Chapter XXXI (continued, part 6)
21. 15) at Michmash, so as to be more lightly equipped for the siege of Jerusalem. So 1 Samuel 17. 22; 2.5. 13; 30. ai. [Jerome and Maurer.] 39. passage—The Jaws of fh<} M-ady or defile at Michmash (1 Samuel 13. 23; J4. 4, !)). lodging—their quarters for the night, after having passed the defile which might have been easily guarded against them. Kamali—nearGeba; seven miles from Jerusalem. Glbcnh of Saul—his birth-place and residence, in B'^njamin (1 Samuel 11. 4), distinct from Gibeah of Judah (Joshu&
Cf. " leanness, " i.e., wasting destruction (ti. 16). [Maurer.] Or, "there shall be an entire dissipation, like a perfect melting" (viz., of the Assyrian army). [Horsley.] 19. rest—Those who shall survive the destruction of the host, his forest—some image as in v. 18, for the once dense army,
eliilil . . . write—so few that a child might count them. 80-'J3. Tlie eflV'ct on the "remnant" (contrasted with the Assyrian reinnant, r. 10), viz., those who shall be left after the invasion of tMiinaclierib, will be a return from dependence on external idolatrous nations, as Assyria and Egypt
15. 57). 30. daughter of Gallim— and her sons (Note ch. 1.8; 2 Kings 19. 21). "Cry aloud in consternation." Laish—not the town in Dan (Judges IS. 7), but one of the same name near Jerusalem (1 Maccabees 9. 9). Anatliotln-three miles from Jerusalem in Benjamin ; the birth-place of Jeremiah. "Poor" is applied to it in pity, on account of the impending calamity. Others translate. Answer her, O Anathoth. 31. Madmenali—not the city In Simeon (Joshua 15. 31), but a village near Jeru.salem. removed—fled from fear, gatlier ttiemseives to flee "put tlicir goods In a place of safety." [Maurer.] 33. that tiny—lit., "As yet this (one only)day (Is allowed to the soldiers) for remaining (halting for rest) at Nob;" northeast of Jerusalem on Olivet; a town of the priests (Nehemiah 11. 32). daughter—rightly substituted for the Chetib reading, ftoiMP. His "shaking his hand" In menace implies that he is now at Nob, ?/;rt/im m'ff/i)^ o/" .lerusalem. 30. l»ougIi—W., the beauty of the tree; the beautiful brancli. high ones of stature— "the upright stem," as distinguished from tlie previous "boughs." [Housr.EY.l 34. Tills verse and v. describe the sudden arrest and overthrow of Sennacherib in the height of hi« success; v. 18, 19; Ezekiel 31. 3, Ac., 14, &c., contain the same Image; "Lebanon" and Its forest are the .\ssyrlan army; the "Iron" axe that fells the forest refers to the stroke which
(2 Kings IS. 21 ; 10. 7-9), to the God of the theocracy ; fulfilled in part in the pious Hezekiah's days; but from the future aspect under which St. Paul, in Romans 9. 27, 28 (cf. " sliort work" with " whole work," v. 12, here), regards the whole prophecy, the "remnant," "who stay upon the Lord," probably will receive their fullest realization In the portion of Jews left after that Anticlirist shall have been overthrown, wl)o shall " return" unto the Lord (ch. 6.13; 7.3; Zechariah 12.0,10; 1-1.2,3; Zephaniah 3. 12). ai. niiglkty God—(ch. 9. 0) the God who shall have evinced Buch might in destroying Israel's enemies. As the .^.fsyrians in Sennacherib's reign did not carry ofl' Judah captive, the returning "remnant" cannot mainly refer to this time. 'Z'i. yet—rather in the sense in which St. Paul quotes it (llonifvus 0. 27), " Though Israel be now numerous as the sand, a remnant only of them shall return" the great majority shall perish. The reason Is added. Because " the consumption (fully completed destruction) i4 decreed (lit., dcnded nn, brought to an lisne), it overflowetlj (ch. 30. 28 ; 8. 8) with jwilice i. e., the Infllctio'i of Just puulshment fch. 5. 16;. TMaurek.] i33. even determined 442
The Peaceable Kingdom ISAIAH XI. of the Fro'inised Me«staK,
shall decide His claim to the kingdom, previously usurped by Satan, and "the beast" to whom Satan delegates his power. It will be a day of judgment to the Gentile dispensation, as the first coming was to the Jews. Cf. a type, of the "rod" (Numbers 17. 2-10). 5. righteousness . . , girdle—(Revelation 1. 13; 19. 11.) The antitypical High Priest (Exodus 28. 4). The girdle secures flrnily the rest of the garments (1 Peter 1. 13). So "truth "gives firm consistency to the whole character (Ephesians .5. 14). In cli. 59.17, "righteousness" is His breastplate. 6. wolf. . . lamb—Eacli animal is coupled with that one which is its natural prey. A fit state of things under the " Pi ince of Peace " (ch. 6.5. 25 ; Ezekiel 34. 2.3 ; Hosea 2. 18). These may be figures for men of corresponding animal-like charaeters (Ezekiel 22. 27 ; 38. 13; Jeremiah 5. 8; 13. 2;J; Matthew 7. 15; Luke 10.3). Still a literal change in the relations of animals to man and each other, restoring the state in Kden,
destroyed the one hundred and eighty-five thousand Assyrians (2 Kings 19. 35). The " Mighty One" is Jehovali {v.
