his God. 24. And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces, or ever they came at the bottom of the den. 25. Then king Darius wrote "unto all peo"ple, nations and languages that dwell in all "the earth, Peace be multiplied unto you. -" 26. I make a decree, that in every do" minion of my kingdom, men tremble and

" fear before the God of Daniel: for he is "the living God, and stedfast for ever, and " his kingdom that which shall not be de" stroyed, and his dominion shall be even " unto the end. 27. He delivereth and " rescueth, and he worketh signs and won"ders in heaven and in earth, who hath " delivered Daniel from the power of the "lions." 28. So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

written proclamation, in which he took notice, - that the Lord (Jehovah, Heb.) God of heaven - had given him all the kingdoms of the earth, and had charged him to build him a house at Jerusalem, and he therefore gave the Jews leave to go up to Jerusalem, and ordered the men of the place where each Jew sojourned to help him with silver, and with gold, and with a free-will offering for the house of God in Jerusalem. Ezra i. 1 to 4. The passages Is. xliv. 28. ante 624, and Is. xlv. 1. 13. are supposed to bereferred to in this proclamation, and who so likely as Daniel to have shewn them to Cyrus, and to have induced him to act upon them ?

(a) The time when Joel lived is uncertain: probably at the same time with Isaiah, Hosea, Amos, Micah, and Zephaniah; and if so, long before Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Haggai, Zechariah, or Malachi. His prophecies are confined to the kingdom of Judah.-A dreadful desolation threatened, some suppose by locusts and other insects, a strong exhortation

" of many generations. 3. A fire de"voureth before them, and behind them "a flame burneth: the land is as the " garden of Eden (b) before them, and " behind them a desolate wilderness, yea, " and nothing shall escape them. 4. The

appearance of them is as the appearance " of horses (c); and as horsemen, so shall " they run. 5. Like the noise (d) of " chariots on the tops of mountains shall "they leap, like the noise of a flame of " fire that devoureth the stubble, as a " strong people set in battle array. 6. Be

to repentance, humiliation, and prayer, a promise of future favour, and of an effusion of God's holy spirit, (probably in the time of the Messiah,) an intimation of a further visitation, (probably the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans,) in which God's people, they who call upon his name, should escape.

(b) v. 3. "As the garden of Eden," i. e. " in a state of plenty and abundance:" what they find luxuriant, they leave desolate.

(c) v. 4. "Of horses." The description of the locusts denounced in Rev. ix. agrees in some particulars with this account, " The

shapes of the locusts were like unto horses " prepared unto battle: and they had breast"plates, as it were breastplates of iron, and "the sound of their wings was as the sound of " chariots of many horses running to battle." Rev. ix. 7. 9. (d) v. 5. verse 4.

"The noise, &c." See note on "fore their face the people shall be much " pained 'e, all faces shall gather black"ness (ej. 7. They shall run like mighty " men; they shall climb the wall like men " of war; and they shall march every one " on his ways, and they shall not break " their ranks. 8. Neither shall one thrust " another, they shall walk every one in "his path: and when they fail upon the "sword, they shall not be wounded (f). "9. They shall run to and fro in the "city: they shall run upon the wall, they " shall climb up upon the houses: they "shall enter in at the windows like a thief.

"

10. The earth shall quake before them, "the heavens shall tremble, the sun and the "moon (g) shall be dark (b), and the " stars'g) shall withdraw their shining(b); "11. And the LORD shall utter his "voice before his army: for his camp is "very great: for he is strong that exe" cuteth his word (i): for the day of the " LORD is great and very terrible, and who "can abide it? 12. Therefore also now, "saith the LORD, " Turn ye even to " me with all your heart and with fasting, " and with weeping, and with mourning. "1 13. And rend your heart, and not your " garments, and turn unto the LORD your "God; for he is gracious and merciful, "slow to anger, and of great kindness, " and repenteth him of the evil. 14. Who " knoweth if he will return and repent, " and leave a blessing behind him, even a

(c) v. 6. " Pained," i. e. " with dread," " gather blackness," i. e. " be down cast and " melancholy."

