2:2 And it a shall come to pass in the last days, [that] the
mount of the LORD'S house b shall be established on the
top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills;
and all nations shall c flow to it.
(a) The decree and ordinance of God, concerning the
restoration of the Church, which is chiefly meant by the
time of Christ.
(b) In an evident place to be seen and discerned.
(c) When the kingdom of Christ will be enlarged by the
preaching of the doctrine. Here also is declared the
zeal of the children of God when they are called.
2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up
to d the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of
Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in
his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the e law, and
the word of the LORD from f Jerusalem.
(d) Alluding to mount Zion, where the visible Church then
was.
(e) Meaning, the whole doctrine of salvation.
(f) This was accomplished when the gospel was first preached
in Jerusalem, and from there went through all the world.
2:4 And g he shall judge among the nations, and shall h
rebuke many people: and they shall i beat their swords
into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation
shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they
learn k war any more.
(g) The Lord, who is Christ, will have all power given to
him.
(h) That they may acknowledge their sins, and turn to him.
(i) He shows the fruit of the peace which the gospel should
bring, that is, that men should do good to one another,
while before they were enemies.
(k) He speaks not against the use of weapons and lawful war,
but shows how the hearts of the godly will be affected
one toward another, which peace and love begin and grow
in this life, but will be perfected when we are joined
with our head Jesus Christ.
2:5 O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us l walk in the light
of the LORD.
(l) Seeing the Gentiles will be ready, make haste, and show
them the way to worship God.
2:6 Therefore thou m hast forsaken thy people the house of
Jacob, because they are n filled [with customs] from the
east, and [are] soothsayers like the Philistines, o and
they please themselves in the children of foreigners.
(m) The prophet seeing the small hope that the Jews would
convert, complains to God as though he had utterly
forsaken them for their sins.
(n) Full of the corruptions that reigned chiefly in the east
parts.
(o) They altogether gave themselves to the fashions of other
nations.
2:7 Their land also is full of p silver and gold, neither [is
there any] end of their treasures; their land is also full
of horses, neither [is there any] end of their chariots:
(p) The prophet first condemned their superstition and
idolatry next their covetousness and thirdly their
vain trust in worldly means.
2:9 And the mean man boweth down, and the great man q humbleth
himself: therefore r forgive them not.
(q) He notes the nature of the idolaters who are never
satisfied in their superstitions.
(r) Thus the prophet spoke being inflamed with the zeal of
God's glory, and that he might fear them with God's
judgment.
2:11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the
haughtiness of men shall be abased, and the LORD alone
shall be exalted in s that day.
(s) Meaning, as soon as God will begin to execute his
judgments.
2:14 And upon all the high t mountains, and upon all the hills
[that are] lifted up,
(t) By high trees and mountains are he means the proud and
lofty, who think themselves most strong in this world.
2:16 And upon u all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all
pleasant pictures.
(u) He condemns their vain confidence which they had in
strongholds and in their rich merchandise which brought
in vain pleasures with which men's minds became
effeminate.
2:20 In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his
idols of gold, which they made [each one] for himself to
worship, x to the moles and to the bats;
(x) They will cast them into vile and filthy places when
they perceive that they are not able to help them.
2:22 Cease ye from man, whose y breath [is] in his nostrils:
for why is he to be esteemed?
(y) Cast off your vain confidence in man, whose life is so
frail that if his nose is stopped he is dead and
consider that you are dealing with God.