John Trapp on Zechariah 5:8

Verſe 8. And he ſaid, this is Wickedneſſe] viz. this woman, a figure of the whole ſinfull nation of the Jewes: as were Aholah, and Aholibah Ezech. 23. and Babylon the great, the mother of fornications and abominations Rev. 17.5. to whom I may add that grand-daughter of hers Katherine de Medices Queen-mother: who by her wickedneſſe wonderfully troubled all France for thirty yeers together.

and he caſt it into the midſt of the Ephah] The Angel, as an executioner of divine juſtice, throwes her down who before ſat perking and priding her ſelf; and claps her upcloſe priſoner as it were in the Ephah.

caſting the weight of lead into the mouth thereof] that is of the Ephah, or of the woman, according to that Pſal. 107.42. the righteous ſhall [illegible: 1 letter]ee it and rejoyce, and all iniquity ſhall ſtop her mouth. Montanus one of the Talmud adde[illegible: 1 letter]h, that this woman is compel'd to take this lead into her mouth: that mo[illegible: 1 letter]ten lead was powred down her throat, for a puniſhments of her frauds and theſts ver. 3. But the wicked ſhall not be ſo excuſed: ſor upon them God ſhall raine [illegible: 1 letter]nares, fire, brimſtone, and a burning tempeſt: this ſhall be the portion of their cup, Pſal. 11.6. and this is farr worſe then molten lead, or burning bell-mettle. Compare with this text ler. 51.64. and Rev. 18.21. with 20.1. An Angel a ſtrong Angel, for better aſſurance of Romes irrepairable ruine, taketh a ſtone, a great ſtone. which he throweth, and with force thruſteth into the bottom of the ſea whence it cannot be boy[illegible: 1 letter]d up, whence nothing ordinarily is recovered, much leſſe a milſtone thruſt from ſuch a hand with ſuch a force. What do ye imagine againſt the Lord? ſaith Nahum: he will make an utter end: affliction ſhall not riſe up the ſecond time chap. 1.9. that is, the wicked ſhall be totally and finaily conſumed at once: neither will God make another doing of it. I have overthrown ſome of you, as God over threw Sodom and Gomorrah: Am. 4.11. wickedneſſe is here cruſhed together as it were in a narrow veſlell, covered with lead, and carried into a ſtrange countrey.