(1) ν. 8. "Not be wounded," a strong expression, to imply that they would be irreexpression, sistible: that all means of opposing them would fail.

(g) v. 10. "The sun and the moon, and "the stars," i. e. "the chiefs and rulers."

(b) v. 10. "Be dark," and " withdraw their "shining," i. e. " be disheartened," and " un" able to give relief."

(1) ν. 11. "His word," i. e. " his Judg"ment." God's minister and instrument must be irresistible.

(k) v. 14. "Even a meat-offering, &c." at least enough for the purposes of worship: which would not be the case if they were reduced to the state mentioned in verse 3. of a desolate wilderness." In describing a deso

"meat-offering (&, and a drink-offering " unto the LORD your God? 15. Blow "the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call "a solemn assembly; 16. Gather the " people: sanctify the congregation: 25"semble the elders: gather the children (1), " and those that suck the breast: let the " bridegroom (m) go forth of his chamber, " and the bride out of her closet. 17. Let "the priests, the ministers of the LORD,

weep between the porch and the altar( " and let them say, "Spare thy people, 0 " LORD, and give not thine heritage t "reproach, that the heathen should rule "over (o) them: wherefore should ther

say among the people, Where is their "God?" 18. Then will the LORD be jea. "lous for his land, and pity his people.

19. Yea, the LORD will answer and say " unto his people, "Behold I will send you " corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be "satisfied therewith: and I will no more " make you a reproach among the hea"then: 20. But I will remove far of " from you the northern army, and will " drive him into a land barren and deso" late, with his face toward the east sea (p), " and his hinder part toward the utmost

"

sea (p), and his stink shall come up, andhis " ill savour shall come up, because he hath " done great things. 21. Fear not, O " land, be glad and rejoice: for the LORD " will do great things. 22. Be not afraid,

"

ye beasts (q) of the field: for the pas

lation, Joel i. 9. part of the account was, "The meat-offering and drink-offering is cut "off from the house of the Lord."

(1) ข. 16. " The children, &c." "Persons " of all ages."

(m) v. 16. "The bridegroom, &c." "Le " no one make excuse; let the assembly " universal."

(n) v. 17. "Between the porch and the "altar," where the priest usually attended, and where they could best be heard by the people.

(0) 0.17. " Rule over," or " insult."
(β) υ. 20. "The east sea," i. e.
Sodom," " the utmost sea," i. e.

"terranean."

"the sea of "the Medi

(q) v. 22. " Ye beasts, &c." An intimation of plenty, not famine.

es of the wilderness do spring (r), for cree beareth (r) her fruit, the fig tree 1 the vine do yield (r) their strength. - Be glad then, ye children of Zion, 1 rejoice in the LORD your God: for hath given you the former rain modeely; and he will cause to come down you the rain, the former rain and the ter rain in the first month. 24. And e floors shall be full of wheat, and the s shall overflow with wine and oil. . And I will restore to you the years at the locust hath eaten, the cankerorm, and the caterpiller, and the paler-worm, my great army which I sent nong you. 26. And ye shall eat in enty, and be satisfied, and praise the ame of the LORD your God, that hath salt wonderously with you and my eople shall never be ashamed. 27. And e shall know that I am in the midst of srael, and that I am the LORD your God,

r) v. 22. "Do spring," "beareth," and lo yield," the present for the future. (5) v. 27. My people" i. e. “ they who trust in me."

(1) v. 27. " Be ashamed," i. e. " have cause to be ashamed."

(u) v. 28. " Afterward," or " in the last days." St. Paul so quotes it, when he apes this passage to the first effusion of the ole Ghost, Acts ii. 16 to 21. "This is that which was spoken by the prophet "Joel, and it shall come to pass in the last days, saith 'God, I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh, &c." "The last days" mean "the times of the Messiah," or "the last days of the Jewish state." 2 Lightf. 1024.

