Chapter XXXI (continued, part 5)
avarice, till tUere be no place—left for any one else,
tliat ttjey may be—rjilher, and ye be. tlie eartli—the land. 9. In mine ears . . . the Lord viz., has revealed it, as in ch. 22. 14. desolate lit., a desolation, viz., on account of the national sins, great and fair—houses. 10. acres —lit., yokes; as much as one yoke of oxen could plough in a day. one — only, bath—of wine; seven and a half galhms. homer . . . cpliah—eight bushels of seed would yield only three pecks of produce (Ezekiel 45. 11). The ephah and hath, one-tenth of an homer. 11. Second woe
14; Hebrews 12.15); though it seem sweet for a time (Proverbs 9. 17, 18). Religion is sweet (Psalm 119. 103). 31. Fifth woe against those who were so "wise in their own eyes" as to think they knew better than the prophet, and who tlierefore rejected his warnings (ch. 29. 14, 15). H'Z, 33. Sixth woe against corrupt Judges, who, "mighty" in drinking "wine" (a boast still not uncommon), U" not In defending their country, obtain the means of self-indulgence by taking bribes ("reward"). The two verses are closely joined. [Mauker.] mingle strong drink—not with water, but spices to make it intoxicating (Proverbs &
against intemperance, early—when it was regarded especially shameful to drink (Acts 2.15; 1 Thessalonians 5.7). Banquets for revelry began earlier than usual (Ecclesiastes 10. 10, 17). strong drink Hebrew, sichar, implying Intoxication, continue—drinking all day till evening,
lis. Music was common at ancient feasts (ch.24.8, 9; Amos
2. 5; Song of Solomon 8. 2>. take away . . . righteonsneM —set aside the just claims of those having a righteou* cause, m. lAt., tongue offire eateth (Acts 2. flame cousumctlt . . . chaft—rather, withered grass falleth before l)n flame (Matthew 3. 12). root . . . Ijlossom—('jultre decay.
<<5. 5, 6). viol—an instrument with twelve strings (JosePHUS, Antiquities 8. 10). tabret Hebrew, toph, from the use of wliich in drowning the cries of children sacrificed
to Moloch, Tophct received its name. Arabic, duf. A ikaUle druni.'or tambourine, pipe—flute or flageolet: from
Vision of Jehovah in Hta Temple. ISAIAH VI. The Prophet is Confirmed for his Message,
" Holy" (t). 3). Isaiah mentions the robes, temple, andseraphim, but not the form of God Himself. Whatever
both the hidden source and outward manifestations of pros-
perity, perisliing (Job IS. 16; Malachi 4. 1). cast away
. . . law—in itsspirit, whilst retaining the letter. 25. anger
it v/as, itwas dilterent from the usual Shechlnah: that was on the mercy-seat, this on a throne ; tliat a cloud and
. . . kinclled—(2 Kings 22. 13, 17.) Hills . . . tremble—this probal)ly fixes the dale of tills chapter, as it refers to the earltiquake in the dai/s of Uzziah (Amos 1.1; Zechariah 14. 5). The earth trembled as if conscious of the presence of God (Jeremiah 4. 21; Habaltkuk 3. 6). torn—rather, were as dung (Psalm 83. 10). For all tUls, &c.—This burden of the prophet's strains, with dirge-like monotony, is repeated «t eh. 9. 12, 17, 21 ; 10. 4). With all the past calamities, still heavier judgments are impending; which he specifies in
fire, of tills no form is specified: over that were the cherubim, over this the seraphim; that had no clothing, this had a flowing robe and train. 2. stood—not necessarily the posture of standing; rather, were in attendance on Him [MaukerJ, hovering on expanded wings, the — not in the Hebrew, seraphim—nowhere else applied to God's attendant angels: but to the fiery flying (not winged, but rapidly-moving) serpents, which bit the Israelites (Numbers
21. 6), called so from the poisonous inltammation caused by their bites. Scrajili is to burn; implying the burning zeal, dazzling brightness (2 Kings 2. 11; 6. 17; Ezekiel 1. 13; Matthew 28. 3) a'nd serpent-like rapidity of the seraphim in God's service. Perhaps Satan's form as a. serpent (Nachash) in his appearance to man has some connection with his original form as a seiaph of light. The head of the serpent was the symbol of wisdom in Egypt
the rest of the chapter (Leviticus 20. 14, &c.). 20. lift . . . ensign—to call together the hostile nations to execute His Jtidgtncnts on Judea (ch. 10. 5-7 ; 45. 1). But for mercy
to it, in ch. 11.12; 18. 3. hiss—(Ch. 7. 18.) Bees were drawn out of their hives by the sound of a flute, or by hissing, or whistling (Zechariah 10. 8). God will collect the nations round Judea like bees (Deuteronomy 1. 44; Psalm 118. 12). end of the earth—the widely-distant subject races of which the Assyrian army was made up (ch. 22. 6). The ulterior fulfilment took place in the siege under the Roman Titus. Cf. "end of the earth" (Deuteronomy 28. 49,
(cf. Numbers 21.8; 2 Kings 18.4). The seraphim, with six wings and one face, can liardly be identified with the cherubim, which had four wings (in the temple only two) and four faces (Ezekiel 1.5-12). (But cf. Revelation 4. S.) The "face" and "feet" imply a human form; something of a serpentine form (perhaps a basilisk's head, as in the temples of Thebes) may have been mixed with
(fee.). So tlie pronoun is singular in the Hebrew, for " them,"
' their," " whose" (him, his, &c.), v. 26, 27, 2.8, 29; referring
to some particular nation and person. [Horsley.] 37. weary—with long marches (Deuteronomy 25. 18). none
. . slumber—re'iuiri ng no rest, girdle—with which the ancient loose robes used to be girded for action. Ever read.v for march or battle, nor latchet . . . broken the soles were attached to the feet, not by upper leather as with us, but by straps. So securely clad that not even a strap of their sandals gives way, so as to Impede their march. 28. bent—ready for battle, hoofs . . . flint—The ancients did not shoe their horses: hence the value of hard hoofs for long marches, wheels—of their chariots. The Assyrian army abounded in cavalry and chariots
it: so the cherub was compounded of various animal forms. However, seraph may come from a root meaning princely, applied in Daniel 10.13 to Michael [Maurer]; just as cherub comes from a root (changing m into b), meaning noble, twain—two wings alone of the six were kept ready for instant flight in God's service : two veiled th^ir faces as unworthy to look on the holy God, or pry into his secret counsels which they fulfilled (pjxodus 3. ti; Job 4. 18; 15. 15), two covered their feet, or rather the whole of the lower parts of t heir persons—a practice usual in the presence of Eastern monarchs, in token of reverence (cf. Ezekiel 1. 11, their bodies). Man's service a fortiori consist's in reverent waiting on, still more than in active service
(ch. 22.6, 7; 36.8). 29. roaring— their battle-cry. 30. sorrow, and the light Is darkened—otherwise, distress and liglU (i. e., hope and fear) alternately succeed (as usually occurs in an unsettled state of things), and darkness ari.ws in, &c. [Maurek.] heavens lit., clouds, i. e., its Bky is rather "clouds" than sky. Otherwise from a different Hebrew root, in its destruction or ruins. Horsley takes " sea . . . look unto the land" as a new image taken from mariners in a coasting vessel (such as all ancient vessels were), looking for the nearest land, which the darkness of the storm conceals, so that darkness and distress alone may be said to be vi.sible.