21; ch. 9. 6). CHAPTEE XI.
Ver. 1-10. From the local and temporary national deliverance tlie prophet passes by the law of suggestion in an easy transition to tlieendof allpropliecy—tlie everlasting deliverance under Messiali's reign, not merely His first coming, liuldiielly His second coming. The language and illustrations are still drawn from tlie temporary national subject, with which he begun, but tlie glories described pertain to Messiah's reign. Hezeltiaii cannot, as some think, be the subject; for he was already come, whereas the "stem of Jesse" was yet future ("shall come") (of. Jlicah 4. 11, &c. ; 5. 1, 2; Jeremiah 23. 5, 6; 3.X 15,
16; Romans 15. 12). 1. rod—When the proud "boughs" of" Lel)anon " (ch. 10. .33, 31, the Assyrians) are lopped, and the vast "forf.tU cut down" amidst all this rage a seemingly humble rod shall come out of Jesse (Messiah), who shall retrieve tiie injuries done by tlie Assyrian "rod" to Israel (ch. 10. 5, 6, 18, 10). ntem—lit., the stump of a tree cut close by the roofs : happily expressing the depressed state of the royal house of David, owing to the hostile storm
is a more likely interpretation. Cf. Genesis 2. 19, 20, with Psalm 8. 6-8, whicli describes tlie restoration to man, in the person of " the Son of man," of the lost dominion over the animal kingdom of wiiich he had been designed to be the merciful vicegerent under God, for the good of liis animal subjects (Romans 8. 19-22). 7. tved—viz., together; taken from the second clause, straw—no longer and blood. 8. play lit., delight himself in sport, cockatrice —a fabulous serpent supposed to be hatclied from the egg of a cock. The Hebrew means a kind of adder, more venomous than the asp; Bochakt supposes the basilisk io he meant, which was thought to poison even with Its breath. 9. my holy mountain—Zion, t. e., Jerusalem. The seat of government and of Messiah's throne is put for the whole earth (Jeremiah 3. 17). sea-As the waters find tlieir way into every cavern of its dept>is, so Christianity siiall pervade every recess of the earth (Habakkuk 2. 14). As v. 1-5 describe the personal qualities of Messiah, and v. 6-9 the regenerating effects of His coming on creation, so v. 10-16 the results of it in the restoration of His people t/ie Jews, and the conversion through them of t?ie Gentiles. 10. root—rather, shoot from the root (cf. Note v. 1 ; cli. .53. 2; Revelation 5. 5; 22. 16). stand—permanently and prominently, as a banner lifted up to lie the rallying-point of an army or people (ch. 5. 26; John 12. .32). the peopl*^—people*, answering to " the Gentiles " in the parallel member, to ft
(ch. 10. 18, IS)), when Messiah should arise from it, to raise
it to more tlian its pristine glory. Luke 2. 7 proves this (ch. .53. 2; Note ch. 8.6; cf. Job 11. 7,8). BrancU—Scion. He is nevertheless also the " root " (f. 10; Revelation 5. 5;
22. 16. " Root and offspring " combines both, Zeehariah 3.
8; 6. 12). 3. Sj.Jrit of file Lord—Jehovah. The Spirit liy which the projihets spake: for Messiah was to be n Prophet (ch.61. 1; Dcnterouomy 18. 15, 18). Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are specified, to imply that tlie perfection of tiieni was to be in Him. Cf. "tlie«ei,'e)i Spirits" (Revelation 1. 4),
i.e., the Holy Ghost In HXn perfect fulness: seven being the sacred number. Tlie prophets had only a portion out of the "fulness" in the Son of God (John 1. 16; 3. 31; Colossians 1. 19). rest—permanently; not merely come upon liim (Numbers 11. 25, 26). wlselom—(1 Corinthians 1.30; Ephesians 1, 17 ; Colossians 2. .3.) understaiidlng—coupled with "wisdom," being its fruit. Discernment and discrimin.ation (Matthew 22.18; John 2.25). counsel . . . might'—the faculty of forming counsels, and that of executing them (eh. 28. 29). Counsellor (ch. 9. 6). knowle«lge —of the deep things of God (Matthew 11. 27). The knowledge of Him gives us true knowledge (Ephesians 1. 17). fear of tlie Lord—reverential, obedient fear. Tlie first step towards true " knowledge" (Job 28. 28; Psalm 111. 10). 3. maUe Itim of quick understanding lit., " guichscented in the fear of Jehovah :" endowed with a singular sagacity in discerning the genuine principle of religious fear of God, when it lies dormant in the yet unawakened sinner (Matthew 12. 20; Acts 10. ; 16. 14). [Horsi.ey.] But Matjrer, "He shall delight in the fear of God." The Hebrew means to delight in the odoursoi any thing (Exodus 30.
