5 Moreover I will give all the riches of this city, and all its gains, and all the precious things of it, yes, all the treasures of the kings of Judah will I give into the hand of their enemies; and they shall make them a prey, and take them, and carry them to Babylon.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
He goes on with the same subject, but amplifies what he had said in order to confirm it. At the same time there is no doubt but that Pashur was more exasperated when he heard these grievous threatenings; but it was right thus to inflame more and more the fury of all the ungodly. Though, then, they may a hundred times raise a clamor, we must not desist from freely and boldly declaring the truth. This is the reason why the Prophet now more fully describes the future calamity of the city. I will give up, he says, the whole strength of this city, etc. This word "strength" is sometimes taken metaphorically for riches or wealth. Then the whole strength, or substance, of this city and all its labor will I give up, etc. This second clause is still more grievous, for what had been acquired with great labor was to be given to plunder; for when any one becomes rich without labor, that is, when riches come to one by inheritance, without any trouble or toil, he is not so distressed when he happens to be deprived of his wealth; but he who has through a whole life of labor obtained what he expects would be for the support of life, this person grieves much more and becomes really distressed with anguish, when enemies come and deprive and plunder him of all he possesses. There is therefore no doubt but that "labor" is here mentioned, as in other parts of Scripture, in order to amplify the evil. He then adds, all its precious things and all the treasures of the kings of Judah will I deliver into the hand of their enemies; who will carry away, not only riches, labor, and treasures, but also the men themselves, and bring them to Babylon [1] The rest to-morrow.
1 - What Calvin and our version render "strength" is rendered the same by the Sept., ischun, -- by the Vulg., "substance," -- by the Syr., "citadels," -- and by the Targ., riches. The primary meaning of the word is to be strong, or firm; and then what is strongly, or firmly secured -- store, or treasure, here, and the two things which follow are explanatory of this store, -- the labor, or the fruit of labor, -- their garments; and precious things, -- their gold, silver, and precious stones and furniture: -- 5. And I will give the whole store of this city, Even all the fruit of its labor, And every precious thing in it, -- Yea, all the treasures of the kings of Judah will I give, Into the hand of their enemies: And they shall plunder them and take them, And bring them into Babylon. All the versions refer "them" in the two last lines to the people, but the Targum to the things mentioned in the preceding lines; but the former view is the right one. To render the last verb to "carry," as in our version, is not correct; for it means to cause to come, and hence to bring; and this clearly supports the versions. The exposition of Blayney is, that by "strength'" is meant the military, by "labor" the workmen, and by "the precious" the respectable part of society. Then he ought to have gone on and said, that by "the treasures" were meant the kings of Judah! But all this is fancy, and wholly inconsistent with the tenor of the passage. They were to "plunder" them; and if their stores were not referred to, how could this be said of what their enemies would do? And then, according to this view, the treasures of the kings were to become a spoil, and not the stores of the city. To spoil the people of their property was one of the most common threatenings of the Prophets. -- Ed.
All the strength - "All the stores."
The labors - The gains of the citizens.
Moreover, I will deliver all the strength of this city,.... The fortifications of it; its towers, as the Syriac version; the riches of it, as the Targum; all its magazines and stores, in which its strength lay:
and all the labours thereof; all the fruit of their labours; all their wealth and riches got by labour; all their goods in trade; all their manufactures and merchandise:
and all the precious things thereof; all their plate and jewels, the rich furniture of their houses, and whatsoever was laid up in their treasures as rare and valuable:
and all the treasures of the kings of Judah will I give into the hand of their enemies; which they in successive reigns had been laying up in store for years together; see Isaiah 39:6;
which shall spoil them, and take them, and carry them to Babylon; make a prey of them, seize them as their property, and carry them away with them.
strength--that is, resources.
labours--fruits of labor, gain, wealth.
*More commentary available at chapter level.