Will discover their secret parts "Expose their nakedness"] It was the barbarous custom of the conquerors of those times to strip their captives naked, and to make them travel in that condition, exposed to the inclemency of the weather; and the worst of all, to the intolerable heat of the sun. But this to the women was the height of cruelty and indignity; and especially to such as those here described, who had indulged themselves in all manner of delicacies of living, and all the superfluities of ornamental dress; and even whose faces had hardly ever been exposed to the sight of man. This is always mentioned as the hardest part of the lot of captives. Nahum, ver. 5, 6, denouncing the fate of Nineveh, paints it in very strong colours:- "Behold, I am against thee, saith JEHOVAH, God of hosts: And I will discover thy skirts upon thy face; And I will expose thy nakedness to the nations; And to the kingdoms thy shame.

And I will throw ordures upon thee; And I will make thee vile, and set thee as a gazing-stock."

Matthew Henry Commentary

Is. 3:1-9 God was about to deprive Judah of every stay and support. The city and the land were to be made desolate, because their words an works had been rebellious against the Lord; even at his holy temple. I men do not stay themselves upon God, he will soon remove all othe supports, and then they must sink. Christ is the Bread of life and the Water of life; if he be our Stay, we shall find that is a good part no to be taken away, John 6:27. Here note, 1. That the condition of sinners is exceedingly woful. 2. It is the soul that is damaged by sin 3. Whatever evil befals sinners, be sure that they bring it of themselves.

Is. 3:10-15 The rule was certain; however there might be nationa prosperity or trouble, it would be well with the righteous and ill with the wicked. Blessed be God, there is abundant encouragement to the righteous to trust in him, and for sinners to repent and return to him It was time for the Lord to show his might. He will call men to strict account for all the wealth and power intrusted to and abused by them. If it is sinful to disregard the necessities of the poor, ho odious and wicked a part do they act, who bring men into poverty, an then oppress them!

Is. 3:16-26 The prophet reproves and warns the daughters of Zion of the sufferings coming upon them. Let them know that God notices the foll and vanity of proud women, even of their dress. The punishment threatened answered the sin. Loathsome diseases often are the jus punishment of pride. It is not material to ask what sort of ornament they wore; many of these things, if they had not been in fashion, woul have been ridiculed then as now. Their fashions differed much from those of our times, but human nature is the same. Wasting time an money, to the neglect of piety, charity, and even of justice, displeas the Lord. Many professors at the present day, seem to think there is n harm in worldly finery; but were it not a great evil, would the Holy Spirit have taught the prophet to expose it so fully? The Jews being overcome, Jerusalem would be levelled with the ground; which i represented under the idea of a desolate female seated upon the earth And when the Romans had destroyed Jerusalem, they struck a medal, of which was represented a woman sitting on the ground in a posture of grief. If sin be harboured within the walls, lamentation and mournin are near the gates __________________________________________________________________

Original Hebrew