. . . seek—diligently (Job 8. .5). They shall give in their allegiance to the Divine King (ch. 2. 2; 60. 5; Zeehariah 2.
11). HoRSLEY translates, "Oi Him shall the Gentiles tnquire ; viz., in a religious sense, resort as to an oracle for consultation in difficulties (Zeehariah 14. 16). Cf. Romans 15.
12, whicli quotes this passage, "In Him shall the Gentiles trust." rest—resting-place (ch. 60. 13; Psalm 132. 8, 14 ; Ezekiel 43. 7). Tlie sanctuary in the temple of Jerusalem was "the resting-place of the ark and of Jehovah." So the glorious Church which is to be is described under the image of an oracle to which all nations shall resort, and which shall be filled with the visible glory of God. 11. set . . . hand—take in hand the work, the second timeTherefore the coming restoration of the Jews is to be distinct from that after the Babylonish captivity, and yet to resemble it. The first restoration was literal, therefore so shall the .second be; the latter, however, it is implied here, shall be much more universal than the former
38; Amos5. 21); " svacW" i. e., delightin. after . . . sight according to mere external appearances (John 7. 24; 8. 15; James 2. 1 ; 1 Samuel 16. 7). Herein Messiah is represented a just Judge and Ruler (Deuteronomy 1. 16, 17). reprove
decide', as the parallelism shows, after . . . ears—by mere plausible hearsays, l)ut by tlie true merits of each case (John 6. 61 ; Revelation 2. 2;3). 4. Judge—see that inioartial justice is done them, reprove—decide. But Lowth, "work conviction in." "Judge" may mean here " rule," as in Psalm 67.4. Cf. "meek . . . earth" with Matthew
(ch. 43. 5-7; 49. 12, 17, 18; Ezekiel 37. 21; Hosea 3. 5; Amos
9. 14, 15; Micah 4. 6, 7; Zephaniah 3. 19, 20; Zeehariah 10.
10; Jeremiah, 23. 8). Pathros—one of the three divisions of Egypt, Upper Egypt. Cash—either Ethiopia, south of Egypt, now Abyssinia, or the southern parts of Arabia, along the Red Sea. Elam—Persia, especially the southern part of it now called Susiana. Shlnar—Babylonian Mesopotamia, the plain between Euphrates and the Tigris: in it Babel was begun (Genesis 10. 1). In the Assyrian inscriptions Rawlinson distinguishes three periods: 1. The Chaldean; from 2300 b. c. to 1500, In which
,. 5, and Revelation 11. 15. earth—its ungodly inhabitants, answering to "the wicked" in the parallel, and In antithesis to the "poor" and "meek," viz., in spirit, the humble pious (Matthew 5. 3). It Is at the same time implied that " the earth " will be extraordinarily wicked when He shall come to judge and reign. His reign shall therefore be ushered in with judgments on the apostates
' Luke 18. 8; Revelation 2. 27). rod of . . . inoutli—condemning sentences which proceed from His mouth against the wicked (Revelation 1. 16; 2. 16; 19. 15,
falls Chedorlaomer (Genesis 14.), called in the cuneiform characters Kudur of Hur, or Ur of the Chaldees, and described as the conqueror of Syria. The seat of the first Chaldean empire was in the south, towards the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates. 2. The Assyrian, dowa to 625 B. c. 3. The Babylonian, from 625 to 538 b. c, wnea 443
fPsalm 2. 9-12;
21). breath of . . . lips—his judicial decisions (ch. 30. 28
Job 15. 30 ; Revelation 19. 20 ; 20. 9-12). He as the Word of God (Revelation 19.13-15) comes to strike that blow which
Tht Calling of the Gentiles. ISAIAH XII, XIII Mustering of the Armies of God's WratK
Babylon was taken by the Persian Cyrus. Islands of . . . sea—the far western regions beyond the sea. [Jerome.] As to the "remnant" destined by God to survive the judsmeuts on the nation (cf. Jeremiah 46. 28). 13. In the
The idea ot salvation was peculiavly associated with tb9 feast of tabernacles (see v. 3). Henee the cry " Hosanna," " Save, we beseech thee," that accompanied Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem on that day (llie fifteenth of th« seventh month) (Matthew 21. 9; cf. with Psalm 118. 25, 28); the earnest of the perfected "salvation" wliicli He shall bring to His people at His glorious second appearance at Jerusalem (Hebrews 9. 28). " He shall appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Cf. Revelation 21.3, "Tlie tabernacle of God is witli men." Cf. Luke 9.33, "tliree tabernacles: one tor thee," &c. (the transfiguration being a pledge of the future kingdom),(Psalm 118.15; Zechariah 14. 16). As the Jew was reminded by the feast of tabernacles of his wanderings in tents in the wilderness, so the Jew-Gentile Church to come shall call to mind, with thanksgiving, tlie various past ways wliereby God has at last brought tliem to the heavenly "city of habitation" (Psalm 107. 7). 3. draw water . . . salvation —an expressive image in a hot country. On the last day of the feast of tabernacles the Jews used to bring water in a golden pitcher from the fountain of Siloam, and pour it, mingled with wine, on the sacrifice on the altar, with great rejoicing. This is the allusion in Jesus' words on " the last day of the feast" (John 7. 2, 37-39). The pouring out of water indicated repentance (I Samuel 7. 6; cf., as to the Jews' repentance hereafter, Zechariah 12. 10). There shall be a latter outpouring of the Spirit like the former one on pentecost (Joel 2. 2S). wells—not mere streams, which may run dry, but ever-flowing fountains (John 4. 14; 7. 38), "Out of his belly (t. e., in and from himself) living ^va,ier" (ch. 42. 18; Psalm 84.6; Zechariah 13. 1; Revelation 7. 17). 4c. malte mention Hebrew, cause it to be remembered. 5. Sing, &c. — alluding to Exodus 15.21. 6. inltabitant of Zion Hebrew, inhabitress: so "daughter of Zion," i. e., Zion and its people, in the midst of thee —of Jerusalem literally (Jeremiah 3.17; Ezekiel 48.35; Zephaniah 3. 15, 17; Zechariah 2. 10).
