They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns
Which may be understood literally, the land of Judea being cursed
for their sins, and become barren and unfruitful, as the earth
originally was for the sin of the first man, ( Genesis 3:19
) , or rather figuratively, which some interpret of the prophets
as Kimchi, sowing the good seed of the word among the Jews; but
it did not take place in them, and bring forth fruit; instead
thereof thorns sprung up, or evil works were done by them,
comparable thereunto; but it seems better to understand it of the
people; not, as Jarchi, of their prayers, which were not
accepted, because unattended with repentance and good works; but
of their schemes, which they thought were prudently laid, in
forming an alliance with Egypt, and sending thither for help
against the Chaldeans, but all in vain; these proved in the issue
like thorns, grievous and vexatious to them. The Septuagint
version reads imperatively, "sow ye": and Jarchi makes mention of
a copy, in which the word was pointed as to be so read, as in (
Hosea 10:12 )
, and may be understood ironically. The Targum is,
``be ye not like those who sow wheat in untilled land, and can gather nothing but thorns.''They have put themselves to pain, but shall not profit;