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 ) .
F24 Misna Sota, c. 9. sect. 15.
F25 More Nevochim, par. 2. c. 11. p. 212.
