13:1 In that day there a shall be a fountain opened to the
house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin
and for uncleanness.
(a) He shows what will be the fruit of their repentance,
that is, remission of sins by the blood of Christ,
which will be a continual running fountain, and purge
them from all uncleanness.
13:2 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of
hosts, [that] I will cut off the b names of the idols out
of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also
I will cause the c prophets and the unclean spirit to
pass out of the land.
(b) He promises that God will also purge them from all
superstition, and that their religion will be pure.
(c) Meaning, the false prophets and teachers, who are the
corrupters of all religion, whom the Prophet here calls
unclean spirits.
13:3 And it shall come to pass, [that] when any shall yet d
prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him
shall say to him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest
lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother
that begat him e shall thrust him through when he
prophesieth.
(d) That is, when they will prophesy lies, and make God,
who is the author of truth, a cloak for them.
(e) He shows what zeal the godly will have under the
kingdom of Christ; (De 13:6,9).
13:4 And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the prophets
shall f be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath
prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to
deceive:
(f) God will make them ashamed of their errors and lies,
and bring them to repentance, and they will no more
wear prophet's apparel to make their doctrine seem more
holy.
13:5 But he shall say, I [am] no g prophet, I [am] a farmer;
for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.
(g) They will confess their former ignorance, and be
content to labour for their living.
13:6 And [one] shall say to him, What [are] these h wounds in
thy hands? Then he shall answer, [Those] with which I was
wounded [in] the house of my friends.
(h) By this he shows that though their parents and friends
dealt more gently with them, and did not put them to
death, yet they would so punish their children that
became false prophets, that the marks and signs would
remain forever.
13:7 Awake, O sword, against my i shepherd, and against the
man [that is] my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the
shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn
my hand upon the little ones.
(i) The Prophet warns the Jews, that before this great
comfort under Christ would come, there would be a
horrible dissipation among the people: for their
governors and pastors would be destroyed, and the
people would be as scattered sheep. And the evangelist
applies this to Christ, because he was the head of all
pastors; (Mt 26:31).
13:8 And it shall come to pass, [that] in all the land, saith
the LORD, k two parts in it shall be cut off [and] die;
but the third shall be left in it.
(k) The greatest part will have no portion of these
blessings, and yet they that will enjoy them will be
tried with great afflictions, so that is will be known
that only God's power and his mercies preserve them.
