Verse 29. - From the classes, the prophet turns to the masses. The people of the land, the common people (2 Kings 25:3, 19), come under the same condemnation. Greed of gain, the oppression of the poor and the stranger, were seem everywhere.
22:23-31 All orders and degrees of men had helped to fill the measure of the nation's guilt. The people that had any power abused it, and even the buyers and sellers find some way to oppress one another. It bodes ill to a people when judgments are breaking in upon them, and the spirit of prayer is restrained. Let all who fear God, unite to promote his truth and righteousness; as wicked men of every rank and profession plot together to run them down.
The people of the land have used oppression,.... The common people, the more powerful among them, such as were in greatest authority in cities and towns, in neighbourhoods and families, the richest among them; these oppressed the poor, and those that were under them, the servants of them, and tenants to them, and who were not able to defend themselves against them: the Septuagint and Syriac versions understand this of the prophets using the people of the land ill:
and exercised robbery; such who had not the power as others had, became thieves and robbers, went on the highway, and took men's money from them; broke up houses, and plundered them, and stole away their goods:
and have vexed the poor and needy; by their oppressions, rapines, and robberies, when they should rather have relieved them:
yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully; or, "without right or judgment" (k); in a very unjust manner, contrary to the due course of law, against all equity and justice; which the Israelites were warned and ordered not to do, in many passages of Scripture; and for this reason, because they had been strangers in Egypt.
(k) "absque judicio", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, "non in judicio", Cocceius.
and exercised robbery; such who had not the power as others had, became thieves and robbers, went on the highway, and took men's money from them; broke up houses, and plundered them, and stole away their goods:
and have vexed the poor and needy; by their oppressions, rapines, and robberies, when they should rather have relieved them:
yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully; or, "without right or judgment" (k); in a very unjust manner, contrary to the due course of law, against all equity and justice; which the Israelites were warned and ordered not to do, in many passages of Scripture; and for this reason, because they had been strangers in Egypt.
(k) "absque judicio", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, "non in judicio", Cocceius.