first restoration Judah alone was restored, with perhaps some few of Israel (the ten tribes): in the future restoration both are expressly specified (Ezekiel 37. 16-19; Jeremiah 3. 18). To Israel are ascribed the " outcasts" (masculine) ; to Judah the " dispersed" (feminine), as the former have been longer and more utterly cast-aways (though not finally) than the latter (John 7. 52). The masculine and feminine conjoined express the universality of the restoration. 13. envy ... of Ephralm . . . Jiidali— which began as early as the time (Judges 8. 1; 12. 1, &c.) Joshua had sprung from, and resided among the Ephraim-
ites (Numbers 13.9; Joshua 19.50;; the sanctuary was with them for a time(Joshua 18. 1). The Jeaioosj/ increased subBequently (2 Samuel 2. 8, <Sc. ; 19. 41 ; 20. 2; 3. 10) ; and even before David's time (1 Samuel 11.8 ; 15.4), they had appropriated to tliemselves the national name Israel. It ended In disruption (1 Kings 11. 26, &c. ; 12.; cf. 2 Kings 14.9; Psalm 78. 56-71). adversaries of Judah—rather, "the adversaries Jrom Judah :" those of Judah hostile to the Ephraimites. [Mauker.] The parallelism " the envy of Ephraim," viz., against Judah, requires this, as also what follows, rii2., " Judah shall not vex Ephraim" (Ezekiel 37.
15, 17, 19). 14r. With united forces they shall subdue their
foes (Amos 9. 12). fly—as a bird of prey (Habakkuk 1. 8). npon the shoalders—this expresses an attack made unexpectedly on one from behind. The image is the more
apt, as the Hebrew for shoulders in Numbers 34. 11 is used also of a maritime coast. They shall make a sudden victorious descent upon their borders south-west of Judea. them of the Bast Hebrew, children of the East, the Arabs, who, always hostile, are not to be reduced under regular government, but are only to be despoiled (Jeremiali 49. 28, 29). lay . . . hand upon—take possession of (Daniel 11.42). Bdoni—south of Judah, from the Dead Sea
to the Red Sea. Moab—east of Jordan and the Dead Sea. Ammon—east of Judea, north of Moab, between the Arnon and Jabbok. 15. There shall be a second exodus, destined to eclipse even the former one from Egypt in its wonders. So the prophecies elsewhere (Psalm 68. 22; Exodus 14. 22; Zechariah 10. 11). The same deliverance furnishes the imagery by which the return from Babylon is described (ch. 48. 20, 21). destroy lit., devote, or doom, i. e., dry up: for what God dooms, perishes (Psalm 106.9; Nahum 1. 4). tongue of the Egyptian Sea—the Bubas-
Ver. 1-22. Chap. 13.-23. contain Prophecies as to PobEiGN Nations.—Chap. 13., 14., and 27., as to Babylon and Assyria. The predictions as to foreign nations are for the sake of the covenant people, to preserve them from despair, or reliance on human confederacies, and to strengthen their faith in God: also in order to extirpate narrowminded nationality: God is Jehovah to Israel, not for Israel's sake alone, but that He may be thereby Elohim to the :iations. These prophecies are in their right chronological place, in the beginning of Hezokiah's reign ; tlien
tic branch of the Nile [Vitringa]; but as the iV(7e was not the obstruction to the exodus, it is rather tlie west tongue or Heroopolite fork of the Red Sea. with . . . mightywind—such as the "strong east wind" (Exodus
first tlie nations of Western Asia, on the Tigris and Euphrates, assumed a most menacing aspect. 1. burden weighty or mournful propliecy. [Grotius.] Otherwise, simply, the prophetical declaration, from a Hebreiv root to put forthwith the voice anything, as in Numbers 23. 7. [Maurer.] ofBabylon concerning 'BahyUm. 2.TJft. ..banner—(Ch . 5. 26 ; 11. 10.) tlie high mountain—ratlier, "abare
14. 21), by which God made a way for Israel through the Red Sea. The Hebrew for "mighty" means terrible. Maurer translates, " Witli the terror of His anger:" i. e., His terrible anger, in the seven streams—ratlier, "shall smite it (divide it by smiting) into seven {many) streams, so
(lit., bald, i. e., without trees) mountain :" from it the banner could be seen afar oft", so as to rally together the peoples against Babylon, unto tliem—unto the Medes (v. 17), the assailants of Bab.ylon. It is remarkable that Isaiah does not/ore<e?Zliere the Jews' captivity in Babylon, hwt presupposes that event, and throws himself beyond, predicting
