24:1 Behold, the LORD maketh the a earth empty, and maketh it
waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad
its inhabitants.
(a) This prophecy is as a conclusion of that which has been
threatened to the Jews and other nations from the 13th
chapter and therefore by the earth he means those lands
which were named before.
24:2 And it shall be, as with the people, so with the b
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 interest, so with the giver of interest
to him.
(b) Because this was a name of dignity it was also applied
to them who were not of Aaron's family, and so
signifies also a man of dignity, as in
(2Sa 8:18, 20:25, 1Ch 18:17) and by these words the
prophet signifies a horrible confusion, where there
will be neither religion, order nor policy,
(Ho 4:9).
24:5 The earth c also is defiled under its inhabitants;
because they have transgressed the laws, changed the
ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.
(c) That is, does not give her fruit for the sin of the
people, whom the earth deceived of their nourishment
because they deceived God of his honour.
24:6 Therefore hath the d curse devoured the earth, and they
that dwell in it are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of
the earth are e burned, and few men left.
(d) Written in the law, as in (Le 26:14, De 28:16) thus
the prophets used to apply particularly the menaces and
promises which are general in the law.
(e) With heat and drought, or else that they were consumed
with the fire of God's wrath.
24:10 The city of f confusion is broken down: every house is
shut up, that no man may enter.
(f) Which as it was without order so now should it be
brought to desolation and confusion: and this was not
only meant of Jerusalem, but of all the other wicked
cities.
24:11 [There is] a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is
darkened, the g mirth of the land is gone.
(g) Because they did not use God's benefits correctly
their pleasures would fail, and they would fall to
mourning.
24:13 When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the
people, [there shall be] h as the shaking of an olive
tree, [and] as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is
done.
(h) He comforts the faithful, declaring that in this great
desolation the Lord will assemble his Church which
will praise his Name, as in (Isa 10:22).
24:14 They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the
majesty of the LORD, they shall cry aloud from i the
sea.
(i) From the utmost coasts of the world, where the gospel
will be preached as in (Isa 24:16).
24:16 From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs,
[even] glory to the k righteous. But I said, l My
leanness, my leanness, woe to me! the treacherous dealers
have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers
have dealt very treacherously.
(k) Meaning to God, who will publish his gospel through
all the world.
(l) I am consumed with care, considering the affliction of
the Church, both by foreign enemies and domestic. Some
read, My secret, my secret: that is, it was revealed
to the prophet, that the good would be preserved and
the wicked destroyed.
24:18 And it shall come to pass, [that] he who fleeth from the
noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that
cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in
the snare: for the m windows from on high are open, and
the foundations of the earth do shake.
(m) Meaning that God's wrath and vengeance would be over
and under them, so that they would not escape no more
than they did at Noah's flood.
24:21 And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the LORD
shall n punish the host of the high ones [that are] on
high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.
(n) There is no power so high or mighty, but God will
visit him with his rods.
24:22 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 o visited.
(o) Not with his rods as in (Isa 24:21) but will be
comforted.
24:23p Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun
ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign on mount Zion,
and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.
(p) When God restores his Church, the glory of it will so
shine, and his ministers (who are called his ancient
men) that the sun and the moon will be dark in
comparison to it.
