Chapter 5 Verse 1. Verse 2. Verse 3. Verse 4.

CHAPTER 5

Verse 1. I am come into my garden, &c.] The holy blessed God said unto his people, the house of Israel, I am come into the house of my sanctuary, which thou hast built for me, O my sister, the congregation of Israel, who art like to a modest damsel: I have caused my shechinah to dwell with thee, {a} I have received thy sweet incense, which thou hast made on my account; I have sent fire from heaven, and it hath devoured the burnt-offerings, and the holy drink-offerings; the libation of the red and white wine is graciously received by me, which the priests pour out upon mine altar. Now, therefore, come, ye priests that love my commandments, and eat what is left of the offerings, and delight yourselves with those good things which are prepared for you.

Verse 2. I sleep, but my heart waketh, &c.] After all these words the people of the house of Israel sinned, and he delivered them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, who carried them into captivity; and they were in captivity like a man asleep, that cannot be awaked out of his sleep; wherefore the Holy Ghost warned them by the prophets, and awaked them out of the sleep of their hearts. Then answered the Lord of the whole world, and thus he said, Return by repentance, open thy mouth, rejoice and show forth my praise, my sister, my love, O congregation of Israel, who art like to a dove for the perfection of thy works; for the hair of my head is filled with thy tears, as a man the hair of whose head is wet with the dew of heaven; and my Nazaritical locks are filled with the drops of thine eyes, as a man whose Nazaritical locks are full of the drops of rain which descend in the night.

Verse 3. I have put off my coat, &c.] The congregation of Israel answered in the presence of the prophets, Behold, now have I removed from me the {b} yoke of his commandments, and have served the idols of the nations; wherefore, how can I have the face to return to him again? The Lord of the world answered them by the prophets, saying, And behold, now I also have removed my shechinah from thee; and how shall I return again, seeing thou hast done evil works? for I have washed my feet from thine uncleanness, and how shall I defile them in the midst of thee with thy evil works?

Verse 4. My beloved put in his hand, &c.] When it appeared manifest before the Lord that the people of the house of Israel would not repent and turn unto him, he stretched forth {c} his mighty arm against the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh; on the other side of Jordan; and he delivered them into the hand of Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, who carried them into captivity, {d} to Lachlach, and Chabor, and to the rivers of Gozan, and cities of Media; and he took out of their hands the molten calf which Jeroboam, the wicked, set in Lesham-Dan, which was called {e} Pamias, in the days of Pekah, the son of Remaliah; and when I heard it, my bowels were moved towards them.

Verse 5. I rose up to open to my beloved, &c.] And when the mighty stroke of the Lord lay heavy upon me, I repented of my works; and the priests offered up offerings, and burnt the sweet incense: but it was not graciously received, for the Lord of the world shut the {f} doors of repentance to my face.

Verse 6. I opened to my beloved, &c.] The congregation of Israel said, I was willing to seek instruction from the Lord: but he removed his shechinah from me, and my soul desired the voice of his words. I sought the shechinah of his glory: but I found it not. I prayed before him: but he covered the heavens with {g} clouds, and did not receive my prayer. Verse 7. The watchmen that went about the city, &c.] The {h} Chaldeans, which kept the ways, and besieged the city of Jerusalem all around, joined themselves to me. Some they slew with the sword, and others they carried into captivity. They took the crown royal off the neck of Zedekiah king of Judah, and carried him away to Ribla, {i} where the people of Babylon, who besieged the city and kept the walls, put out his eyes.

Verse 8. I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, &c.] The congregation of Israel said, I charge you, O ye prophets, by the decree of the word of the Lord, that, if your love manifests himself unto you, you tell him that I, who love him, am sick of love.

Verse 9. What is thy beloved, &c.] The prophets answered and said, unto the house of Israel, {k} Who is this God thou art seeking to worship, O congregation of Israel, who art fairer than all the nations? Who is this thou art desirous to fear, that thou dost so charge us?

Verse 10. My beloved is white and ruddy, &c.] Wherefore the congregation of Israel began to speak in the praise of the Lord of the world, and thus she said, That God I desire to serve, who in the day is