for God. 3. (Revelation 4. 8.) The Trinity is implied (see note on " Lord," r). 1). God's holiness is the key-note of Isaiah's whole prophecies, whole earth—the Hebrew more emphatically, thefulness of the whole earth is Hia glory (Psalm 24. 1; 72. 19). 4. posts of . . . door—rather, foundations of the thresholds, house—temple, smoke—the Shechlnah cloud (1 Kings 8. 10; Ezekiel 10. 4.) 5. undone (Exodus 33. 20.) The same effect was produced on others by the presence of God (Judges 6. 22; 13.22; Job 42. 5, 6; Luke 5. 8 ; Revelation 1. 17). Hps—appropriate to the context which describes the praises of the lips, sung in alternate responses (Exodus 15. 20, 21; v. 3) by the seraphim: also appropriate to the office of speaking as the prophet of God, about to be committed to Isaiah {v. 9). seen—not
Ver. 1-13. Vision OF Jehovah IN Hrs Temple.- Isaiah
Is outside, near the altar in front of the temple. The doors are supposed to open, and the veil hiding the Holy of Holies to be withdrawn, unfolding to his view a vision of God represented as an Eastern monarch, attended by seraphim as His ministers of state (1 Kings 22. 19), and with a robe and flowing train (a badge of dignity in the East), which filled the temple. This assertion that he had seen God was, according to tradition (not sairctioned by ch. 1. 1 ; see IrUrodiiction), the pretext for sawing nim asunder in Manasseh's reign (Hebrews 11. 37). Visions often occur in the other propliets: jn Isaiah there is only this one, and it marked by characteristic clearness and simplicity. In . . . year . . . Uzziah died—Either literal death, or civil when he ceased as a leper to exercise his functions asking. [CHALOEK.] (2 Chronicles 26. 19-21.) 751 b. c. [CalMET.] 758. [Common Chronology.] This is not the first beginning of Isaiah's prophecies, but his inauguration to a higher degree of the prophetic office: v. 9, <tc., implies the tone of one who had already experience of the people's obstinacy, liorrt — here Adonai ; Jehovah in v. 5; Jemts Christ Is meant as speaking in v. 10, according to John 12.41. Isaiah could only have "seen" the Hon,not the Divine essence (John 1. 18). The words in v. 10 are attributed by St. Paul (Acts 28. 25, 20) to the Holy Gfiost. Thus the Trinity in unity is implied; as also by the thrice
strictly Jehovah Himself (John 1. 18; 1 Timothy 6. 16), but the symbol of his presence. Lord Hebrew, Jehovah. 6. unto me—The seraph had been in the temple, Isaiah ortside of it. live coal lit., a hot stone, used, as in some countries in our days, to roast meat with, ex. gr., the meat of the sacrifices; fire was a symbol of pui-ification, as it takes the dross out of metals (Malachi 3. 2, 3). the altar of burnt offering, in the court of the priests before the temple. The fire on it was at first kindled by God (Leviticus 9. 24), and was kept continually burning. 7. mouth
. . . Hps—(Cf. note V. 5.) The mouth was touched because
it was the part to be used by theprop/iet when inaugurated. So "tongues of fire" rested on the disciples (Acts 2.3,4) when the.y were being set apart to spenk in various languages of Jesus, iniquity—conscious unworthiueBS of acting as God's messenger, purged— iiV., covered, i. e., expiated, not by any physical effect of fire to cleanse fi'orn
sin, but in relation to tlie altar-sacrifices, of which Messiah, who here commiBsions Isaiah, was in His death to be the antitype: it is implied hereby that it is only by sacrilice sin can be pardoned. 8. I . . . ug—The change of numb.-r Indicates the Trinity (cf. Genesis 1. 26; 11.7). Though not a sure argument for the doctrine, for the plural may indicate merely hiajesty, it accord* with that truth proved eUwf
43.5
A Remnant to be Saved. ISAIAH VII. Ahaz's Alliance with Ai^yrui.
where. Whom . . . who—Implying that /etf would be willing to bear the self-deuial which the delivering of such an unwelcome message to the Jews would require on the part of the messenger (cf. 1 Chronicles 29. 5). Here am I —prompt zeal, now that he has been specially qualified for
deciphered. For the liistorical facts in tliis cl)apter, cf 2 Kings 15.37-16.9. Rezin of Syria and Pekah of Israel, as confederates, advanced against Jerusalem. In the first campaign (2 Chronicles 28.) they "smote Ahaz with a great slaughter." Their object was probably to unite tha three kingdoms against Assyria; Egypt seems to have favoured tlie plan, so as to interpose tliese confederate kingdoms between her own frontier and Assyria (cf. v,
it (v. 7; cf. 1 Samuel 3. 10, 11 ; Acts 9. 6). 9. Hear . . . Indeed Hebrew, In hearing hear, i. e., Though ye hear the prophet's warnings again and again, ye are doomed, because of your perverse will (John 7. 17), not to understand. Light enough is given in revelation to guide those sincerely seeking to know. In order that they may do, God's
18, "Egypt;" and 2 Kings 17.4, Hosliea's league with Kgypt). Rezin and Pekah may have perceived Ahaz'a inclination towards Assyria rather than towards their own confederacy; this and the old feud between Israel and Judah (1 Kings 12. 16) occasioned their invasion of Judah. Ahaz, at the second inroad of his enemies (cf. 2 Clironicles 28., and 2 Kings 15. 37, with ch. 16. 5), smarting under his former defeat, applied to Tiglath-pileser, in spite of. Isaiali's warning in this chapter, that he sliould rather rely on God; that king accordingly attacked Damascus, and slew Rezin (2 Kings 9.): and probably it was at the same time that he carried away part of Israel captive (2 Kings 15. 20), unless there were two assaults on Pekah—that in 2 Kings 15. 29, the earlier, and that in which Tiglath helped Ahaz subsequent. [G. V. Smith.] Ahaz was saved at the sacrifice of Judah's Independence, and the payment of a large tribute, which continued till the overthrow of Sennacherib under Hezekiah (ch. 37.; 2 Kings 16. 8, 17, 18; 2 Chronicles
will; darkness enough is left to confound the wilfully blind (ch. 43. 8). So in Jesus' use of parables (Matthew 13.
14). see . . . Indeed—rather, "though ye see again and
again," yet, &c. 10. Make . . . fat—(Psalm 119. 70.) "Render them the more hardened by thy warnings." [Maurer.] This effect is the fruit, not of the truth in Itself, but of the corrupt state of their hearts, to which God here judicially gives them over (ch. 63. 17). Gesenitjs takes the impera-
tives as futures. "Proclaim truths, the result of which proclamation will be their becoming the moi'e hardened " (Romans 1. 28 ; Ephesians 4. 18) ; but this does not so well as the former set forth God as designedly giving up sinners to judicial hardening (Romans 11. 8; 2 Thessalonians
2. 11). In the first member of the sentence, the order is,
the heart, ears, eyes ; in the latter, the reverse order, the
eyes, ears, heart. It is from the heart that corruption flows
into the ears and eyes (Mark 7. 21, 22) ; but through the eyes and ears healing reaches tlie heart (Romans 10. 17). [Bengel.] (Jeremiah 5. 21; Ezekiell2. 2; Zechariah 7. 11 ; Acts
28. 20). Aliaz's reign began about 741 B. c, and Pekah waa slain in 738. [Winer.] 1. Ahai—In the first years of his reign the design of the two kings against Judah was carried out, which was formed In Jotham's reign (2 Kings 15.
7.57; 2 Timothy 4.4.) In Matthew 13. 15, the words are quoted in the indicative, is waxed gross (so the LXX.), not the imperative, make fat ; God's word as to the future is as certain as if it were already fulfilled. To see with one's
37). Syriftr—Hebrew, Aram (Genesis 10. 22, 23), originally the whole region between the Euphrates and Mediterranean, including As-syria, of which Syria is an abbreviation; here the region round Damascus, and along Jlount Libauus. Jerusalem—an actual siege of it took place, but was foiled (2 Kings 16.5). 3, is confederate with—rather,
eyes will not convince a will that is opposed to the truth
(cf. John 11. 45, 46; 12.10,11). "One must toye Divine things in order to understand them." [Pascal.] toe healed—of
is encamped upon the territory of Ephraim [Maurer] ; or better, as Rezin was encamped against Jerusalem, " is ported by" [Lowth] Ephraim, whose land lay between Syria and Judali. The mention of " David " alludes, in sad contrast with the present, to the time when David made Syria subject to him (2 Samuel 8. 6). Ephraim—the ten tribes, as . . . trees of . . . wood— a simultaneous agitation. 3. Go forth—out of thecity, to the place where Ahaz was superintending the works for defence, and the cutting ofT of the water supply from the enemy, and securing it to the city. So ch. 22. 9 ; 2 Chronicles 32. 4. Shear-
their spiritual malady, sin (ch. 1. 6; Psalm 108. 3; Jeremiah
17. 14). 11. how long—will this wretched condition of the nation being hardened to its destruction continue? until— (ch. 5. 9)— fulfilled primarily at the Babylonish
captivity, and more fully at the dispersion under the Roman Titus. 13. (2 Kings 25. 21.) forsaking—abandonment of dwellings by their inhabitants (Jeremiah 4. 29). 13. and it shall return, and ... he eaten—Rather, but
it shall be again given over to be consumed: if even a tenth survive the first destruction, it shall be destroyed by a second (ch. 5. 2,5; Ezekiel 5. 1-5, 12). [Maureb and HoRSLEY.] In English Version, "return" refers to the poor remnant left in the land at the Babylonish captivity (2 Kings 24. 14; 25. 12), which afterwards fled to Egypt in fear
.leshuh i. e., A remnant shall return (ch. 6. 13). His very name (cf. v. 14; ch. 8. 3) was a standing memorial to Ahaz and the Jews that the nation should not, notwithstanding the general calamity {v. 17-25; ch. 8. 6-8), be utterly destroyed (ch. 10. 21, 22). conduit—an aqueduct from the pool or reservoir for the supply of the city. At the foot of Zion was Fount Siloah (ch. 8. 6 ; Nehemiah 3. 15; John 9. 7), called also Gilion, on the west of Jerusalem (2 Chronicles
(2 Kings 25. 26), and subsequently returned thence along with others who had fled to Moab and Edom (Jeremiah
40.11, 12); and suffered under further Divine judgments, tell—Rather, terebinth or turpentine tree (ch. 1. 29). substance . , . when . . . cast . . . leaves— Rather, "As a
32. 30). Two pools were supplied from it, the Upper, or Old
terebinth or oak in which, when they are cast doivn (not ' cast
(ch. 22. 11), or King's (Nehemiah 2. 14), and the Lower (ch. 22.
