And many among them shall stumble. He goes on to threaten the ungodly, as he had formerly begun, and declares that those who refuse to trust in God will not escape without being punished. The threatening runs thus: "when they have stumbled, they will then fall, and afterwards they will be bruised." This agrees with the former metaphor, in which he compared God to a stone. Christ has alluded to that metaphor, including both clauses. "He who shall fall on this stone will be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will bruise him." (Matthew 21:44.) And shall be snared and taken. This agrees with the latter metaphor, in which he compared God to a snare and gin. Let not the ungodly, therefore, imagine that they are stronger or wiser than God; for they will find that he excels them in strength and wisdom, and that to their destruction. They must, therefore, unavoidably be ruined; for either they will be utterly bruised, or they will be snared in such a manner, that they can never extricate themselves. This threatening also regards the godly, that they may not hesitate to withdraw from holding fellowship with the multitude, and that they may not resolutely disregard the sinfulness of revolt. Now, this does not strictly belong to God, but is rather, as we would say, accidental; for it belongs to God to receive men into his favor, and to give them a firm security for their salvation. That was more clearly manifested in Christ, and is still manifested; and, therefore, Peter reminds us that, though many unbelievers stumble, this is no reason why their stumbling should obstruct the progress of our faith; for Christ is notwithstanding a chosen and precious stone. (1-Peter 2:4.)

And many among them - Many by the invasion under the Assyrian. Many were taken captive; many killed. and many were carried to Babylon. The repetition here of so many expressions so nearly synonymous is emphatic, and shows that it would be certainly done.

And many among them,.... Not all, though the greater part; for Christ was set for the falling and rising of many in Israel, Luke 2:34,
shall stumble, and fall, and be broken: stumble at Christ, the stumbling stone; fall by unbelief into other sins and punishment, and be broken in pieces by this stone, Matthew 21:44,
and be snared, and be taken; and so die in their sins, and perish eternally. The allusion is to birds being taken in a snare or trap, or with bird lime, and therein or thereby held and detained.

stumble . . . taken--images from the means used in taking wild animals.

Many - Not all; for there shall be a remnant, as was foretold, Isaiah 4:2, Isaiah 6:13. Stumble - At that stone or rock, mentioned, Isaiah 8:14. This was accomplished at the coming of the Messiah, whom the Jews rejected to their own destruction.