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VERSE 4.
And though they go into captivity before their enemies, thence will I command the sword, and it shall slay them, and I will set mine eye upon them for evil, and not for good.
WEE are now come to the fifth and last Evasion, where∣by these incorrigible sinners thought to escape Gods hands, and that was by yeelding themselves up into their ene∣mies hands upon quarter for their lives, and so to escape the edge of the sword.
To this the Lord answers by way of concession, though they should go into cap••ivity before their enemies, or before the faces of their enem••es (as 'tis in the Original) whose custome it was to drive their enemies like beasts before them, young and old, naked and barefoot, Isa▪ 20.4. Lam. 1.5. yet thence will I command and commission the sword of their ene∣mies to slay them.
2. Here is an Aggravation of all this misery, viz. that it should fall upon them in wrath. God promised to send Iudah into the Land of Chaldea for good, Ier. 24.5, 6. but Israel being more grosly wicked,* 1.1 the Lord threatens here, To watch over them for evil, and not for good. The expression is empha∣tical, the denial of the contrary makes the speech more weigh∣ty, so Jer. 21.10. & 39.16. & 44.27. q. d. I will bring up∣on them all manner of evil, but no good. I will afflict them every where, but I will defend them no where, but will ut∣terly consume them. This was true of Israel, who went into captivity, and never returned again; though many of Judah did return again, as we read in the book of Ezra.
As Gods eye was formerly upon them for good, and hee had made them the head of the Nations, so now his eye should be upon them for evil, and he would make them the Taile and contemptible amongst all. He would now deal with them as he threatned to do with disobedient ones, Deut. 28.44, 63. Before he had been their Guardian, and their Keeper, Psal. 121.3, 4. He that keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps; but now he will be their Judge and Executioner. Though formerly