(x) v. 28. 29. " Sons;" " daughters, old men, young men, servants, handmaids," i. e. without regard to age, sex, or station." (z) v. 31. "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood." Figuitive expressions, to intimate the calamities ad dismay which should fall upon the great. (a) 2. 31. The great and the terrible day, &c." i. e. (probably) "the time of the struction of Jerusalem." Our Saviour says,

"

" and none else: and my people (s) shall " never be ashamed (t). 28. And it shall " come to pass afterward (u), that I will

pour out my spirit upon all flesh, and your sons (x) and your daughters (x) shall " prophesy, your old men (x) shall dream "dreams, your young men (x) shall see visi"ons: 29. And also upon the servants (x) " and upon the handmaids (x) in those days " will I pour out my spirit. 30. And "I will shew wonders in the heavens and " in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars " of smoke. 31. The sun shall be turned "into darkness, and the moon into blood (z) "before the great and the terrible day (a) " of the LORD come: 32. And it shall " come to pass, that whosoever shall call " on the name of the LORD (6) shall be de"livered: for in mount Zion and in Jeru"salem (c) shall be deliverance, as the " LORD hath said, and in the remnant "whom the LORD shall call (d)."

(6) υ. 32. "Shall call on the name of the " Lord," i. e. " profess the true religion, and

66

put their trust in God." It is supposed that at the destruction of Jerusalem, not a single Christian was included: Our Saviour gave them this advice; "when ye shall see Jerusalem com"passed with armies, then know that the de"solation thereof is nigh: then let them which

are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let " them which are in the midst depart out." Luke xxi. 20. 21. An opportunity occurred after the first commencement of the siege, and at that time every Christian is supposed to have escaped.

(c) v. 32. "In mount Sion, and in Jerusa" lem," i. e. perhaps, figuratively "in the true "worship of God"; or it may mean, that in these places there shall be some deliverance, some who shall escape.

(d) v. 32. "The remnant whom the Lord " shall call," i. e. " those who shall listen to " his voice, and profess his religion."

670

CHAP. T

H

CHAP. VI. (e)

EAR ye now what the LORD saith, "Arise, contend thou before the " mountains (f), and let the hills (f) hear "thy voice. 2. Hear ye, O mountains "the LORD'S controversy, and ye strong " foundations of the earth: for the LORD →" hath a controversy with his people, and " he will plead with Israel. 3. O my peo"ple, what have I done unto thee, and " wherein have I wearied thee? testify " against me. 4. For I brought thee up " out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed "thee out of the house of servants, and I "sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and "Miriam. 5. O my people, remember " now what Balak king of Moab con"sulted (g), and what Balaam the son of "Beor answered him from Shittim unto "Gilgal, that ye may know the righteous"ness of the LORD. 6. "Wherewith shall " I come before the Lord, and bow my " self before the high God? shall I come " before him with burnt-offerings, with

(e) Micah prophesied in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, and was therefore living in the times of Isaiah, Hosea, Amos, and Zephaniah, long before Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Haggai, Zechariah or Malachi.-An expostulation from God with his people, and a denunciation against them for their sins.

(f) v. 1. "The mountains," and "the "hills, &c." i. e. "even the most senseless " things will be convinced of the iniquity of your ways."

66

(g) v. 5.

"What Balak consulted, &c." This and the next three verses have two different interpretations; one upon the supposition that verses 6 and 7 contain a question from Balak to Balaam; and verse 8. Balaam's answer ; and the other under the idea that verses 6. and 7. are a question now from the people unto God, and verse 8. God's answer. In the former case the only part of Balak's consultation and Balaam's answer to which the attention is called, is included in verses 6. 7. 8. and by "the righteousness of the Lord" is meant "the righteousness he "requires," viz. " to do justly, &c';" in the latter case, "what Balak consulted," refers to his attempt to obtain a curse upon the Israelites from Balaam's mouth, that under the influence

