And be thou instructed, O Jerusalem,.... Or "corrected" ; receive discipline or instructions by chastisements and corrections, return by repentance, that the evils threatened may not come: this shows the affection of the Lord to his people, notwithstanding all their sins; that their amendment, and not their destruction, were pleasing to him; that it was with reluctance he was about to visit them in the manner threatened; and that even now it was not too late, provided they were instructed and reformed; but, if not, they must expect what follows:lest my soul depart from thee; his Shechinah, or divine Presence, and all the tokens of his love, favour, and good will.
The Targum interprets it of the Word of the Lord,"lest my Word cast thee off;''see Ro 11:1, or, "lest my soul pluck itself from thee"; or "be plucked" , and separated from thee: the phrase denotes an utter separation, a forcible one, joined with the utmost abhorrence and detestation.
In Eze 23:18, it is rendered, "my mind was alienated"; it denotes disunion and disaffection.Lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited; the Targum adds, by way of illustration,"as the land of Sodom;''so that not a man should dwell in it; see Jer 4:25.
yrowh "cape disciplinam", Vatablus; "admitte disciplinam", Cocceius; "castigationem", Schmidt.