (Tertullian)
“And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. pruninghooks: or, scythes”
Judge, or “rule” (Judges viii. 22.) as Christ does over all. (Calmet) — Plough-shares. Hebrew, “scythes,” (Haydock) or “coulters.” (Worthington) (Mart. xiv. 34.) (Calmet) — Learn, &c. The law of Christ is a law of peace; and all his true subjects, as much as lies in them, love and keep peace with all the world. (Challoner) — They will sustain injuries meekly, 1 Corinthians vi. (Worthington) — When Christ appeared, the Roman empire enjoyed peace. (Calmet) — Aspera tum positis mitescent sæcula bellis, &c. (Virgil, Æneid i.)
“But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.”
Fig-tree. Such a happiness would not suit the ambitious, Zacharias iii. 10.
“For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.”
And ever. After the captivity the Gentiles continued to worship idols, and the Jews had a greater aversion for them; but when the gospel was propagated, idols fell into contempt, and the Jewish law was at an end, while heretics were varying continually. The Church alone is stable, and built upon the rock. (Calmet) — All such quiet people as walk in the name of the Lord, will keep peace even with those who hate it, (Psalm cxix.) suffering persecution with joy, Hebrews x. 34. (St. Irenæus iv. 67.; St. Cyril, &c.) (Worthington)
“In that day, saith the LORD, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted;”
Halteth, as the synagogue did, (3 Kings xviii. 21.) bringing nothing to perfection, (Hebrews vii. 19.) while the Gentiles were abandoned to idolatry. From both Christ chose his Church, Acts xxi. 20., &c. (Calmet) — The Jews will be at last converted. (Worthington)
“And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.”
Remnant, or numerous progeny. — Afflicted. Hebrew and Septuagint, “repudiated,” (Calmet) or “cast off.” (Haydock)
“And thou, O tower of the flock , the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.”
Cloudy. Hebrew.” fortress, or ophel,” a tower or wall near the temple, 2 Esdras iii. 27. — Flock. Jerusalem was no better, after the Chaldeans had destroyed it, 4 Kings xvii. 9. Yet there Zorobabel, the Machabees, and Christ displayed their power. It was the cradle of the Church. Some take this to refer to Bethlehem, as [in] chap. v. 2. (Calmet) — Shall it come. Septuagint add, “from Babylon.” After the captivity the Jews shall flourish, as the Church shall prove victorious over all her persecutors. (Haydock)
“Now why dost thou cry out aloud? is there no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished? for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail.”
No king, after Sedecias was taken. (Calmet) — The two tribes shall be led into captivity and released, ver. 12. (Worthington)
“Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion.”
Sion. Let us enter the sanctuary and plunder it. Cambyses was instigated to fall upon the Jews lately returned, Ezechiel xxxviii. 11. His rapacious designs were frustrated, as those of persecutors will be. (Calmet)
“But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.”
Hay. Protestants, “sheaves.” (Haydock) — People were thus often trodden to death by oxen. (Athen. xii. 5.)
“Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.”
Brass. Fear nothing. The Jews did not attack the army of Cambyses, (Ezechiel xxxviii. 21., and xxxix. 10.; Calmet) at least at first. (Haydock) — But what God did for them is attributed to them. (Calmet) — Immolate. Septuagint, “devote to the Lord their multitude, and,” &c. Protestants, “gain,” (Haydock) or what spoils they have taken. (Calmet)