as to be easil,v crossed." [Lowth.] So Cyrus divided the river Gyndes which retarded his march against Babylon, Into 360 streams, so that even a woman could cross it (Hf.rodotus, 1. 189). " The river" Is the Euphrates, the obstruction to Israel's return " from Assyria" (v. 16), a type of all future impediments to the restoration of the Jews, dry shod Hebrew, in shoes. Even in sandals they should be able to pass over the once mighty river without being wet (Revelation 16. 12). 16. highway—clear of obstructions (ch. 19. 23 ; 3,5. 8). like as . . . Israel . . . Egypt—
another event still more future, the overthrow of the city of Israel's oppressors. It was now 174 years before the event, shake . . . hand beckon with the hand—wave the hand to direct the nations to march agiiinst Babylon, nobles—Babylonian. Rjittier, in a bad sense, tyrants; as in ch. 14. 5, " rulers" in parallelism to " the wicked ;" and Job 21. a*. [Maurer.] 3. sanrtifled ones—the Median and Persian soldiers solemnly set apart by nie for the destruction of Babylon, not immrdly "sanctifled," but designated to fulfil God's holy purpose (Jeremiah 51. 27, 28;
(Ch. 51. 10, 11 ; 63. 12. 13.)
Ver. 1-6. Thanksgiving-Hymn of the Restored and Converted Jews. Just as Miriam, after the deliverance
.Joel 3. 0, 11; where the Hebrew for prepare war is sanettfy war), for mine anger—to execute It. rejoice in mjr liiglmesB—"Those who are, made to triumph for my honour." [HorsI/EY.] The heathen Medes could not be saiU
of the Red Sea (ch. 11. 16), celebrated it witli an ode of praise (Exodus 15). 'Z. Lord Jehovali — ,/rt/i, Jehovah. The repetition of the name denotes emphasis, and the uncliaugeableness of God's character, strength . . . song
to "rejoice in God's highness " Maurer translates, ">Iv
. . salvation—derived from Exodus 15. 2Psalm 118. 14.
Threatened Desttuction of Babyhn, ISAIAH XIV. The Eeslorution of Israd.
Chaldees ; it was their glory and boast, as . . . Gomor> rah—as utterly (Jeremiah 49. 18; 50. 40; AtQOs 4. 11). Taken by Cyrus, by clearing out the canal made for emptying the superfluous waters of the Euphrates, and directing the river into this new channel, so that he was able to enter the city by the old bed in the night. 20. lit.,
hauKlitily exulting ones" (Zephaniah 3. 11); a special
characteristic of the Persians (Hkrodotus, 1. 88). They
re^ioiced in their own highness, but it was His that they were
uiiconsciously glorifying. 4. the juouiitains--uiz., which
separate Media and Assyria, and on one of which the banner to rally the hosts is supposed to be reared, tumultuous noise—The Babylonians are vividly depicted
fulfilled, neither . . . Arabian pitch . . . tent^not only shall It not be a permanent residence, but not even a temporary resting-place. The Arabs, through dread of
as hearing some unwonted sound like the din of a host; they try to distinguish the sounds, but can only perceive
evil spirits, and believing the ghost of Nimrod to haunt
a tumultuous noise, uatlous—Medes, Persians, and Armenians composed Cyrus' army. 5. TUey—viz., "Jehovah," and the armies whicli are " the weapons of His indigna-
it, will not pass the night there (cf. v. 21). ncitlier . . . shepherds—the region was once most fertile; but owing to the Euphrates being now no longer kept within its former channels, it has become a stagnant marsh, unfit
tion." far country—Media and Persia, stretching to the
far north and east, end of heaven-the far east (Psalm
for flocks; and on the wastes of Its ruins, bricks and cement, no grass grows. 31. wild beasts Hebrew, tsiyim, animals dwelling in and wastes. Wild cats, remarkable
19. G). destroy—rather, to seize. [Hoxisley.] 6. day of the liord—day of His vengeance on Babylon (ch. 2. 12). Type of the future "day of wrath" (Revelation 6. 17). destruction— a devastating tempest, from the Almighty—not from mere man; therefore Irresistible. "Almighty," Hebrew, Shaddai. 7. faint . . . melt— So Jeremiah 50.43; cf. Joshua 7.5. Babylon was taken by surprise on the night of Belshazzar's Impious feast (Daniel
lor their howl. [Bochart.] doleful creatures howling
