Chapter 10

10:1  Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.

later rain

Cf. Hosea 6:3 ; Joel 2:23-32 ; Zechariah 12:10 . There is both a physical and spiritual meaning: Rain as of old will be restored to Palestine, but, also, there will be a mighty effusion of the Spirit upon restored Israel.

10:4  Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.

came

The tense is future: "From him Judah shall be the cornerstone Exodus 17:6 . (See Scofield "1 Peter 2:8") from him the nail Isaiah 22:23 Isaiah 22:24 from him the battle-bow," etc. The whole scene is of the events which group about the deliverance of the Jews in Palestine in the time of the northern invasion under the "Beast" ; Daniel 7:8 ; Revelation 19:20 and "Armageddon," ; Revelation 16:14 ; 19:17 .

The final deliverance is wholly effected by the return of the Lord Revelation 19:11-21, but previously He strengthens the hard-pressed Israelites ; Micah 4:13 ; Zechariah 9:13-15 ; 10:5-7 ; 12:2-6 ; 14:14 .

That there may have been a precursive fulfilment in the Maccabean victories can neither be affirmed nor denied from Scripture.

10:8  I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased.

redeemed

Isaiah 59:20 ; Exodus 14:30 . (See Scofield "Isaiah 59:20") . See Scofield " Exodus 14:30 "