And saying, alas, alas! that great city ,..... Using the same words the kings of the earth do, Revelation 18:10 only adding, suitable to their characters as merchants, and the things they traded in with her, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls ; See Gill on Revelation 18:12 , Revelation 17:4 , see also Ezekiel 27:32 . read more
For in one hour so great riches is come to nought ,.... That is, in a very short time, expressing the suddenness and speediness of Rome's destruction, the quick dispatch and expedition that will be made in it, by the instruments of it, as in Revelation 18:10 . Rome was always famous for its great wealth and riches; the Jews have a saying F12 T. Bab. Kiddushin, fol. 49. 2. , that if ten kabs of riches descend into the world, the ancient Romans take nine of them, and the other the... read more
And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning ,.... See Gill on Revelation 18:9 . saying, what city is like unto this great city ? as before for magnificence and grandeur, so now for sorrow, desolation, and ruin; nor was any city like it for power and authority, for pride and luxury, for idolatry and superstition, blasphemy and impenitence; the like the sailors say of Tyre, Ezekiel 27:30 from whence this and other expressions are borrowed in this lamentation. read more
And they cast dust on their heads ,.... As the seafaring men on account of Tyre, Ezekiel 27:30 this was a gesture used in mourning when persons were in afflicted and distressed circumstances, denoting disorder, confusion, and debasement; see Joshua 7:6 and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, alas, alas! that great city ; as in Revelation 18:10 so it was once, though now in flames: wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea ; not only the merchants of the earth, as in ... read more
Standing afar off - Beholding her desolations with wonder and astonishment, utterly unable to afford her any kind of assistance. read more
The merchants of the earth - These are represented as mourning over her, because their traffic with her was at an end. Bishop Bale, who applies all these things to the Church of Rome, thus paraphrases the principal passages: - The mighty kinges and potentates of the earth, not havinge afore their eyes the love and feare of God, have committed with this whore moste vile filthynesse; abusinge themselves by many straunge or uncommaunded worshippings, and bynding themselves by othe to... read more
The merchandise of gold, and silver, etc. - The same author, Bishop Bale, who was once a priest of the Romish Church, goes on to apply all these things to that Church; and whether the text have this meaning or not, they will show us something of the religious usages of his time, and the real mockery of this intolerant and superstitious Church. Speaking in reference to the Reformation, and the general light that had been diffused abroad by the word of God, which was then translated into the... read more
And cinnamon - " By the sinamon is ment all maner of costly spyces, wherewith they bury their byshops and founders, lest they shoulde stinke when they translate them agayne to make them saintes for advauntage. "By the smellynge odours, the swete herbes that they strewe abrode at theyr dedications and burials; besydes the damaske waters, bawmes, muskes, pomaunder, civet, and other curious confections they yet bestow upon theyr owne precious bodyes. "The oyntments are such oyles as they... read more
And the fruits that thy soul lusted after - και ἡ οπωρα της επιθυμιας της ψυχης σου . As οπωρα signifies autumn, any and all kinds of autumnal fruits may be signified by the word in the above clause. Dainty and goodly - Τα λιπαρα· Delicacies for the table. Τα λαμπρα , what is splendid and costly in apparel. read more
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John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 18:15
The merchants of these things ,.... Before mentioned, who have traded in them for themselves and for Rome: which were made rich by her , see Revelation 18:3 shall stand afar off for fear of her torment ; as the kings of the earth before, Revelation 18:10 being conscious to themselves of their being partners in her crimes, and so might justly fear they should share in her punishment; and it may be, they will outwardly deny they are now of her religion, and will externally embrace... read more