" calves of a year old ? 7. Will the Lo " be pleased with thousands of ra "with ten thousands of rivers of oil "I give my first-born for my transgren "the fruit of my body for the sind "soul? 8. He hath shewed thee, 0 "what is good; and what doth the " require of thee, but to do justly (. " to love mercy, and to walk humbi "thy God? 9. The LORD's voice cric " unto the city, and the man of wis "shall see thy name (k): hear ye the re " and who hath appointed it. 10. " "there yet (m) the treasures of wicken: " in the house of the wicked, and the s " measure that is abominable? 11. " I count them pure with wicked bals " and with the bag of deceitful w "12. For the rich men thereof) " of violence, and the inhabitan " have spoken lies, and their "deceitful in their mouth. 13. "also will I make thee sick in smit " in making thee desolate because of "sins. 14. Thou shalt eat (0), but n

atisfied, and thy casting down (p) ball be in the midst of thee, and thou halt take hold (q), but shalt not deliver: nd that which thou deliverest will I give p to the sword: 15. Thou shalt sow (r) ut thou shalt not reap: thou shalt tread he olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee vith oil; and sweet wine (s), but shalt

"not drink wine. 16. For the statutes of "Omri (t) are kept, and all the works of "the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their "counsels; that I should make thee a de"solation, and the inhabitants thereof an " hissing: therefore ye shall bear the re"proach of my people (u)."

CHAP. II. (x)

WILL stand (y) upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch see what he (z) will say unto me, and at I shall answer when I am reproved.

β) υ. 14. "Thy casting down, &c." i. e. haps, "thou shalt be visited with inward sickness."

(q) v. 14. “Thou shalt take hold, &c." i. e. rhaps, " that which you most value, what you most would wish to save, shall either be wrested from you, or given to the sword." (r) v. 15. " Sow, &c." "thou shalt have the toil, not the produce." Like the nunciation, Deut. xxviii. 38 to 40.

(s) v. 15. For "sweet wine," r. " thou shalt have vineyards."

(t) ข. 16. “Omri," one of the wicked kings Israel, Ahab's father; " he wrought evil in the sight of the Lord, worse than all that were before him. 1 Kings xvi. 25." (4) ข. 16. "My people," or "the heathen." ept.

(x) The exact time when Habakkuk lived is ot known: probably before the commencenent of the Babylonish captivity: for he says, Hab. i. 6. "Lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation;" and enters to a more minute description of their strength nd martial qualities than would have been kely had they before been known in Judea. -A prophecy of the great deliverance by the Messiah in God's appointed time, but not beore, of earlier deliverance to the Jews from The Babylonian power, and of the judgments o fall upon that nation.

(y) v. 1. "I will stand, &c." He had been xpostulating with God in chapter i. for sufering the oppressions and successes of the vicked, perhaps referring to the success of the

Babylonians, and their oppressions upon the Jews; and he here betakes himself to his station, like a watchman of those times, to hear what God will answer.

(z) v. 1. "He," i. e. " God." (a) v. 2. "Write, &c." This implies that it was of great importance, and that persons not then born were concerned in knowing it.

(b) v. 2. " May run, &c." so that it was to be short as well as clear, that it might be seen and understood at a single glance.

(c) v. 3. "The vision," i. e. (probably) "the great subject of prophecy from the fall, "the deliverance by the Messiah."

(d) v. 3. " Yet, &c." i. e. (probably) "there is an interval, a fixed and settled time "which must elapse before this great event."

(e) v. 3. "It," or "he," "him," so in all the antient versions. Bp. Chandler's Defence of Chrisianity 163. and so cited Hebr. x. 37. The antient rabbins considered this a prophecy of the Messiah, and the Talmudists do the same. Chandl. 166. 7. Bp. Chandler thus renders the passage; "And at the end he " shall break forth," (i. e. as the sun) " and "not deceive: though he tarry, expect him, "because he that cometh will come, he will "not go beyond [God's appointed time.] "Behold, if any man draw back, the soul of "him (God) shall have no pleasure in him, " but the just shall live by faith." Chandl. Def. 162. The citation Hebr. x. 37. 38. as far as it goes, agrees nearly with Bp. Chandler. "For yet a little time, and he that shall come, " will come, and will not tarry: now the just