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CHAPTER VII

Some Jews being sent from those who remained at Babylon to inquire of the priests and prophets at Jerusalem whether they were still bound to observe those fasts which had been appointed on occasion of the destruction of Jerusalem, and kept during the captivity, the prophet is commanded to take this opportunity of enforcing upon them the weightier matters of the law, judgment and mercy, that they might not incur such calamities as befell their fathers. He also intimates that in their former fasts they had regarded themselves more than God; and that they had rested too much on the performance of external rites, although the former prophets had largely insisted on the superior excellence of moral duties, 1-14.

NOTES ON CHAP. VII

Verse 1. "The fourth year of Ring Darius" - Two years after they began to rebuild the temple, see chap. i. 1, A.M. 3486.

"The ninth month, even in Chisleu" - This answers to a part of our November and December. The names of the month appear only under and after the captivity.

Verse 2. "When they had sent-Sherezer and Regem-melech" - To inquire whether the fasts should be continued, which they had hitherto observed on account of their ruined temple; and the reason why they inquired was, that they were rebuilding that temple, and were likely to bring it to a joyful issue.

Verse 5. "When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth-month" - This they did in the remembrance of the burning of the temple, on the tenth day of that month; and on the seventh month, on the third of which month they observed a fast for the murder of Gedaliah, and the dispersion of the remnant of the people which were with him. See Jer. xli. 1, and 2 Kings xxv. 25.

Verse 6. "And when ye did eat" - They had not observed those fasts as they should have done. They deplored the loss of their temple, and its riches, &c., but they did not humble themselves because of those iniquities which had brought the displeasure of God upon them, their temple, and their city.

Verse 7. "The words which the Lord hath cried by the former prophets" - µynarh µyaybn nebiim harishonim, is the title which the Jews give to Joshua, Judges, the two books of Samuel, and the two books of Kings.

The latter prophets, µynwrja µyaybn nebiim acharonim, are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the twelve minor prophets.

The hagiographa, µybwtk kethubim, holy writings, are the Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Canticles, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and the two books of Chronicles. But the above words, the former prophets, seem to apply to Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel.

"The south and the plain?" - From Eleutheropolis to the sea, Obadiah 19.

The south was the wilderness and mountainous parts of Judea: and the plain, the plains of Jericho.

Verse 9. "Execute true judgment" - See the parallel texts in the margin.

Verse 10. "Evil against his brother in your heart." - Do not indulge an unfavourable opinion of another: do not envy him; do not harbour an unbrotherly feeling towards him.

Verse 11. "Pulled away the shoulder" - From under the yoke of the law, like an unbroken or restive bullock in the plough.

Verse 12. "Made their hearts as an adamant stone" - rym shamir may mean the granite. This is the hardest stone with which the common people could be acquainted. Perhaps the corundum, of which emery is a species, may be intended. Bochart thinks it means a stone used in polishing others.

The same name, in Hebrew, applies to different stones.