their leaves,' Job li.7), the trunk or stock remains, so the
holy seed (Ezra 9. 2) shall be the stock of thai land." Th e seeds
9), which received the superfiuous waters of the upper. The upper pool is still to be seen, about seven hundred yards from the JaflSa, gate. The highway leading to the
of vitality still exist in botli the land and the scattered people of Judea, waiting for the returning spring of God's favour (Romans 11. 5, 23-29). According to Isaiah, not all
fullers' field, which was in a position near water for the purposes of washing, previous to drying and bleaching, the cloth, was probably alongside the aqueduct. 4. Take heed, <fec.—t. e.. See that thou be quiet (not seeking Assyrian aid in a fit of panic), tails—mere ends of firebrands, almost consumed themselves (about soon to fall before the Assyrians, v. 8), therefore harmless, smoking—as about to go out; not blazing, son of Remaliah— Pekah, an usurper (2 Kings 15. 25). The Easterns express contempt by designating one, not by his own name, but by his
Israel, l)ut the elect remnant alone, is destined to salva-
tion. God shows unchangeable severity towards sin, but covenant faithfulness in preserving a remnant, and
to it Isaiah bequeaths tlie prophetic legacy of the second
part of his book (ch. 40.-66).
Chapters 7., 8., and 9. 1-7. Prediction of the III Success OF THE SYRO-ISKAELITISH INVASION OF JUDAH— AHAZ'S Alliance with Assyria, and its Fatal Re-
fatlier's, especially when the father is but little known (1 Samuel 20. 27, 31). 6. vex—rather, throw into consternation, [Gesbniu.s.] make a hreach—rather, cleave it asunder,
BtTLTS TO Judea—yet the Certainty of Final Preservation AND of the Coming of Messiah. In tlie Assyrian inscriptions the name of Rezin, king of Damascus, is found among the tributaries of Tlglath-pileser.
TJieir scheme was to divide a large portion of tlie territory between themselves, and set Mp a vassal-king of tlieirown overtlie rest, son of Tabeal-unknown ; a Syrian-sounding natne, perhaps favoured bur a party In Jerusalem (oh.
of whose reign the annals of seventeen years have been
Christ is Promised ISAIAH VII. for a Sign to Ahat.
8. C, 9, 12). 7. (Oh. 8. 10; Proverbs 21. 30.) 8. head—<. e., In both .Syriajiiid IsisK'l thftcnpilal shall remaiuas it is; they shall not conquer Judah, but eaeh shall possess ouly his own Uoniinions. tlireescore and live . . , not a people —as these words break the symmetry of the parallelism In this verse, either they ought to be placed after "Rema-
sis 3. 15), whose seed shotild bruise the serpent's head and deliver captive man (Jeremiah 31. 22; Micah 5. 3). Language
is selected such as, whilst f)cirtia% applicable totheimmediate event, receives its fullest, most appropriate, and exhaustive accomplishment in Messianic events. The New Testament application of such prophecies is nota strained "accommodation;" rather the temporary fulfilment of an ada ptation ofthe far-reachi ng prophecy to the present passing event, which foreshadows typically the great central end of prophecy, Jesus Christ (Revelation 19. 10). Evidently the wording is such as to apply more fully to Jesus Christ than to the prophet's son; "virgin" applies, in its simplest sense, to the Virgin Mary, I'ather than to the proplietess who ceased to be a virgin when she "conceived;" "Immanuel," Ood with us (John 1. 14 ; Revelation 21. 3), cannot
liah's son," in i'. 9, or else they refer to some older prophecy of Isaiah, or of Amos (as the Jewish writers represent), pnrentlietically ; to which, in v. 8, the words "If ye will
jiot believe . . . not be established," correspond in parallelism. One deportation of Israel happened within one or two years from this time, under Tiglath-pileser (2 Kings
15. 29). Another in the reign of Hoshea, under Slialmaneser(2 Kings 17. l-fi), was about twenty years after. But the final one which utterly "broke" up Israel so as to be "not a people," accompanied by a colonization of Samaria with foreigners, was under Esar-haddon, who carried away Manasseh, king of Judah, also, in the twenty-second year of his reign, sixty-five years from the utterance of this prophecy (cf. Ezra 4.2,3,10, with 2 Kings 17. 21; 2 Chronicles 33. 11). [Usher.] The event, though so far off, was enough to assure the people of Judah that as God, the Head of the theocracy, would uUimatelj/ interpose to destroy the enemies of His people, so they might rely on Him now. 9. believe, ... be established—There is a paronomasia, or play on the words, in the Hebrew, "if ye will not confide, ye shall not abide." Ahaz brought distress on himself by distrust In the Lord, and trust in Assyria. 11. Ask thee— since thou dost not credit the prophet's words, sign—a miraculous token to assure thee that God will fulfil His promise of saving Jerusalem (ch.
'in a strict sense apply to Isaiah's son, but only to Him
who is presently called expressly (ch. 9. 6), " the Child, the Son, Wonderful (cf. ch. 8. 18), the mighty Ood." Local and temporary features (as v. 15, 16) are added in every type; otherwise it would be no type, but the thing itself. There are resemblances to the great Antitype sufficient to be recognized by those who seek them; dissimilarities enough to confound those who do not desire to discover them, call i. e., she shall, or as Margin, thou, O Virgin, Shalt call; mothers often named their children (Genesis 4.
1,25; 19.37; 29.32). In Matthew 1. 23 the expression is strikingly changed into, "They shall call;" when the prophecy received its full accomplishment, no longer is the name Immanuel restricted to the prophetess' view of His character, as in its partial fulfilment in her son; all
sliall then call (i. e., not literally), or regard Him as peculiarly and most filly characterized by the descriptive name, "Immanuel" (1 Timothy 3. 16; Colossians 2. 9). name—not mere appellation, which neither Isaiah's son nor Jesus Christ bore literally ; but what describes His manifested attributes; His character (so ch. 9. 6). The name in its proper destination was not arbitrary, but characteristic of the individual; sin destroyed the faculty of perceiving the internal being; hence the severance now between the name and the character; in the case of Jesus Christ and many in Scripture, the Holy Ghost has supplied this want. [Olshausen.] 15. Butter—rather, Curdled milk, the acid of which is grateful in the heat of the East (Job
37. 30; •'>S.7, 8). "Signs," facts then present or near at hand as pledges for the more distant future, are frequent in
Isaiali. Ask . . . in . . . depth lit., ifake deep, ask ii, i.e.. Go to the depth of the earth or of Hades [Vulgate and LoWTH], or. Mount high for it (lit., Make high). So in Matthew 16. 1. Signs in heaven are contrasted with the signs on eartli and below it (raising the dead) which Jesus Christ had wrought (cf. Romans 10. 6, 7). He oflfers Ahaz the widest limits within which to make his choice. 13. neither . . . tempt—hypocritical pretext of keeping the law (Deuteronomy 6. 16); " tempt," i. e., put God to the proof, as In Matthew 4.'7, bj' seeking His miraculous interposition without warrant. But here there was the warrant of the prophet of God; to have asked a sign, when thus offered, would not have been a tempting of God. Ahaz's true reason for declining was his resolve not to do God's will, but to negotiate with Assyria, and persevere in his idolatry (2 Kings 16. 7, 8, 3, 4, 10). Men often excuse their distrust in God, and trust in their own devices, hy professed reverence for God. Ahaz may have fancied that though Jehovah was the God of Judea and could work a sign there, that was no proof that the local god of Syria might not be more powerful. Such was the common heathen notion
20. 17). honey—abundant in Palestine (Judges 14. 8; 1 Samuel 14. 25; Matthew 3. 4). Physicians directed that the
first food given to a child should be honey, the next milk. [Barnab. Ep.] HORSI.EY takes this as implying the real humanity of the Immanuel Jesus Christ, about to be fed as other infants (Luke 2. 52). Ver. 22 shows that besides the fitness of milk and honey for children, a state of distress of the inhabitants is also implied, when, by reason of the Invaders, milk and honey, things produced spontaneously, shall be the only abundant articles of food. [Maurer.J that He may know—rather, until He shall know, evil . . . choose . . . good—at about three years of age moral consciousness begins (cf. ch. 8. 4; Deuteronomy 1. 39; Jonah 4. 11). 16. For—the deliverance implied in the name " Immanuel," and the cessation of distress as to food (v. 14, 15), shall last only till the child grows to know good and evil; for, &o. the land that . . . ablior> rest . . . forsaken of . . . kings—rather, desolate shall be the land, before whose two kings thou art alarmed. [Hengstenberg and Gesenius.] the land—viz., Syria and Samaria regarded as one (2 Kings 16. 9 ; 15. 30), just two years after this prophecy, as it foretells. Horsley takes it, " The land (Judah and Samaria) of (the former of) which thou art the plague (lit., thorn) shall be forsaken," &c. ; a prediction thus, that Judah and Israel (appropriately regarded as one "land'') should cease to be kingdoms (Luke 2. 1; Genesis 49. 10) before Immanuel came.
