For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles
they
lie in wait
The prince, people, and scorners before mentioned, being heated
with wine, and their lust enraged, they were ready for any
wickedness; for the commission of adultery, lying in wait for
their neighbours' wives to debauch them; or for rebellion and
treason against their king, and even the murder of him, made
drunk by them, whom they now despised, and waited for an
opportunity to dispatch him: their baker sleepeth all the
night; in the morning it burneth as a
flaming fire;
as a baker having put wood into his oven, and kindled it, leaves
it, and sleeps all night, and in the morning it is all burning,
and in a flame, and his oven is thoroughly heated, and fit for
his purpose; so the evil concupiscence in these men's hearts,
made hot like an oven, rests all night, devising mischief on
their beds, either against the chastity of their neighbours'
wives, or against the lives of others, they bear an ill will to,
particularly against their judges and their kings, as ( Hosea 7:7 ) ; seems to
intimate; and in the morning this lust of uncleanness or revenge
is all in a flame, and ready to execute the wicked designs
contrived; see ( Micah 2:1 ) . Some by
"their baker" understand Satan; others, their king asleep and
secure; others Shallum, the head of the conspiracy against
Zachariah.