8. It was planted in a good soil by great waters, that it might bring forth branches, and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a goodly vine. 8. Super agrum bonum [170] juxta aquas multas [171] ipsa plantara erat, ut produceret folia, et proferret fructum ut esset in vitem magnificam. [172] He exaggerates the ingratitude of Zedekiah, because, as we have said, he had been treated humanely by the king of Babylon; for he had been but a private man till that time: he was elevated to a throne and to a sway over the people beyond his expectation, and he had an avenger if any one despised him. For when he was tributary to the king of Babylon, he would doubtless have been assisted by him in adversity: hence his revolt was less excusable, since he had been treated liberally beyond all anticipation. For this reason it is said, the vine was planted in a good soil, and near many waters, that it might put forth branches and bear fruit, so that it might be a goodly vine. It follows -- Footnotes: [170] That is, "in a good soil." -- Calvin. [171] Or, "copious." -- Calvin. [172] Or it is usually rendered, "others have a beautiful vine:" 'dr, ader, signifies properly to strengthen: hence it may be translated a strong vine; but here it means beautiful, elegant, or superb. -- Calvin. |
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