(ch. 10. 10, 11 ; 36. 18-20). 13. Is it a small thing t—Is it not enough for you (Numbers 16. 9)? Theallusion to "David "
is in order to contrast his trust in God with his degenerate descendant Ahaz's distrust, weary—try the patience of. men—prophets. Isaiah as yet had given no outward proof tliat he was from God ; but now God has offered a sign, wliich Ahaz publicly rejects. The sin is therefore woJtinot merely against " men," butopenly against "God." Isaiali's manner tlierefore changes from mildness to bold reproof. 14. himself— since thou wilt not ask a sign, nay, rcjectest tlie offer of one. you— for the sake of the house of believing " David " (God remembering His everlasting covenant with David), not for unbelieving Ahaz's sake, behold—arresting attention to the extraordinary
pi'ophee.v. virgin—from a root, to lie hid, virgins being closely kept from men's gaze in their parents' custody in the East. The Hebrew, and LXX. here, and Greek (Matthew 1.2:^), have the article, the virgin, some definite one known to the speaker and his hearers; primarily, the woman, then a virgin, about immediately to liecome the second wife, and bear a child, whose attainment of the age of discrimination (about three years) should be preceded by the deliverance of Judah from its two invaders;
17-25. Fatal Consequences of Ahaz's Assyrian Policy. Though temporary deliverance (ch. 7. 16; 8.4) was to be given then, and final deliverance through Messiah, sore punishment shall follow the former. Alter subduing Syria and Israel, the Assyrians shall encountei Egypt (2 Kings 23.29), and Judah shall be the battle-field of both (v. 18), and be made tributary to that very Assyria (2 Chronicles 28. 20 ; 2 Kings 16. 7, 8) now about to be called 1«
Its fullest significancy is realized in "the woman" (Gene-
Judgment to come llrnvyh yl.s»j/rta. ISAIAH VIIL Prophecy agaiiud Syria and Israel.
as an ally (ch. Sli. 1-6) ; Kftypt, too, slionUI prove a fatal ally
Ijord said tv me, that I should lake," Ac. [Maukeu.1 I'riaU —an accomplice of Ahaz in idolatry, and tlierefore a witness not likely to assist the proi>lut of God in getting up a prophecy after the event (2 Kings 16. 10). Tiie witnesses were in order that when the event should come they might testify that the tablet contai)iing the prophecy had been inscribed with it at the time that it i)rofessed. Zechariah —(2 Chronicles 29. 13.) 3. prophetess—perhaps the same as the "virgin" (ch. 7.14), in the interim married as Isaiah's second wife: this is in the primary and temporary sense. Immanuel is even in this sense distinct fiom Maher-shalal-hash-baz. Thus nineteen months at least intervene from the prophecy (ch. 7. 14), nine before tiie birth of Immanuel, and ten from that tinae to the birth of Mahcr-shalal-hasii-l)az : adding eleven or twelve months befen-c the latter could cry, " P'ather" (ch. 8. 4), we have about three years in all, agreeing with ch. 7. 15, 16 4. before, Ac-within a year. 6. waters of Shiloah . . softly—their source is on the south-east of Zion and east of Jerusalem. It means sent, thewater beingsent tlirough an aqueduct (John 9. 7). Fignrative for the mild, though now weak, sway of the house of David; in the highest sense Shiloah expresses the benignant sway of Jehovah in the theocracy, administered through David. Contrast to the violent Euphrates, " the river" that typifies Assyria (u. 7; Revelation 17. 15). "This people" refers both to Israel, which preferred an alliance with Rezin of Syria to one with the kings of Judah, and to Judah, a party iu which seems to have favoured the pretensions of the son of Tabeal against David's line (ch. 7.0); also to Judah's desire to seek an Assyrian alliance is included in tlie censure
(ch. 36. 6-, 31. 1, &c-.). is: h'.ss—whistle, to bring bees to settle (Aote, oh. 5. 26). fly—found in numbers about the arms of the Nile, and the canals from it (ch. 19. 5-7; 23. 3), here called " river.s." Hence arose the plague of flies (Exodus 8. 21). Figurative, for numerous and troublesome foes from the remotest parts of Kgypt, e. g,, Pharaohneolio. bee—(Deuteronomy 1. 44; Psalm 118. 12.) As numerous in xVssyria as the Jly in marshy Egypt. Sennacherib, Esar-liaddon, and Nebuchadnezzar fulfilled this prediction. 19. rest^image of Jlics and bees kept up. The enemy shall overspread the land everywhere, even in "desolate valleys." thorns uild, contrasted with "bushes," which were valued and objects of care (see Margin). 30. razor—The Assyrians are to be God's instrument of devastating Judea,.justas a razor sweeps away
all hair before it (ch. 10. 5; Ezekiel 29.19, 20). hired—alluding to Aiiaz's hiring (2 Kings 16. 7, 8). Tiglath-pileser against Syria and Israel; namely, \>y them beyond the river viz., the Euphrates ; the eastern boundary of Jewish geographical knowledge (Psalm 72.8); the river which Abram crossed; the Nile also may be included (v. 18). [G. V.Smith.] Gesenitjs translates, a. razor hired in the parts beyond the ricer." head . . . feet—the ?('Ao?e body, including the most honoured parts. To cut the "beard"
is the greatest indignity to an Eastern (ch. 50. 6; 2 Samuel
10. 4, 5; Ezekiel 5. 1). 21-25. The coming Desolate State oe the Land owing to the Assyrians and Egyptians, nourish i. e., own. young cow—a heifer giving milk. Agriculture shsM cease, and the land become one great pasturage. 22. abundance—by reason of the wide range of land lying desolate over which the cows and sheep (including goats) may range, huttei-—thick milk, or cream, honey (Note, v. 15.) Food of spontaneous growth will be the resource of the feiv inhabitants left. Honey shall be abundant, as the bees will find the wild
(cf. ch. 7. 17). Ver. 14 shows that both nations are meant; both alike rejected the Divine Shiloah. Not "my people," as elsewhere, when God expresses favour, but " this people" (ch. 6. 9). 7. therefore—for the reason given in v.d, the Assyrian Hood, which is first to overflood Syria and Samaria, shall rise high enough to reach rebel Judah also
flowers abounding everj-wliere. 23. where there were, &e.—where up to that time there was so valuable a vineyard as to have in it 1000 vines, worth a silvering {shekel, about' 2s. 3d. ; a large price) each, there shall be only briers (Song of Solomon 8. 11). Vineyards are estimated by the number of the vines, and the goodness of the kind of vine. Judea admits of .a high state of cultivation, and requires it, in order to be productive; its present barrenness isdue to neglect. 24. It shall become a vast huntingground, a))Ounding in wild beasts (cf. Jeremiah 49. 19). 25. shall be—rather, 'terp once, dlfjgcd—in order to plant and rear vines (ch. 5. 6). there shall not come— ('. e., none shall come who fear thorns, seeing that thorns shall abound on all sides. [Maxjrer.] Otherwise, "Thou shalt not come for fear of thorns." [Gesenil's.] Only cattle shall be able to penetrate the briery ground, lesser cattle —sheep and goats.
(i). 8). the river— Euphrates swollen in spring by the melting of the snow of the Armenian mountains (cf. v. 6; ch. 7. '20). all Ills glory—Eastern kings travel with a gorgeous retinue, channels—natural and artificial iu the level region, Mesopotamia. 8. puss through—the flood shall not stop at Syria and Samaria, but shall penetrate into Judea. the neck—when the waters reach to the neck, a m.an
is near drowning; still the heail is not said to be overflowed. Jerusalem, elevated on hills, is the head. The danger shall be so imminent as to reach near it at .Sennacherib's invasion in Hezekiah's reign; but it shall lie s|)ared (ch.
