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1 Aske yee of the Lord raine in the time of the latter raine, so the Lord shal make bright clouds, and giue them showres of raine, to euery one grasse in the field.
2 For the idoles haue spoken vanitie, and the diuiners haue seene a lye, and haue told false dreames; they comfort in vaine: therefore they went their way as a flocke, they were troubled because there was no shepheard.
3 Mine anger was kindled against the shepheards, and I punished the goats: for the Lord of hostes hath visited his flocke the house of Iudah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battell.
4 Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the naile, out of him the battell bow, out of him euery oppressour together.
5 ¶ And they shall bee as mightie men which tread downe their enemies in the myre of the streets in the battell, and they shall fight because the Lord is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded.
6 And I will strengthen the house of Iudah, and I will saue the house of Ioseph, and I will bring them againe to place them, for I haue mercie vpon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the Lord their God, & will heare them.
7 And they of Ephraim shall be like a mightie man, and their heart shall reioyce as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad, their heart shall reioyce in the Lord.
8 I will hisse for them and gather them, for I haue redeemed them: and they shall increase as they haue increased.
9 And I will sow them among the people, and they shall remember me in farre countries, and they shall liue with their children, and turne againe.
10 I will bring them againe also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria, and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon, and place shall not be found for them.
11 And he shall passe through the sea with affliction, & shall smite the waues in the Sea, and all the deepes of the riuer shall dry vp: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought downe, and the scepter of Egypt shall depart away.
12 And I will strengthen them in the Lord, and they shall walke vp and downe in his name, saith the Lord.
Blessings to be sought from the Lord. (1-5) God will restore his people. (6-12)1-5 Spiritual blessings had been promised under figurative allusions to earthly plenty. Seasonable rain is a great mercy, which we may ask of God when there is most need of it, and we may look for it to come. We must in our prayers ask for mercies in their proper time. The Lord would make bright clouds, and give showers of rain. This may be an exhortation to seek the influences of the Holy Spirit, in faith and by prayer, through which the blessings held forth in the promises are obtained and enjoyed. The prophet shows the folly of making addresses to idols, as their fathers had done. The Lord visited the remnant of his flock in mercy, and was about to renew their courage and strength for conflict and victory. Every creature is to us what God makes it to be. Every one raised to support the nation, as a corner-stone does the building, or to unite those that differ, as nails join the different timbers, must come from the Lord; and those employed to overcome their enemies, must have strength and success from him. This may be applied to Christ; to him we must look to raise up persons to unite, support, and defend his people. He never will say, Seek ye me in vain.
6-12 Here are precious promises to the people of God, which look to the state of the Jews, and even to the latter days of the church. Preaching the gospel is God's call for souls to come to Jesus Christ. Those whom Christ redeemed by his blood, God will gather by his grace. Difficulties shall be got over easily, and effectually, as those in the way of the deliverance out of Egypt. God himself will be their strength, and their song. When we resist, and so overcome our spiritual enemies, then our hearts shall rejoice. If God strengthen us, we must bestir ourselves in all the duties of the Christian life, must be active in the work of God; and we must do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.