In this chapter the character of the city of Jerusalem, and its inhabitants in general, is drawn, as it would be, and as it was, in the times of Christ and his apostles, Zep 3:1 and of the principal persons of it in particular, its princes, judges, prophets, and priests, Zep 3:3.
The hardness, impenitence, and shamelessness of this people, are exposed and aggravated by the just Lord being among them; who, by his example and doctrine, taught them otherwise; yet they were not amended or made ashamed, Zep 3:5 nor received instruction, nor took warning by the judgments of God on other nations, Zep 3:6 wherefore the followers of God are called upon to wait his time, who would gather many people together, and destroy the whole land of Judea, Zep 3:8 at which time he would send his Gospel among the Gentiles, who should thereby be brought to the true worship and service of God, Zep 3:9 though there should be a remnant among the Jews, according to the election of grace, that should be saved from that general calamity, Zep 3:11 and the spiritual Israel are encouraged with promises of better times, when the Jews in general should be converted and gathered into the church of God, have the presence and protection of God with them, and deliverance from all their enemies, and be a praise among all people of the earth, Zep 3:14.
Ver. 1. Woe to her that is filthy, and polluted,.... Meaning the city of Jerusalem, and its inhabitants; not as before the Babylonish captivity, but after their return from it, under the second temple, as Abarbinel owns; and even as in the times before and at the coming of Christ, and the preaching of his apostles among them; as the whole series of the prophecy, and the connection of the several parts of it, show; and there are such plain intimations of the conversion of the Gentiles, and of such a happy state of the Jews, in which they shall see evil no more, as can agree with no other times than the times of the Gospel, both the beginning and latter part of them.
The character of this city, and its inhabitants, is, that it was "filthy", and polluted with murders, adulteries, oppression, rapine, and other sins: our Lord often calls them a wicked and an adulterous generation; and yet they pretended to great purity of life and manners; and they were pure in their own eyes, though not washed from their filthiness; they took much pains to make clean the outside of the cup, but within were full of impurity, Mt 23:25.
In the margin it is, "woe to her that is gluttonous". The word is used for the craw or crop of a fowl, Le 1:16 hence some render it "woe to the craw"; to the city that is all craw, to which Jerusalem is compared for its devouring the wealth and substance of others.
The Scribes and Pharisees in Christ's time are said to devour widows' houses, Mt 23:14 and this seems to be the sin with which they were defiled, and here charged with. Some think the word signifies one that is publicly, infamous; either made a public example of, or openly exposed, as sometimes filthy harlots are; or rather one "that has made herself infamous" ; by her sins and vices:to the oppressing city!
that oppressed the poor, the widow, and the fatherless. This may have respect to the inhabitants of Jerusalem stoning the prophets of the Lord sent unto them; to the discouragements they laid the followers of Christ under, by not suffering such to come to hear him that were inclined; threatening to cast them out of their synagogues if they professed him, which passed into a law; and to their killing the Lord of life and glory; and the persecution of his apostles, ministers, and people: see Mt 23:13.
Some render it, "to the city a dove" ; being like a silly dove without heart, as in Ho 7:11. R. Azariah thinks Jerusalem is so called because in its works it was like Babylon, which had for its military sign on its standard a dove; See Gill on "Jer 25:38" see Gill on "Jer 46:16" see Gill on "Ho 11:11" but the former sense is best.
harwm ywh "vae ingluviei", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. ouav th paradeigmatizomhnh "vae huic quae infamatur", L'Empereur Not. in Mosis Kimchii oidopozia "ad scientiam", p. 174. so Drusius and Tarnovius.
hnwyh ryex poliv h peristera, Sept.; "civitas columba", V. L.; so Syr. Ar. Jarchi, and other Jewish interpreters. Meor Enayin, c. 21. fol. 90.