Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work
among this people
Because of their hypocrisy and formality, their regard to men, their doctrines and commandments, and not to the will and word of God, therefore he determines "to deal marvellously with this people": [even] a marvellous work, and a wonder;
that is, something exceedingly marvellous, which would be matter of astonishment to everyone that observed it; and is as follows: for the wisdom of their wise [men] shall perish, and the understanding
of their prudent [men] shall be hid;
and be no more: this was eminently fulfilled in the wise men, the doctors and learned Rabbins of the Jews; and they themselves own F24, that, from the time the temple was destroyed, the wise men became like to Scribes, and the Scribes to those that looked after the synagogues, and these became like the common people, and they grew worse and worse: and Maimonides acknowledges F25, that this respects their present case; he says, when the Heathen princes destroyed their best things, took away their wisdom, and their books, and killed their wise men, they became ignorant and unlearned; which evil God threatened them for their iniquities, as is said in this passage: and also this had its accomplishment in the wise philosophers of the Gentiles; see ( 1 Corinthians 1:18-20 ) .
FOOTNOTES:
F24 Misna Sota, c. 9. sect. 15.
F25 More Nevochim, par. 2. c. 11. p. 212.
