Therefore. Because of the outrage done to God's "long suffering," he must needs punish. Wait ye upon me; wait ye for me. The exhortation is addressed to the pious among the Jews, as in Zephaniah 2:3, and is used in a good sense (Psalms 33:20; Isaiah 8:17), urging them not to despair, but to be patient under the affliction, in the assured hope of salvation.
The same expression is used in Habakkuk 2:3. I rise up to the prey. This is a phrase denoting effort and the effecting of some great object. Jehovah seizes the prey when the nations, roused by judgment inflicted, are converted unto him (Isaiah 53:12; Psalms 68:18).
The LXX; pointing the last word differently ( עד), renders, εἰς ἡμέραν ἀναστάσεώς μου εἰς μαρτύριον: "until the day of my rising up for testimony." Jerome, "In die resurrectionis meae in futurum."
The Fathers interpreted this of the times of Messiah — some, of Christ's resurrection from the dead; some, of his rising up to divide the spoil. But such interpretations are Mien from the intention of the passage, however allowable as glosses.
For my determination is; literally, my judgment (mishpat) is. My justice is displayed, as Habakkuk 2:5. The word, according to Keil, never means, "decree" or "decision." That I may assemble the kingdoms.
Not for utter extermination, but to bring them to a better mind (Isaiah 26:9; Joel 3:11, etc.). Fire of my jealousy (Zephaniah 1:18). God will allow no rival anywhere (Nahum 1:2). This is the reason of the severity and universality of the judgment The Masorites note that this ' the only verse in the Bible which contains the whole Hebrew alphabet.