4. The diseased--rather, those weak from the effects of "disease,"
as "strengthened" (that is, with due nourishment) requires
[GROTIUS].
broken--that is, fractures from wounds inflicted by the wolf.
brought again . . . driven away--
(Ex 23:4).
Those "driven away" by the enemy into foreign lands through God's
judgments are meant
(Jer 23:3).
A spiritual reformation of the state by the rulers would have turned
away God's wrath, and "brought again" the exiles. The rulers are
censured as chiefly guilty (though the people, too, were
guilty), because they, who ought to have been foremost in checking the
evil, promoted it.
neither . . . sought . . . lost--Contrast the Good Shepherd's love
(Lu 15:4).
with force . . . ruled--
(Ex 1:13, 14).
With an Egyptian bondage. The very thing forbidden by the law they did
(Le 25:43;
compare
1Pe 5:3).
JFB.
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