[¹] Or, a long season.
3. without a teaching priest, and without law] The connection between these two is closer than the English suggests. “Law” (Hebrew tōrah) is properly “teaching, guidance.” A “teaching” priest (Hebrew mōreh) is one who gives “tōrah” or “guidance” on doubtful points of morality or ritual. Compare Malachi ii. 7.
⁵And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the lands.
5. vexations] Rather, afflictions; compare Acts xii. 1, “to vex (Revised Version ‘to afflict’) certain of the church.”
of the lands] The reference is probably to the Israelite territory only; compare xi. 23, xxxiv. 33; and 1 Chronicles xiii. 2 (margin).
⁶And they were broken in pieces, nation against nation, and city against city: for God did vex them with all adversity.
6. nation against nation] Apparently Israel is meant. In the civil strife of the days of the Judges, and again in the contentions of the Northern and Southern Kingdoms, Israel seemed at times to be a collection of related but hostile tribes: compare Judges viii. 13–17, ix. 26 ff., xii. 1 ff., xx. 12 ff.
vex] Rather, afflict; see verse 5.
⁷But be ye strong, and let not your hands be slack: for your work shall be rewarded.
7. be ye strong, etc.] The prophet’s warning is continued in this verse.