5:2 And he said to me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a
flying a scroll; its length [is] twenty cubits, and its
breadth ten cubits.
(a) Because the Jews had provoked God's plagues by
condemning his word, and casting off all judgment and
equity, he shows that God's curses written in this book
had justly happened both to them and their fathers. But
now if they would repent, God would send the same among
the Chaldeans and their former enemies.
5:3 Then said he to me, This [is] the curse that goeth forth
over the face of the whole earth: for every one that b
stealeth shall be cut off [as] on this c side according to
it; and every one that d sweareth shall be cut off [as] on
that side according to it.
(b) That is, does any injury toward his neighbour.
(c) Meaning, wherever he is in the world.
(d) He that transgresses the first table of the ten
commandments, and does not serve God correctly but
abuses his name.
5:6 And I said, What [is] it? And he said, This [is] an e
ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This [is] their
f resemblance through all the earth.
(e) Which was a measure in dry things, containing about five
gallons.
(f) That is, all the wickedness of the ungodly is in God's
sight, which he keeps in a measure, and can shut it or
open it at his pleasure.
5:7 And, behold, there was lifted up a g talent of lead: and
this [is] a h woman that sitteth in the midst of the
ephah.
(g) To cover the measure.
(h) Which represents iniquity, as in the next verse.
5:8 And he said, This [is] i wickedness. And he cast it into
the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon
its mouth.
(i) Signifying that Satan would not have such power against
the Jews to tempt them, as he had in times past, but
that God would shut up iniquity in a measure as in a
prison.
5:9 Then I lifted up my eyes, and looked, and, behold, there
came out two k women, and the wind [was] in their wings;
for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they
lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.
(k) Which declared that God would execute his judgment by
the means of the weak and infirm.
5:11 And he said to me, To build for it an house in the land of
l Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon
her own base.
(l) To remove the iniquity and affliction that came from
Judah because of the judgment, to place it forever in
Babylon.
