O my threshing, and the corn of my floor
Which may be understood either of the Babylonians, now threshed
or punished by the Lord, and whom he had made use of as
instruments for the punishment of others; or rather of the people
of the Jews, whom the prophet calls "his", as being his
countrymen, to whom he was affected, and with whom he
sympathized; and besides, he speaks in the name of the Lord; or
it is the Lord that speaks by him, calling the church of the Jews
his floor, and the people his corn, which were dear and valuable
to him, as choice grain, wheat, and other things; and therefore,
though he threshed or afflicted them, it was for their good, to
purge and cleanse them, and separate the chaff from them; and
indeed it was on their account, and for their good, that all this
was to be done to Babylon, before predicted; where they were, as
corn under the threshing instrument, greatly oppressed and
afflicted, but now should be delivered; for the confirmation of
which it is added: that which I have heard of the Lord of
hosts, the God of Israel,
have I declared unto you;
the preceding prophecy was not a dream of his, but a vision from
the Lord of hosts; it was not devised by him, but told him by the
Lord, and that for the good and comfort of the people of Israel,
whose covenant God he was; and the prophet acted a faithful part,
in delivering it just as he received it, which might be depended
on.