30. 2S). Avlngs—the extren)e bands of the Assj'rian armies,
fulfilled (ch. 36. 1 ; 37.2-5). thy land, O Immanuel—though temporarily applied to Isaiah's son, in tlie full sense this
is applicalile only to Messiah, that Judea is His, was, and
still is, a pledge that, however sorely overwhelmed, it shall be saved at last; the "head" is safe even now, waiting for ttie times of restoration (Acts 1.0); at the same time these words imply that, notwithstanding the temporary deliverance from Syria an(i Israel, Implied In "Immanuel," the greatest calamities are to follow to Judah. 9. Associate yojirselves—rather, liaise tumults,
Cli apt ers 8. and 9. 7. Th e fi rst seven verses of ch . 9. bel on
to this section. Ch. S. continues the sulyoct of ch. 7., but at a later period (cf. cli. 8. 4 with ch. 7. 16); implying that the interval till the accomplishment is shorter now than then. The tone of ch. 8. 17, 21, 22, expresses calamity more immediate and afflictive than ch, 7. 4, 15, 2'2. 1. great—suitable, for letters large enough to be read by all. rollrather, tablet, of wood, metal, or stone (ch.30. 8; Habakkuk2. 2); somctiraes coated with wax, upon which characters were traced with a pointed Intrument, or iron stylus; skins and pa/>.(/rM« were also used (ch. 19.7). man's pen—I. e., in ordinary charactJ;rs which the humblest can read 7so Habakkuk 2. 2) Hebrew, enosh means a common OTfm, as contrasted with the wpper ro7i/c« (Revelation 21. 17; Ilomans 3. 5). Not in hieroglyphics. The object was that, after the event, all miglit see that it had been predicted by Isaiah, concerning—the title nnd subject of the prophecy. Maher-shalnl-hnsh-baz—"They
or, Rage, i. e.. Do your worst [Maurer], referring perhaps
to the attack of Rezin and Pekah on .ferusalem. and , .
be broken in pieces-i-ather, yet ye shall be t?iroun into
constei-nation. Imperative in the Ilebreu', according to the idiom whereby the second of two impcratives implies the
future, viz., the consequence of the action contained in the
first (so ch. 6. 9). The name "Immanuel" In d. 8 (cf. v. 10) suggests the thought of the ultimate safety of Immanuel'i
land, both from its present two invaders, and even from the Assyrians, notwithstanding the grievous flood wherewith the previous verses foretell they shall deluge it. The succession of the house of David cannot be set aside
In Judah, for Immanuel Messiah is to be born in it' as heir of David, of whom Isaiah's son is but a type (ch. 9. 4,
6). give ear . . . for countries—witness the discomfitur*
of Judah's enemies. The proplucy probably looks oo
(i. the Assyrians) hasten to the spoil {viz., to spoil Syria and Samaria), they speed to the prey." [Gesenius.J Otherwise, "The spoil (i. e., spoiler) hastens, the rapine ipeeds forward." [Mauuer.J 2. 1 took—rather, " 'The 43S
alio to the final conspiracy of Antichrist and his support-
ers against the Heir of David's throne In the latter days, and their utter overthrow. [Hou-slev.] gird yourselvM
ANCIENT AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.
Omforl lo tiiOiC who fear God, ISAIAH IX. and Great Afflict iom lo Idolaters,
Consult in your national diflicuUies. tliem . . . familiar spirits—necromancers, spirit-cliarmers. So .Saul, when he had forsaken God (1 Samuel 28. 7, &c.), consulted the witch of Endor in his difiicullies. Tliese follow in the wake of idolatry, which prevailed under Ahaz (2 Kings
. . . glril yourselves—the repetition expresses vehein-
.eiitly Uic ccThunt!/ ot tlieir being thrown into cott^ternation
(uotas ICnylish Version, "broken in pieces"). 10. the word
- of oommaud, for the assault of Jerusalem. God Is witU
Iinnianuel" implies this(Numbers 14. 9; Psalm 46. 7).
11. with a strong Uaiid—or clso, when He grasped me with
16. 3, 4, 10); he copied tlie soothsaying as he did the idolatrous "altar" of Damascus (cf. Leviticus 20. 6, which forbids it, ch. 19. 3). \vizard8—men claiming supernatural knoivlcdge ; from tlie old English, to wit, i. e., know, peep —mther, chirp faintly, as young birds do; this sound was generally ascribed to departed spirits; by venlriloquis)n the soothsayers caused a low sound to proceed as from a grave, or dead person. Hence the LXX. render the Hebrew for necromancers here "ventriloquists" (c)'. cli. 29. 4). mutter—moan, should not, <fcc.—The answer wliich
liis hand. [Hoksi.ky.] Mavreu, an English Version, "witli
the impetus of His hand," i. the felt impulse of His in-
81/iratiou in my mind (Jeremiah 15. 17; Ezekiel 1. 3; 3. 14,
22; 'S7. 1). way of . . . people—their distrust of Jehovah, and the panic which led them and Ahab to seek Assyrian
aid. 1^16. The words of Jehovah. 13. confederacy—
rather, A conspiracy; an appropriate term for the unnatu^
ral combination of Isi-ael with Syrian foreigners against Jiuiea and the theocracy, to whicli the former was bound by ties of blood and hereditary religion. [Maukek.] to all . . . say—rather, of all which this people culleth a con-
Isaiali recommends to be given to those advising to have recourse to necromancers, for the living, &c.—"should one, for the safety of the living, seek unto (consult) the dead?" [Gksenius.] Lowth renders it, "/n;;/ace o/ (consulting) the living, should one consult the dead ?" 30. To the law, &c.—the revelation of God by His prophet (v. 16), to which he directs them to refer those who would advise necromancy, if they speak not ... it is l)ecause
lepiracy. [G.V.Smith.] their fear—t'tz., ob^'eci of fear: the
hostile conspiracy, be afraid— rather [Maurer], "nor make others Co he afraid." 13. Sanctify Honour His holy name by regarding Him as your only hope of safety (ch.
2il. :i3; Numbers 20. 12). him . . . fear— "fear" lest you provoke His wrath by your fear of man and distrust of Him. 14. sniict»iax-y—inviolable asylum, like the altar of the temple (1 Kings 1. 50; 2. 2S; Ezekiel 11. 16; cf. Proverbs IS. 10) ; viz., to those who fear and trust in Him. hut
JEnglish Ver.tion understands "tliey" as the necromancers. But the Hebrew rendered because is not this, but who ; and
if not ought rather to be shall they not; or, truly they shall speak according to this word, who have no morning light
. . . offence i. e., a rock over whicli they should fall to
(so the Hebrew, i. e., prosperity after the night of sorrows) dawning on tliem. [Maurer and G. V. Smith.] The.v who are in the dark night of trial, without a dawn of hope, shall svireiy say so. Do not seek, as we did, to necromancy, but "to the law," &c. The law perhaps includes
flieir hurt; viz., those who would not believe, both . . . houses—Israel and Judah. Here again the prophecy expands beyond the temporary application in Ahaz's time. The very stone, Immanuel, which would have been a sanctuary on belief, becomes a fatal stumbling-block through unbelief. Jesus Christ refers to this in Matthew 21. 44.
hei'e the law of Moses, which was the "Magna Charta"- on which prophetism commented. [Kittc] 31, 33. More detailed description of tlie despair, which they shall fall
(Cf. Deuteronomy 32. 4, 15, 18, 30, 31, 37 ; Daniel 2. 34 ; Romans
9. 3;}; 1 Peter 2. 8.) (tin-trap, in which birds are unexpectedly caught (Luke 21. 35; 1 Thessalonians 5. 2). So at the destruction of Jerusalem under Titus. 15. stumble . . . taken—imajies from the means used in taking wild animals. 16. Bind up . . . seal—What Isaiah had before briefly noted by inscribing Mafier-shaZal-hash-baz in a
into, who sought necromancy instead of God; v. 20 implies that too tale they shall see how much better it would have been for them to have souglit "to the law," &c. (Deuteronomy 32. 31). But now tiiey are given over to despair. Therefore, whilst .seeing the truth of God, they only "curse their King and God;" foreshadowing the future like conduct of those belonging to the "kingdom of the beast," wlien they shall be visited with Divine plagues (Revelation 16. 11 ; cf. Jeremiah 18. 12). through it—Dtz., the land, liardly bestead—oppressed with anx-
tablet, fixed up in some public place, he afterwards wrote out more in detail in a parchment roll (ch. 30. 8); this he is now to seal up, not merely in order that nothing may be added to, or taken from it, as being complete, but to imply that it relates to distant events, and is therefore to be a sealed and not understood testimony (ch. 6. 9, 10), except in part among God's disciples," i. e., those who "sanctify the Lord" by obedient trust (Psalm 25. 14). Subsequent revelations would afterwards clear up what now was dark. So the Apocalypse explains what in Daniel was
iety, hungry—a more grievous famine than the temporary one in Ahaz's time, owing to Assyria ; then there was some food, but none now (cli. 7. 15, 22; Leviticus 26. 3-5,
14-16, 20). their king . . . God—Jehovah, King of the Jews (Psalm 5. 2; 68. 24). look upward . . . unto tlie earth—whether they look up to heaven, or down towards
left unexplained (cf. Daniel 8. 26; 12. 9). "The words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end ;" but Revelation 22. 10, "Siial not the sayings of the prophecy . . . for the time is at hand" (cf. Revelation 5. 1, 5, 9). testimony —attested by Uriah and Zechariah (ii. 2). law—the revelation Just given, having the forc§ of a law. disciples not as Maurkr, Uriah and Zechariah (cf. John 7. 17; 15.
the land of Judea, nothing but despair shall present itself, dimness of anguish—darkness of distress (Proverbs 1.
27). driven to darkness—rather, thick darkness (Jeremiah
23. 12). Driven onward, as by a sweeping storm. The Jewish rejection of "their King and God," Messiah, was followed by all these awful calamities.