beasts, lit., " bowlings." [Maurer.] owls—rather, ostriches; a timorous creature, delighting in solitary deserts, and making a liideous noise. [Bochart.] satyrs— .syl-van demi-gods—half man, half goat—believed by the Arabs to haunt these ruins; probably animals of the goat-ape
5. 30). Hence the sudden fainting and melting of hearts. 8. pangs—Tlie Hebrew means also a messenger. Hokslby,
species. [VlTBiNGA.] Devil-worshipiiers, "wiio dance am\titit the ruins on a certain night. [J. Wolff.] 33. wild beasts of the islands T&M\ev, jackals ; called by the Arabs sons of howling ; an animal standing midway between a fox and a wolf. [Bochart and Mauber.] ci-y—rather, answer, respond to each other, as wolves do at night, producing a most dismal effect, dragons serpents of various species, which hiss and utter dolorous sounds. Fable gave them wings, because they stand with much of the body elevated and then dart swiftly. Maitrer understands here another species of jackal, her time . . . near —though 174 years distant, yet "near" to Isaiah, who is supposed to be speaking to tlie Jews as if now captives in Babylon (ch. 14. 1, 2).
therefore, with LXX., translates, "The heralds (who bring word of the unexpected invasion) are terrified." Maukek agrees with KnrjU.ih Version, lit., "they shall take hold of pangs and sorrows." woman. . . travaileth—(1 Thessalonians 5.3.) amnied—the stupid, bewildered gaze of consternation, faces . . . flame»—"thelrvisageshave the
livid hue of flame" [Horsley]; with anguish and Indignation. 0. cruel—not strictly, but unsparingly just ; opposed to mercij. Also answering to the cruelty (in the
strict sense) of Babylon towards others (ch. 14. 17), now abont to be visited on itself, the land—"the earth." [Horsley.] The language from v. 9 to v. 13 can only primarily and partially apply to Babylon ; fully and exhaust-
CHAPTEE XIV.
ively, the judgments to come, hereafter, on the whole
earth. Cf. v. 10 with Jlatthew 24. 29; Revelation 8. 12. The sins of Babylon, arrogancy (v. 11; ch. 14. 11; 47. 7, 8),
Ver. 1-3. The Certainty of Deliverance from Babylon. 4-23. The Jews' Triumphal Song thereat. "It moves In lengthened elegiac measure like a song of lamentation for the dead, and Is full of lofty scorn." [Herder.] 24-27. Confirmation or this by the iierefobetold Destruction of the Assyrians under Sennacherib; a pledge to assure the captives in Babylon that He who, with such ease, overthrew the Assyrian, could likewise efTect His purpose as to Babylon. The Babylonian king, the subject of this prediction, is Belshazzar, as representative of the kingdom (Daniel 5). 1. choose set His choice upon. A deliberate predilection. [Horsley.] Their restoration is grounded on their election (see Psalm 102. 13-22). strangers—proselytes (Esther 8. 17; Acts 2. 10; 17. 4, 17). Tacitus, a heathen (Hist. 5. 5), attests the fact of numbers of the Gentiles having become Jews in his time. An f:arnest of the future effect on the heathea world of the Jews' spiritual restoration (ch. 60. 4, 5,10; Micah 5. 7; Zechariah 14. 16; Romans 11. 12). 3. the people —of Babylon, primarily. Of the whole Gentile world ultimately (ch. 49. 22; 66. 20 ; 60. 9). their place—Judea (Ezra 1). possess—receive In possession, captives—not by physical, but by moral might ; the force of love, and regard to Israel's God (ch. 60. 14). 3. rest—(Cli. 28. 12; Ezekiel 28. 25, 26.)
cruelty, false worship (Jeremiah 50. 38), persecution of the people of God (ch. 47. 6), are peculiarly characteristic of the Antlchristian world of the latter days (Daniel 11. 32-37; Revelation 17. 3, 6; 18. 6, 7, 9-14, 24). 10. stars, &c.—flg. for anarchy, distress, and revolutions of kingdoms (ch. 34. 4; Joel 2.10; I^zekiel 32. 7, 8 ; Amos 8. 9; Revelation 6. 12-14). There may be a literal fulfilment finally, shadowed forth under this imagery (Revelation 21. 1). constellations
Hehreiv, a fool, or impious one ; applied to the constellation
Orion, wlio was represented as an Impious giant (Ninorod
deified, the founder of Babylon) chained to the sky. See Note, Job 38. 31. 11. worlA—the impious of the world (cf. ch. 11. 4). arrogancy—Babylon's besetting sin (Daniel 4.
