12:1 The burden of the word of the LORD for a Israel, saith
the LORD, who stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the
foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man
within him.
(a) That is, the ten tribes, which neglected God's benefit
in delivering their brethren, and had rather remain in
captivity, than to return home when God called them.
12:2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a b cup of trembling to all
the people around, when they shall be in the siege both
against Judah [and] against Jerusalem.
(b) Jerusalem will be defended against all her enemies: so
will God defend all Judah also, and will destroy the
enemies.
12:5 And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The
c inhabitants of Jerusalem [shall be] my strength in the
LORD of hosts their God.
(c) Every captain, that had many under him before, will now
think that the small power of Jerusalem will be
sufficient to defend them against all enemies, because
the Lord is among them.
12:7 The LORD also shall save the d tents of Judah first, that
the glory of the house of David and the glory of the
inhabitants of Jerusalem may not magnify [themselves]
against Judah.
(d) The people who are now as it were dispersed by the
fields, and lie open to their enemies, will be
preserved by my power just as if they were under their
kings (which is meant by the house of David), or in
their defended cities.
12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of e grace and of
supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have
f pierced, and they shall mourn for g him, as one
mourneth for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness
for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn.
(e) They will have the feeling of my grace by faith, and
know that I have compassion on them.
(f) That is, whom they have continually vexed with their
obstinacy, and grieved my Spirit. In (Joh 19:37)
it is referred to Christ's body, whereas here it is
referred to the Spirit of God.
(g) They will turn to God by true repentance, whom before
they had so grievously offended by their ingratitude.
12:11 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem,
as the h mourning of i Hadadrimmon in the valley of
Megiddon.
(h) They will exceedingly lament and repent for their
offences against God.
(i) Which was the name of a town and place near to
Megiddo, where Josiah was slain; (2Ch 35:22).
12:12 And the k land shall mourn, every family l apart; the
family of the m house of David apart, and their wives
apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their
wives apart;
(k) That is, in all places where the Jews will remain.
(l) Signifying, that this mourning or repentance would not
be a vain ceremony: but every one touched with his own
griefs will lament.
(m) Under these certain families he includes all the
tribes, and shows that both the kings and the priests
had by their sins pierced Christ.
12:13 The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives
apart; the family of n Shimei apart, and their wives
apart;
(n) Also called Simeon.
12:14 All the families that o remain, every family apart, and
their wives apart.
(o) That is, who were elect by grace, and preserved from
the common destruction.
