14. — I will raise up against you a nation.] That is, the Assyrians who should afflict them from one end of the land to the other. "The entering in of Hamath" was the northern border of their country; and "the river of the wilderness" is the same with "the river of Egypt," the boundary of Judea on the south, Gen. xv. 18. W. Lowth. The sins here described, as especially provoking God's THU S hath the Lord God shewed unto me; and, behold, he formed shooting up of the latter growth; and, lo, it was the latter growth after the king's mowings. 14. They that swear by the sin of Samaria, &c.] Those idolatrous Israelites, that swear by the molten images of Samaria, and say, As the god which is worshipped in Dan, and the author of the religion of Beer-sheba liveth; even they shall fall into utter perdition, and never rise again. Bp. Hall. "The sin of Samaria" was the calf, set up at Beth-el by Jeroboam, who committed a great sin in so doing, and made Israel to sin, 1 Kings xii. 30; xiv. 16; compare Mic. i. 5. "The manner," or way, "of Beer-sheba" is rendered "the god of Beer-sheba" in the Greek version, which expresses the sense rather than the words. The "way" or "manner," signifies the same with "the way of worship:" in this sense it is probably taken, Hos. x. 13; and the phrase is often used so in the Acts; particularly chap. xix. 23; xxiv. 14. Here it is taken figuratively for the god or object of their worship. Beer-sheba was a place noted for idolatry, as hath been observed upon chap. v. 5. W. Lowth. The punishment, which is here threatened upon the people for their sins, is, that God would "send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the word of the Lord." Let us learn hence, that the most terrible chastisement God can inflict upon a people is to deprive them of his word, and no longer to send his faithful servants among them: and therefore, that those, who enjoy these precious advantages, ought to esteem them above all things, and make a good use of them, lest they be deprived of them by the just judgment of God. Ostervald. Chap. IX. The Prophet sees a fifth vision, representing a final destruction of the kingdom of Israel; but he concludes his prophecy with promises of restoring the kingdom of David, and the Jewish nations under the Messias, when the Church shall be enlarged by the Gentiles coming into it. W. Lowth. Ver. 1. — Smite the lintel of the door, &c.] This signifies that a severe blow was by the Divine command to be inflicted on those who were thought to be most eminent, and most able to support and give aid to the temple and the whole nation to whom it belonged. Dr. Stokes. — and cut them in the head, all of them;] That is, I will destroy all the chief of the kingdom of Israel. Dr. Wells. The "head" corresponds to the "lintel" in the foregoing clause. Abp. Newcome. As if he had said, Let them that are in the highest place, the guides and governours of the people, have the first and greatest blow, that in them others may see their doom. And after that, "I will slay the last of them" also, the lowest of the people, "with the sword" of a cruel enemy. Dr. Stokes. 15. And the Lord took me as I followed the flock.] Thus he was taken to the office of a Prophet, as David had been to that of a king: see Ps. lxxviii. 70, 71. Daucus. And as Moses also had been before him. See the note on Exod. iii. 1. 16. — drop not thy word &c.] Do not let fall the menaces of judgment upon the chosen people of God. Bp. Hall.