11. ‘Then his mind' (spirit) ‘sprung up' (broke forth or took head) ‘and overflowed, and he was guilty' (transgressed) [making] or ‘this his power is his god'; compare, as to the language, Isa. 8:88And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel. (Isaiah 8:8), as to the moral character, etc., Isaiah 10:1313For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man: (Isaiah 10:13), et seq. Zu co-kho le-lo-he (this his power is his god)—'transgress, calling his power his god.' ‘This, his power is for a god to him.' It is the character of the proud man.
It is the time, I believe, when the Assyrian (Gog), having pursued an ordinary but grasping career of conquest, sets up in pride, rebellious pride against God, thinking to take the Jews, Remnant and Jerusalem, into his power, and to set himself over all the earth, without anyone, Antichrist being now put out, though his march up was during the prevalence of the ungodly Jews. This Book is the consideration of the Jewish saints during this march—the answer to the state of the prevalence of the ungodly Jews, with the terror then of the terrible day on his coming up, and the answer to that in chapter 2; see the notes on Joel.
12. It appears to me that this word tzur (A.V., ‘0 Mighty God'; Septuagint, eplase me, 'formed me') is connected, in sense, with its root, tzur to ‘form' or ‘make,' and hence the Ordainer of all things is the security of, the Ordainer of His people. Then these senses seem associated with it, forming refuge, and salvation, so Peter says, committing their souls to Him, as unto a faithful Creator.' Now it involves the security implied in this, ‘formed for Myself' and that, this care of purpose being assured, there is also the formed all things,' of course with reference to this purpose. So Paul in Rom. 8, ‘We know that all things work together,' etc. So Isaiah—the argument, from chapter 41 forwards, runs at length upon this head and subject. Then the kindred ya-tzar (to form) is used, as in Jeremiah 10:1616The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: The Lord of hosts is his name. (Jeremiah 10:16); see Deut. 32:15, 1815But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation. (Deuteronomy 32:15)
18Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee. (Deuteronomy 32:18). The force of the words here then becomes very plain and direct, and the reason and application of them becomes obvious, and verse 13 has the reason for them, and also plea for deliverance from them. Compare, as to wickedness within, Jer. 12