15). IT. I—whatever the rest of the nation may do, 7wiU look to Jehov.ah alone, thathideth . . . face—Wiof.i?/!. He seems now to withirauj His countenance from Judah (the
Ver. 1-7. Continuation of the Prophecy in Chap
then ropresentati> e of "the house of Jacob"). Let us wait and trust in, though we cannot see, Him (ch. 50. 10;
8. 1. Nevertheless, &c.—rather, "i^or darkness shall not (continually) be on it (i.e., the land) on which there is (now) distress." [Hengstenberg and Maurer.] The /or refers, not to the words immediately preceding, ljut to the consolations in ch. 8. 9, 10, 17, 18. Do not despair, /or, &c. when at the fii-st, &c.—ratlier, "as the former time has brought contempt on the land of Zebulun and Naphtall
54. 8; Habakkuk 2. 3; Luke 2. 25, 38). 18. I and the cliildren—Isaiah melius salvation of Jehovah; His children's names, also (ch. 7. 3; 7. 14; 8. 3), were "signs" suggestive of the coming and final deliverance, wonders i. e.-, symbols of the future (ch. 20.3; Zechariah 3.8). "Behold I
. . . nie" is quoted in Hebrews 2. 13 to prove t/ie manhood of the Afessiah. This is the main and ultimate I'ulfilnient of the prophecy; its temporary meaning applied to Ahaz's tune. Isaiah typically, in v. 17, IS, personates Messiah, who is at once " Father" and "Son," Zsaia^and Immanuel, "Child"' and "Mighty God," and is therefore called here a "wonder," as in ch. 9. 6, "Wonderful." Hence in Hebrews 2. 13, believers are called His "children :" but in v.
(viz., the deportation of their Inhabitants under Tiglath-
pileser, 2 Kings 15. 29, a little before the giving of this prophecy); so shall the after-coming time bring honour
to the way of tlie sea (the district round the lake of Galilee), the land beyond [but Hengstenbercj, " by the side of"] Jordan (Perea, east of Jordan, belonging to Reuben, Gad, and half-Mauasseh) the circle [but Hengstenberg, " Galilee"] (i. e., region) of the "Gentiles." [Maures. Hengstenberg, Ac] Galil in Hebrew is a circle, cirea&, and from it came the name Galilee. North of Napulall,
11, 12, His ' brethren." On " the Lord hath given me," see John 6. 37, 39; 10. 29; 17. 12. which dwelleth In . . . Zion —uad will therefore protect Jeruialem. 19. Seeli unto—
The Cliurch's Joy in Chj-ist's Birth. ISAIAH IX. Prophecy as to the Ten TVtJa.
Inhabited by a mixed race of Jews and Gentiles of the bordering Phoenician race (Judges 1. 30; 1 Kings 9, U). Besides tlie recent deportation by Tiglath-pileser, it had been sorely smitten by Benhadad of Syria, 200 years before (1 Kings 15. 20). It was after the Assyrian deportation colonized with heatliens, by Esar-haddon (2 Kings
called by the Latins saffum) rolled In blood, shall be for burning, (and) fuel for fire." [Maurer.] All warlike accoutrements shall be destroyed, as no longer required in the new era of peace (ch. 2. 4 ; 11. 6. 7 ; Psalm 46. 9 ; Ezekiel
39. 9; Micah 5. 5, 10; Zechariah 9. 9, 10). Cf. Malaohi 4. l,aa to the previous b^irninrj up of the wicked. 6. For—The ground of these great expectations, nnto us — for the benefit of tlie Jews first, and then the Gentiles (cf. "unto j/0!<"(Luke 2.11). son. . . given—(Psalm 2.7.) God's gratuitous gift, on which man had no claim (John 3. 16; Romans
17. 24). Hence arose the contempt for it on the part of the sontheHi Jews of purer blood (John 1. 46; 7. 52). The same region which was so darkened once, shall be among the
first to receive Messiah's light (Matthew 4. V3, 15, 16). It was in despised Galilee that he first and most publicly exercised His ministry; from it were most of His apos-
6.2;?). government. . . upon . . . slionlder—The ensign of office used to be worn on the s/ioiildcr, in token of rustaining the government (ch. 22. 22). Here the government on Messiah's shoulder is in marked antithesis to the "yoke and staflf " of the oppressor on Israel's "shoulder" (t>. 4). He shall receive the kingdom of the earth from the Father, to vindicate it from the misrule of those to whom it was entrusted to hold it for and under the Most High, but who sought to hold it in defiance of His right; the Father asserts His riglit by tlie Son, the " Heir of all things," who will hold it for Him (Daniel 7. 13, 14). name . . . called— His essential characteristics shall be. Wonderful — (Note, ch. 8. 18; Judges 13. 18; Margin, 1 Timothy, 8. Ifi.) Counsellor—(Psalm 16. 7 : Romans 11.33,34; 1 Corinthians 1.24; Colossians 2. 3.) miglity God—(Ch. 10. 21; Psalm 24. 8; Titus 2. 13.) HoRSLEY translates, "God the mighty man." "Unto us . . . God" is equivalent to "Iiiimannel" (ch. 7.
tles. Foretold in Deuteronomy 3.X 18, 19; Acts 2. 7; Psalm
68. 27, 28, Jerusalem, the theocratic capital, might readily have known Messiah; to compensate less favoured Gal-
ilee, He ministered mostly there; Galilee's very debasement made it feel its need of a Saviour, a feeling not known to the self-righteous Jews (Matthew 9. iS). It was appropriate, too, that He who was both " the Light to lighten the Gentiles, and the Glory of His people Israel," should minister chiefly on the border land of Israel, near
the Gentiles. 3. tlie people—The whole nation, Judah and Israel. slia<low of deatli—the darkest misery of captivity. 3. multiplied . . . nation—primarily, the rapid increase of Israelites after the return from Babylon ; more fully and exhaustively the rapid spread of Christianity at first, not increased the joy—By a slight change in the Hebrete, its (joy) is sulistituted by some for not, because "not increased the joy" seems opposite to what immediately follows, " the joy," <S:c. Hengstenberg retains not thus: "Whose joy tliou hadst not increased" (i. e., hadst diminished). Others, "Hast thou not increased the joy?" The very difficulty of the reading, not, makes It less likely to be an interpolation. Horsley best explains it. The prophet sees in vision a sliifting scene, comprehending at one glance the history of the Cliristian Church to remotest times—a land dark and thinly peopled—lit up by a sudden light— filled with new inhabitants—then struggling with difficulties, and again delivered by the ntter and final overthrow of their enemies. The influx of Gentile converts (represented here by "Galilee of the Gentiles") soon was to be followed by the growth of corruption, and the final rise of Antichrist, who is to be destroyed, whilst God's people is delivered, as in the case of Gideon's victory over Midian, not by man's prowess, but by the special interposition of God. before thee—a phrase taken from sacrificial feasts ; the tithe of harvest was eaten before God (Deuteronomy 12. 7; 14. 26). as men rejoice . . . divide . . . spoil — referring to the judgments on the enemies of tlie Lord and His people, which usually accompany revelations of His grace. 4. The occasion of the "joy," the deliverance not only of Ahaz and Judah from the Assyrian tribute (2 Kings 16. 8), and of Israel's ten tribes from tlie oppressor (2 Kiugs 15, 19), but of the Jewish Christian Church from its last great enemy, hnst^the past time for the future, in prophetic vision ; it expresses the certainty of the event, yoke of liis bnrden — the yoke with which he was burdened, staff of . . . slioulder—the staff which strilces his shoulder [Mauker]; or the wood, like a yoke, on the neck of slaves, the badge of servitude. [ROSENMUI.LER.] day of Midian— (Judges 7.8-22.) As Gideon with a handful of men conquered the hosts of Midian, so Messiah the "child" (v. 6) shall prove to be the "Prince of peace," and the small Israel under Him shall overcome tile mighty hosts of Antichrist (cf. Micah 5. 2-5), containing the same contrast, and alluding also to "the Assyrian," ttie then enemy of the Churcli, as here in Isaiah, tlie typo of the last great enemy, p'or further analogies between Gideon's victory and the gospel, cf. 2 Corintliians 4. 7, witli Judges 7. 22. As the "dividing of the upoil" (u. ;!) was followed l)y that which was "not joy," the making of tlie idolatrous ephod (Judges 8. 24-27), so tlie gospel vic'tory was soon followed by apostasy at the first, and shall be so again after the millennial overthrow of Anlichi ist (IlevelaMon 20.3,7-9), previous to Satan's last doom (Revelation 20.10). 5. every l>nttle, Ac. — rather, "every greave of (the warrior who is) armed with greaves /b tlie din of buttle, and the martial garment (or cloak.
