said of Israel forms a remarkable parallel to what is here said of God. God had formerly come, giving--Israel, taking; God now returns, taking--Israel giving,--a relation which opens up an insight into the whole economy of the sufferings.--"_My_ corn," etc., forms a contrast to ver. 7, where Israel had spoken of all these things as _theirs_. Whatever God gives, always remains [Pg 245] His own, because He gives only as a loan, and on certain conditions. If any one should consider himself as the absolute master of it, He makes him feel his error by taking it away.--"In its time" and "in its season" are added, because it was _then_, ordinarily, that God had appeared as _giving_, and because _then_ they therefore confidently expected His gifts. But now He appears at once as _taking_, because they were already so sure of the expected gifts that they held them, as it were, already in their hands; just as if, at Christmas--which corresponds to the harvest, the ordinary season of God's granting gifts--parents should withdraw from their children the accustomed presents, and put a rod in their place. It is better thus to understand the expression, "in its time, etc.," than to follow _Jerome_, who remarks, that "it is a severe punishment, if at the time of harvest the hoped-for fruits are taken away, and wrested from our hands;" for if, even at the time of the harvest, there be a want of all things, how will it be during the remaining time of the year.--The words, "to cover, etc.," are very concise, but without any grammatical ellipsis, instead of, "which hitherto served to cover her nakedness." As to the sense, the LXX. are correct in translating, τοῦ μὴ καλύπτειν τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς. For that which had _hitherto_ been, is mentioned by the prophet only for the purpose of drawing attention to what _in future_ will _not_ be.--It is the Lord who must cover the nakedness; and this leads us back to the natural poverty of man, who has not, in the whole world, a single patch or shred--not even so much as to cover his shame, which is here specially to be understood by nakedness. The same thought which is so well calculated to humble pride--what have we that we have not received, and that the Giver might not at any moment take back?--occurs also in Ezek. xvi. 8: "I spread out My wings over thee, and covered thy nakedness." Ver. 12. "_And now I will uncover her shame before the eyes of her lovers, and none shall deliver her out of My hands._"