because of their covenant breaking. The justice of this is implicitly acknowledged. But the LORD will not step beyond what is just, and therefore there may be confidence for the future. ‘To execute’ is a supplement that effectively brings out the force of the Hebrew phrase which is simply ‘for judgment’. On its own that would be ambiguous. It is not the Babylonian invaders who are in the first instance going to be judged (but see 2:6–20). They are rather the LORD’S appointed means of chastising his
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