Verse 2The judge - The civil magistrates. The ancient - Whose wisdom was increased by long experience. Verse 5Oppressed - By thy command or permission of such childish rulers. Verse 6Thou hast - We are utterly undone, and have neither food nor raiment; but thou hast something left to support the dignity which we offer to thee. Under thine hand - To heal it. Verse 7An healer - A repairer of the ruins of the state. Verse 9The shew - Their pride, and wantonness, and impiety m manifestly shews itself in their very looks. They declare - They act it publickly, casting off all fear of God and reverence to men. Rewarded - Procured a fit recompense for their wickedness, even utter ruin. Verse 10Say ye - O ye priests and Levites, that God will be their safeguard and portion. Verse 12Women - Weak and effeminate rulers. They - Thy rulers civil and ecclesiastical. Verse 13Standeth - He will shortly and certainly stand up as a judge, to enquire into the cause, and to give sentence. To judge - To defend and deliver them. Verse 14Ancients - The princes or rulers; such were commonly chosen out of those who were in ripe years. Eaten - Destroyed instead of preserving the church and commonwealth of Israel. Spoil - The goods which you have violently taken away from the poor. Verse 16The daughters - The women; (hitherto he reproved the men). A tinkling - By some ornaments which they wore upon their shoes. Verse 17Secret paths - By giving her into the power of those enemies that shall strip her of all her raiment. Verse 18Cauls - It is agreed by all, that this and several words that follow, were ornaments used in those times. And it is of no concern, exactly to understand the nature and differences of them. The moon - There were in ancient times, and at this day there are some ornaments worn, which carry a manifest resemblance to the moon or half moon. Verse 20Tablets - He seems to mean boxes of perfumes. Verse 21Nose - jewels - Which were fastened to the head, and hung down upon the forehead to the beginning of the nose. Verse 22Pins - Of silver or gold, either used to curl the hair, or fastened and worn in the hair. Verse 23Glasses - The looking - glasses, as we call them, tho' in truth they were not made of glass, but of bright and burnished brass. Verse 24Girdle - Which were fine and costly, and useful to gird their garments about them. A rent - Torn and tattered garments. Burning - By the heat of the sun, to which they are now commonly exposed, from which they used formerly to guard themselves with the utmost care. Verse 26Gates - The gates of Zion or Jerusalem, which, by a figure, are said to lament, to imply the great desolation of the place; that there would be no people to go out and come in by the gates, as they used to do. Shall sit - Like a mournful woman bewailing the loss of her husband and children.