And it shall be, when they say unto thee, wherefore sighest
thou?
&c.] Which he was to do that purpose, that they might be put upon asking him the reason of it; whether it was on his own personal amount, or on account of his family or particular friends; or whether on a public account, either because of what should befall the captives there, or their countrymen in Judea and Jerusalem: that thou shalt answer, for the tidings,
or, the "report" F16, because it cometh;
the report of the Chaldean army approaching and invading Judea, and besieging Jerusalem, which he had from the Lord; and the thing itself was just at hand, and would shortly and certainly be; and that was the thing that affected him, and caused such sorrow and sighing: and every heart shall melt;
like wax, for fear of the enemy; even such who then disbelieved the report, and laughed at it as an idle story: and all hands shall be feeble;
and not able to hold a sword, or strike a stroke: and every spirit shall faint;
yea, such who had the greatest spirits, and were the most bold and undaunted, shall be quite dispirited, no heart nor courage to defend themselves or their country: and all knees shall be weak as water;
they shall not be able to stand upon their legs, and fight like men in their own defence; nor even be able to flee away, and make their escape: or, shall flow with water
F17; either with sweat, or with urine, through fear of the enemy: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought pass, saith the Lord God;
let no man therefore put this evil day far from him, or treat this report as an idle tale, or a thing at a distance, and which may never come to pass; for it is now a coming, and in a very little time will be accomplished; for the Lord has said it, who cannot lie, whose counsel shall stand, and will do all his pleasure.