22, 30). the terrible—rather, tyrants. [Horsley.] 13. man . . . precious—I will so cut off Babylon's defenders, that a single man shall bea.srare and precious as the finest gold. 13. Image for mighty revolutions (ch. 24. 19; 34.4; Hab.akkuk 3. 6, 10; H^ggal 2. 6, 7; Revelation 20. 11). 1*. it—Babylon, roe—gazelle; the most timid and easily startled, no man taketh up—sheep defenceless, without a 4/iepfte?-rf (Zechariah 13.7). every man . . . to his ovrn people—the " mingled peoples" of foreign lands shall flee out of her (Jeremiah 50. 16, 28, 37 ; 51. 9). 15. found—in the
city, joined—"intercepted." [Maurer.] "Every one that has withdrawn himself," viz., to hide in the houses. {Gksenius.] 16. (Psalm i:}7. 8, 9.) 17. Mede»-<Cli. 21. 2; Jeremiah 51. 11,28.) At that time they were subject to Assyria; subsequently Arljaces, satrap of Media, revolted Against the elTemlnate Sardanapalus, king of Assyria, destroyed Nineveh, and became king of Media, In the ninth
4-8. A Chorus of Jews express their Joyful Surprise AT Babylon's Downfall -.—the whole earth rejoices; the cedars of Lebanon taunt him. 4. proverb—Tlie Orient-
als, having few books, embodied their thoughts in weighty, figurative, briefly-expressed gnomes. Here a taunting song of triumph (Micah 2. 4 ; Habakkuk 2. 6). the king the ideal representative of Babylon; perhaps Belshazzar (Daniel 5). The mystical Babylon is ultimately meant, golden city— rather, the exactress of gold. [Mauber.
century b. C. not regard silver—in vain will one try to buy his life from them for a ransom. The heathen Xenopbon (Cyrop. 5. 1, 10) represents Cyrus as attributing this characteristic to the Medes, disregard of riches. A curious confirmation of this prophecj'. 18. bows—In the use of which the Persians were particularly skilled. 19. glory of kingdoms—(Ch. 14. 4; 47.5; Jeremiah 51.41.) beauty of . . . ei.ctillency—Hebrew, the glory of the pride of the
| But the old translators read differently in the Hebrew, op-
p)-ession, which the parallelism favours (cf. ch. 3. 5). 5. staff—not the sceptre (Psalm 2. 9), but the stajf with which one strikes others, as he is speaking of more tyrants than one (ch. y. 4 ; 10. 24 ; 14. 29). [Maurer.] rulen—tyi ants, a,a
The Jews' Triumphal Song ISAIAH XIV. at BahylorCi Downfall,
the parallelism "ihe wicked" proves (cf. ch. 13. 2, Note).
mountains. So the Greeks, in the nori?ierH 01.vmpus. The Persian followers of Zoroaster put the Ai-bordsch in the Caucasus north of them. The allusion to the stars harmonizes with this, viz., that those near the North Pole, the region of the aurora borealis (cf. Note, Job 2;5. 9; 37. 22), [Maukkk, LXX., Sykiac] 14. clouds—rather, the cloud, singular. Perhaps there Is a reference to the cloud, the symbol of the Divine presence (ch. 4. 5; Exodus 13. 21). So this tallies with 2 Thessalonlans 2. 4, "«'jove all that is called God ;" as here "afcwe . . . the cloud;" and as tlie shechinah-c/oud was connected with the temple, there follows, " he as God sitteth in the temple of God," answering to "I will be like the Most High" here. Moreover, Revelation 17. 4, .5, represents Antichrist as seated in Babylon, to which city, literal and spiritual, Isaiah refers here. 15. to hell—to Sheol (v. 6), thou who hast said, " I will ascend into heaven" (Matthew 11. 2;^). sides of the pit—antithetical to the "sides of the north" (v. 13). Thus the reference
6. people—the peoples subjected to Babylon. Is persecuted— Uk; Hebrew is rather ac^i're, " which persecuted them, without any to hinder him." [Vulgate, Jekome, and HoRSLEY.] 7. tHiej-—the once subject nations of the Whole earth. Houbigant places the stop after " fir trees"
(t). 8), " Tlie very fir trees break forth," &c. But the parallelism is better in English Version. 8. tlic flr trees—now
left undisturbed. Probably a kind of evergreen, rejoice at tliee—(Psalm 9G. 12.) Al thy fall (Psalm 35. 19, 21). no feller—as formerly, when thou wast in power (ch. 10. 34;
37.24).
