Jerusalem has grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honored her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sighs, and turns away.
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George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Unstable. Hebrew also, "removed "(Haydock) like a woman unclean. (Calmet)
Such were excluded from places of prayer, and were not allowed to touch a sacred book, or to pronounce God's name. Their husbands could not look at their face, nor give them any thing, but laid it down for them to take. (Buxtorf, Syn. 31.)
No condition could be more distressing. (Calmet)
ALL WHO HONORED: the thirteenth topic of complaint.
Historical interpretation. JERUSALEM HAS GRIEVOUSLY SINNED: one sin, alone of its kind, designates the reason for such misery, a sin through which everything is fettered and without which everything is released, that is incredulity, whence it is said: Hear, ye rebellious and incredulous. For out of incredulity they have always provoked God, worshiped idols, refused to believe in Christ, whence: If I had not come an spoken to them, they would not have sin. THEREFORE HAS SHE BECOME UNSTABLE, and not stone upon stone is left in her.
ALL THAT HONORED HER: namely the scribes and the Pharisees, who for the sake of filthy lucre, called the sinful people blessed, and the transgressing people, on the other hand, called them blessed and pillars in the house of the Lord, but in a moment they despise each other having put their faith in low flattery. SHE IS SIGHING AND TURNED BACKWARD: these words express the habit of captives, who, when th...
Heth- ‘life’, since to this she gazes SIGHING AND TURNED BACKWARD; the Lord infers
tribulation for that reason, namely, that the sinner may convert and live.
Jerusalem has grievously- a concession, because he does not excuse the fact, but asks that it be pardoned.
sinned- the sin of infidelity.
she become unstable- through various crimes, through different lands.
who honored her- scribes and Pharisees, who blessed the people, whence: O my people, they that call thee blessed, the same deceive thee ; heretics applauding or angels and holy men.
despised her- captive or conquered, perplexed by heresy or defiled by vices.
she is sighing- recognizing her sin.
turned backward- through penitence to the Lord, whom she had left; to the life of heaven, whence she came.
Here in Verse 8 is shown the cause of the misery: Jerusalem. First is indicated its very sinning, secondly, its progress. As said: "she became filthy.
There are two further notions. First sin is referred to as "filthy". Namely, as expressed, "anthonomastically", within infidelity and idolatry. As Proverbs l4:34 declares: "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people."
Secondly, the effect of sin is set forth. First, is the misery, plus an instability. As said: "all who honored her despise her". Namely, at the time of Jerusalem's prosperity: "despise her, for they have seen her nakedness". That is, her adversity. As Job 29:11 claims: "When the ear heard, it called me blessed, and when the eye saw, it approved."
Thirdly, there results a sadness of heart. As said: "yea, she herself groans, and turns her face away." That is, from the prosperity perfected by the Lord God. As Psalm 40 (39):l1 states: "Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor who desire m...
