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They that handle the law knew me not: q.d. They that should have taught others knew as little as they, or regarded as little to know, Hos_4:6, who are said here to handle or teach the law, viz. the priests and Levites, who Were the ordinary teachers of the law; not that they did so, but that either they ought to do so, or pretended to do so. This was their office, Deu_33:10, and their practice, Neh_8:8. The phrase is a metaphor taken from warriors, that are said tractare bellum, to handle their arms.
The pastors; either teachers, as instructors; or kings and princes, as conductors. See 1Ki_22:17.
The prophets prophesied by Baal; they that should have taught the people the true worship of God were themselves worshippers of Baal, 1Ki_18:22. Or, instead of fetching their oracles from me, saying,
Thus saith the Lord, they would say, Thus saith Baal; or they did make use of lesser deities (for so doth Baal or Baalim signify) in conjunction with God, persuading themselves they could honour God together with them, as the calves, 1Ki_12:28.
Things that do not profit, viz. idols, a periphrasis, that were never able to do them any service, as Jer_2:5,11. See Poole "Isa_44:10". Sure the state must be very bad, when priests, prophets, and people were thus corrupt.