14). everlasting FatUer—this marks Him as "Wonderful," that He is "a child," yet the " everlasting ^taifter" (John 10. 30; 14. 9). Earthly kings leave their people after a short reign ; He will reign over and bless them fenever. [Henostejjberg.] Prince of Peace—(A'o^c, v. 5; Genesis
49. 10; Shiloh, "The Tranquillizer.") Finally (Hosea, 2. 18). Even already He is "our peace'' (Luke 2. 14; Ephesians2.
14). 7. Of . . . increase . . . no end—His princely rule shall perpetually increase and be unlimited (Daniel 2.44). tlirone of David—(1 Kings 8. 25; Psalm 2. 6 ; 132. 11 ; Jeremiah 3. 17, 18; Ezekiel 34. 2:3-26; m. 16, 22; Luke 1. 32, :i3; Acts
2.30.) judgment . . . justice—It is not a kingdom of mere might, and triumph of force over enemies, but of righteousness (ch. 42. 21 ; Psalm 45. 6, 7), attainable only in and by Messiah, zeal, Ac-including not only Christ's hidden spiritual victory over Satan at tlie first coming, but the open one accompanied with "judgments" on Antichrist and every enemy at the second coining (ch.59. 17; Psalm 9.6-8). Ver. 8-21, and chap. 10. 1-4. Prophecy as to ttie Ten Tribes. Delivered a little later than the previous one. The chapters 9. and 10. ought to have been so divided. The present division into chapters was made by Cardinal Hugo, In A.D. 1250; and into verses, by Robert Stephens, the famous printer of Paris, in lool. After the As.syrian invasion of Syria, that of Ephraim shall follow (2 Kings 16.9): verses 8-11,17-20, foretell the intestine discords in Israel after Hoshea had slain Pekah (a.b. 7n9), i.e., just after the Assyrian invasions, when for seven years it was stripped of magistrates and torn into factions. There are four strophes, each setting forth Ej)liraim's crime and consequent punishment, and ending with the formula, "For all this His anger is not turned away," Ac. (j). 12, 17, 21, and ch. 10. 4). 8. Ilcnding of the prophee//: (v. S-12), the first strophe, unto Jacob against the ten tribes. [Lowth.] lighted upon—tallen from heav(m by divine revelation (Daniel 4. 31). 0. know—to their cost: experimentally (Hosea 9. 7). Samaria—the capital of Ephraim (cf. as to phrase, ch. 1. 1). 10. l>ricks—In the East generally sundried, and tliereforesoon dissolved by rain, (iranting, s.ay the Ephraimites to the propliet's threat, that our affairs are in a ruinous state, we will restore them to more than their former magnificence. Self-confident unwillingness to see tlie judgments of God (ch. 26. 11.) heivn stones— (1 Kings 5. 17.) nyeamores—growing abundantly on the low lands of Judea, and though useful lor building on account of their antiseptic property (whicli induced the Egyptians to use them for the cases oftheir mummies), not very valuable. The cedar, on tlu; other hand, was odorous, free from knots, durable, and iirecious (1 Kings 10. 27). " We wilt replace cottages with pahu'.es." 11. advenini-te« uf Ilexlo
J-ndgments for Hypocrisy and Impenitence. ISAIAH X. Destruction of Assyria Prophesied.
obtaining justice." take away the right—" make plunder of the right" (rightful claim). [Hoksley.] 3. what will ye do—what way of escape will there be for you ? visitation—of God's wrath (ch. 26. 14; Job 35. 15; Hosea 9. 7). from far—from Assyria, leave . . . glory—rather, "deposit (for safe-keeping) your wealth." [Lowth.] So Psalm
—the Assyrians, who shall first attack Damascus, shall next advance " against him" (Ephraim). Tliis is the punishment of Ephraira's pride in making liglit (v. 10) of the judgment already inflicted by God through Tiglath-pileser
(2 Kings 1'). 29). A second Assyrian invasion (Note on the beginning of ch. 7.) shall follow. The reading "princes"
49. 17. 4. Without me—Not having me to " flee to" (u. 3). bow down—bereft of strength they shall fall; or else, they shall lie down fettered, under. . . under—rather. amongst (lit., in the place of). [Horsley.] The "under" may be, however, explained, "trodden under Wie (feet of the) prisoners so\n\i into captivity," and "overwhelmed under
for " adversaries" is uncalled for. join—rather, arm ; cover
with armour. [Maurer.] His— Rezin's. 13. Syrians —
though now allies of Ephraim, after Rezin's death they
shall join the Assyrians against Ephraim. "Together,"
In V. 11, refers to this. Conquering nations often enlist in
their armies the subject races (ch. 22. 6 ; cf. 2 Kings 16.9 ; Jere-
mlaha5.11). [ABEN-EzRA,GESENius.i HoRSLEY less probably takes "Sj'rians before," as the Syrians to the east, i.e., not Rezin's subjects, but the Assyrians : "Aram" being the common name of Syrians and Assyrians. PUIllstlnes—
the heaps of slain on tlie battle-field." [Maurer.] Chapters 10. 5-34, and 11. 12. Destruction of the A.9SYRiANS; Coming of Messiah; Hymn of Praise. Verses
9, 11 show that Samaria was destroyed before this prophecy. It was written when Assyria proposed (a design which It soon after tried to carry out under SennacheribJ to destroy Judah and Jerusalem, as it had destroyed Samaria. This is the first part of Isaiah's prophecies under Hezekiah. Probably between 722 and 715 B. c. (see v. 27). 5. O Assyri.nn, Ac—rather, "What, ho [but Maurer, Woe to the], Assyrian! He is the rod and staff of mine anger {my instrument in punishing ; Jeremiah 51.20; Psalm
of Palestine, belilnd — from the west: in marking the
points of the compass. Orientalists face the east, which Is
before them : the west is behind. The right hand is the south : the left, the north, ilevomr—as a ravenous beast
(ch. 1. 20; Jeremiah 10. 25; 30. 16; Numbers 14. 9). For all
this, &o.—The burden of each strophe. 13-17. Second strophe, turnetli not—the design of God's chastisements. Not fulfilled in their case: a new cause for punishment (Jeremiah 2. 30; 5.3). 14. head and tall—proverbial for tte
17.13). In their hands is mine indignation." [Horsley, after Jerom?:.] I have put into the Assyrians' hands the execution of mine indignation against my people. 6. send him—"Kings' hearts are in the hand of the Lord" (Proverbs 21. 1). hypocritical—po??wZ<?d. [Horsley.] nation—Judah, against whom Sennacherib was forming designs, of my wrath— objects of my wrath, give . . charge—(Jeremiali 34.22.) and to tread, &c.—HORSLEt
highest and lowest (Deuteronomy 28. 13, 44). branch and rush-another image for the same thought (ch. 19. 15). The branch is elevated on the top of the tree: the rush is coarse and low. 15. ancient—the elder, honourable—the man
of rank, propliet . . . lies . . . tail—there were many such
in Samaria (1 Kings 22. 6,22, 23; cf. as to "tail," Revela-
tion 9. 19). 16. leaders, &c. — See Margin, and Note, ch.
translates, "And then to make him (the Assyrian) a tramp ling under foot like the mire of the streets" (so v. 12; ch.
3. 12. 17. no joy—the parallelism " neither . . . mercy," shows that this means. He shall have no such delight in
their youthful warriors, however much they be the na-
33. 1 ; Zechariah 10. 5). But see ch. 37. 20. 7. meaneth not so—He is only thinking of his own schemes, whilst God
tion's deliglit and reliance, as to save them from the enemy's sword (cli. 31. 8; cf. Jeremiah 18. 21). fatherless, &c. —not even the usual objects of His pity (Psalm 10. 14, 18;
is overruling them to His purposes, think—intend. Sinners' plans are no less culpable, though they by them unconsciously fulfil God's designs (Psalm 76. 10; Micah 4. 12). So Joseph's brethren (Genesis 50.20; Proverbs 16. 4). The sinner^s motive, not the result (which depends on God), will be the test in judgment, heart to destroy . . . not a few —Sennacherib's ambition was not confined to Judea. His plan was also to conquer Egypt and Ethiopia (ch. 20; Zechariah 1. 15). 8-11. Vauntings of the Assyrians. Illustrated by the self-laudatory inscriptions of Assyria deciphered by HiNCKS. princes . . . kings—Eastern satraps and governors of provinces often had the title and diadem of kings. Hence the title " King of kings," implying the greatness of him who was ot^er them (Ezekiel 26.7; Ezra
68. 5 ; Jeremiah 49. 11 ; Hosea 14. 3) shall be spared, hypocrite—rat lier, a libertine, polluted. [Horsley.] follyWickedness (Psalm 14. 1). still—notwithstanding all these Judgments, more remain. 18-31. Third strophe, bnrneth —maketh consumption, not only spreading rapidly, but
also consxmiing like fire; sin is its own punishment, briers . . . thorns—emblem of the wicked; especially
those of low rank (ch. 27. 4; 2 Samuel 23. G). forest—from
the humble shrubbery the flame spreads to the V9.st forest ;
It reaches the high, as well as the low. mount up like . . . moke—rather, "They (the thickets of the forest) shall lift
themselves proudly aloft [the Hebrew is from a Syriac root, a
7 12). 9. Is not . . . as—Was there any one of these cities able to withstand me? Not one. So Rabshakeh vaunts
cock, expressing stateliness of motion, from his strutting
gait, HoRSi^EV], in (in passing into) volumes of ascending smolve." [Maurer.] 19. darkened viz., with smoke (v. 18). LXX. and Chaldce render it, is burnt up: so Ma JRER,from an Arabic root meaning suffocating heat, no man . . . spare . . . brother—Intestine discord snapping asunder the dearest ties of nature. 30. hungry—not literally. Image from unappeasable hunger, to picture internal fac-
(ch. 36. 19). Calno—Calneh, built by Nimrod (Genesis 10.
10), once his capital, on the Tigris. Carchemlsh—Circesium, on the Euphrates. Taken afterwards by Necho, king of Egypt; and retaken by Nebuchadnezzar: by the Euphrates (Jeremiah 46. 2). Hamath—in Syria, north of Canaan (Genesis 10. 18). Taken by Assyria about b. c. 7.5.3. From it colonists were planted by Assyria in Samaria. Arpad—near Hamath. Samaria—now overthrown. Damascus—(Ch. 17.) 10, 11. found—unable to resist me: hath overcome (so Psalm 21. 8). and whose—rather, and
tions, reckless of the most tender ties (v. 19), and insatiably spreading misery and death on every side (Jeremiah
19.9). eat—not lit., but destroy (Psalm 27.2; Job 19.22).
flcsli of , . . arm—those nearest akin; their former support
(helper) (ch. 32. 2). [Maurer.] 21. Manasseh, Kphralm —The two sons of Joseph. So closely united as to form between them but one tribe; but now about to be rent into
their. This clause, down to "Samaria," is parenthetical, excel-were more powerful. He regards Jerusalem as Idolatrous, an opinion which it often had given too much ground for: Jehovah was in his view the mere local god of Judea, as Baal of the countries where it was adored,
tactions, tliirsting for eacli other's blood. Disunited in
all things else, but united " together against their brother Judah" (2 Kings 15. 10, 30).
na.v, inferior in power to some national gods (ch. 30. 19, 20,
o7. 12). See in opposition, ch. 37. 20 ; 40. 1. As my hand . . . shall I not, as I have—a double protasis. Agitation makes one accumulate sentences. 13. whole work—His entire plan in regard to the punishment of the Jews (v. 5-7). Zion—the royal residence, the court, princes and nobles; asdistinguislied from "Jerusalem," the people in general, fruit—the result of, i. e., the plans emanating from, stout —Hebrew, greatness of, i. c., pride of. glory—haughtiness. 13. I am priident-He ascribes h s success to his own prudence, not to God's providerce. removed bounds—set
Ver. 1-1. Fourth strophe. 1. tliem that decree viz., nnrigliteous judsicR. write grlevousness, <fec.—not the
scril)es, l)ut the magistrates toho caused unjust decisions (lit.,
injustice or " grievoiisness") to be recorded by them (ch. 65. 6) (Maurer] (ch. 1. 10, 'Z'!). 3. To turn aside, &c.—The effect of their conduct is, to pervert the cause of the needy. [HoR-
*l,EV., In Knalish Version " from judgment" means "from
A Rjmnanl of Israel shall be Saved. ISAIAH X. Israel to be Delivered from Assyria.
—"A consumption, and whatever is determined." or decreed. [Maurer.] midst—Zion, the central point of tlie earth as to Jehovah's presence, land—Lsrael. But LXX., " in the whole habitable world." So English Version (Romans 9. 28), "upon the earth." 34:. Therefore—Return to the main proposition, Assyria's ultimate punisliment, though employed as God's " rod " to chastise Judea lor a time. O my people—God's tenderness towards His elect nation, after . . . manner of Egypt—as Egypt and Pharaoh oppressed thee. Implying, too, as Israel was neverthelesa delivered from them, so now it would be from the Assyrian Sennacherib. The antithesis in 20 requires this interpretation. [Maurer.] 35. For—Be not afraid (d. 21), /or, &c. Indignation . . . cease— the punishments of God against Israel shall be consummated and ended (ch. 26. 20; Daniel 11.36). "Till the Indignation be accomplished," &c. mine anger—shall turn to their (the Assyrians') desti-uction. 36. slaughter of—stroke upon. Midian—(Ch.
aside oW, and substituted new boundaries of kingdoms at will. A ciiniiQal act, as Jehovah Himself had appointed tlu' boundaries of the nations (Deuteronomy 32.8). treasHres /loardeil treasures. [HOKSLEY.] put down . . . iiiliabitantg like, &c.—rather, "as a valiant man, I have brought down (from their seats) those seated" (viz., on Ml rones: as in Psalm2.-1; 29. 10; 5.5.19. The Hebrew for "He that abidetli," is He that sitteth on a throne); otherwise, " I have bro^ight doicn (as captives into Assyria, which lay lorver lhan Judea; therefore 'brought down,' cf. ch. 36. 1. 10), the inhabitants." [Maurer.] 14. nest— Implying the ease with which he carried oflTall befoi'e him. left—by the parent bird, none . . . moved . . . Avlng—Image from an angry bird resisting the robbery of its "nest." peeped— cliirped even low (ch. 8. 19). No resistance was ofl'ered
nie, of deed, or even word. 15. Shall the instrument boast against Him who uses it? Though free in a sense, and carrying out his own plans, the Assyrian was uuconeiously carrying out God's purposes, sitaketli It moves it back and forward, staff. . . lift . . . itself . . . no wood—rather, "as if the staff (man, the instrument of God's judcments on his fellow-man) should set aside (Him who is) not wood " (not a mere instrument, as man). On "no wood" cf. Deuteronomy 32.21, "that which is not God;" ch. 31.8 shows that God is meant here by "not wood." [Maurer.] 16. fat ones—(Ch. 5. 17.) The robust and choice soldiei's of Assyria (Psalm 78. 31, where "fattest" answers in the parallelism to "chosen," or "young men," Margin), leanness—carrying out the image in "fat ones;" Destruction (Psalm 106. 15). Fulfilled (ch. 37. 36).
9. 4 ; Judges 7. 25.) as . . . rod was upon . . . sea—rather, understanding stroke from the previous clause, "according to the stroke of His rod upon the Red Sea" (Exodus 14.
16, 26). His " rod " on the Assyrian (v. 24, 26) stands in bold contrast to the Assyrian used as a "i-od" to strike others
(v. 5). after tlie manner of Egypt—as He lifted it up again.st Egypt at the Red Sea. 37. his burden—the Assyrians' oppression (ch. 9. 3). Judah was still tributary to Assyria; Hezekiah had not yet revolted, as he did in the beginning of Sennacherib's reign, because of—(Hosfc,- '0.
15.) tlie anointing—viz., Messiah (Daniel 9. 24). Just as in ch. 9. 4-6, the "breaking of the yoke of" the enemies' " burtlen and staff" Is attributed to Mes.na/i, "For unto us a child is born," &c., so it Is liere. Maurer not so well translates, " Because of the fatness ;" an image of the Assyrians' yiore and wanton pride dr&wn from a well-fed bull tossing off the yoke (Deuteronomy 32. 15). So v. 10 above, and ch.5. 17, "fat ones." 38-33. Onward gradual march of Sennacherib's army towards Jerusalem, and the panic of tlie inhabitants vividly pictured before the eyes, eomo to—come upon as a sudden invader (Genesis 34. 27). Alath —same as Ai (Joshua 7. 2; Nehemiah 7. 32). In the north of Benjamin; so the other towns also; all on the line of march to Jerusalem. Michmash—nine miles north-east of Jerusalem, laid up . . . carriages—He has left his heavier baggage (so "carriages" for the tilings carried, Acts
Isis glory—Assyria's nobles. So in ch. 5. 13 Margin; ch. 8.
7. kindle—a new image from /ire consuming quickly dry materials (Zechariah 12. 6). 17, 18. light of Israel—carrying out the image in the end of v. 16. Jehovah, who is a
light to Israel, shall be the " Are" (Deuteronomy 4. 2-1 ; Hebrews 12.29) that shall ignite tlie ihorns(the Assyrians, like dry fuel, a ready prey to flame), tlioms, &c. 18. glory of . . . forest—The common soldiers, the princes, offl.cer.i, &c., all alike together, shall be consumed (Note ch. 9. 18). in one day—(Ch. 37. 36.) fruitful. tield — Carmel, a rich mountain in tlie tribe of Aslier. J'/iy. for Sennacherib's mighty army. Perhaps alluding to his own boasting words about to be uttered (ch. 37. 24), "I will enter the forest of his Carmel." soul and body—proverbial for utterly : the entire man is made up of soul and body, as wlien a standard-bearer faintcth—rather, " they shall be ns when a sick man (from a Syriac root) wastes away."