9-11. The scene changes from earth to hell. Hades (the Amcnllies of Egypt), the unseen abode of the departed; some of its tenants, once mighty mouarchs, are represented by a bold personification as rising from their seats in astonishment at the descent among them of the humbled king of Babylon. This proves, in opposition to Warburton, Div. Leg., that the belief existed among the Jews, that there wasaSheol or Hades, in which the "Rephaim" or manes of the departed abode. 9. moved—put into agi-
is to the sides of the sepulchre round which the dead were ranged in niches. But Mauker here, as in v. 13, trans-
laics, "the extreme," or innermost parts of the sepulchre; as in Ezekiel 32: 2;^ (cf. 1 Samuel 24. 3).
tation, for tlice i. e., at thee; tmvards thee ; explained by " to meet thee at thy coming." [JIaurer.] chief ones
16-20. The ]jasscrs-by contemplate with astonishment the body of the king of Babylon cast out, instead of lying in a splendid mannoleum, and can hardly believe their senses tliat
lit., goats; so rams, leaders of the tiock; princes (Zechariah
10. 3). The ideaof wickedness on a gigantic scale is Included (Ezekiel 34. 17; Matthew 25. 32, 33). Magee derives Rephaim (English Version, " the dead ") from a Hebrew root,
it is he. 16. iinrrowly look—to be certain they are not mistaken, consider—"meditate upon." [Horsley]. 17. opened not . . . house . . . prisoners—But Maurek, as Margin, "Did not let his captives loose homewards." 18. All i. e.. This is the usual practice. In glory—in a grand mausoleum, house i. e., sepulchre, as in Ecclesiastes 12.
to resolve into first elements; so the deceased (ch. 26. 14) ghosts (Proverbs 21. 16). These being magnified by the imagination of the living into gigantic stature, gave their name to giants in general (Genesis 6.4; 14.5; p:zekiel 32. 18, 21). "Rephaim," translated in LXX., giants (cf. Note, Job 26. 5,
5; "grave" {v. 19). To be excluded from the family sepulchre was a mark of infamy (ch. 34. 3; Jeremiah 22. 19; 1 Kings 13. 22 ; 2 Chronicles 21. 20 ; 24; 25 ; 28. 27). 11). cast out of—not that he had lain in the grave and was t hen cast out
6). Thence, as the giant Rephaim of Canaan were notorious even in that guilty land, enormous wickedness became connected with the term. So the Rephaim came to be the uHcked sjnrits in Gehenna, the lower of the two portions Into which Shed! is divided. 10. They taunt him, and derive from his calamity consolation under their own (Ezekiel 31. 16). weak—as a shade bereft of blood and life. Rephaim, "the dead," may come from a Hebrew root, meaning similarly feeble, powerless. The speech of the departed closes with the next verse. 11. "Pomp" and music, the accompaniment of Babylon's former feastings
of it, but " cast out without a grave," such as might have been expected by thee {" thy"), branch—a useless sueke-r starting up from the root of a tree, and cut away by the husbandman, raiment of those slain—covered with gore, and regarded with abhorrence as unclean by the Jews. Rather, " clotJied (i. e., covered) wit/i the slain ;" as Job 7. 5 "My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust." [Maurer.] thrust through—i. e., "the slain Mho have been thrust through," (fcc. stonesof. . . pit—whose bodies are buried in sepulchres excavated amidst stones, whereas the king of Babylon is an unburied " carcass trodden under foot." 20. not . . . jolneil with theiii—whereas the princes slain with thee shall be buried, thou shalt not thou . . . destroyed . . . land—Belshazzar (or Kaboned) oppressed his land with wars and tyranny, so that he was much hated (Xenophon, Cyrop. 4. 6, 3; 7. 5, 32). seed . . never be renowned—rather, " shall not be named for ever;" the Bab.vloniandj nast.v shall end with Belshazzar; his family shall not be perpetuated. [Hor.si.ky.]
(ch. 0. 12; 24. 8), give place to the corruption and the stillness of the grave (Ezekiel 32. 27). worm—that is bred in putridity, worms—properly those from which the crim-
son, dye is obtained. Appropriate here; instead of the crimson coverlet, over thee shall be "worms." Instead of the gorgeous couch, " under thee" shall be the maggot.
12-15. The Jews address him again as a fallen once-bright
Ktar. The language is so framed as to apply to the Babylonian king primarily, and at the same time to shadow forth through him, the great final enemy, the man of sin, Antichrist, of Daniel, St. Paul, and St. John; he alone
21-23. God's determination to destroy Babylon. !J1. prc> pare, &C.—(charge to the Medes and Persians, as if they were God's conscious instruments. Ills children — Belshazzar's (Exodus 20. 5). rise—to occupy the places of their fathers, till . . . with cities-Mauuer tran.ihites, "enemies," .as the Hebrew means in 1 Samuel 28. 16; Psalm
shall fulfil exhaustively all the lineaments here given, la. Iiiicifer—da,i/ star. A title truly belonging to Christ (Revelation 22. 16), " the bright and morning star," and therefore hereafter to be assumed by Antichrist. GeSENIUS, however, renders the Hebrew here as in Ezekiel 21. 12; Zechariah 11. 2, howl, -weaken—prostrate ; as In Exodus 17. 13, "discomfit." 13. nbove . . . God—In Daniel 8. 10, " stars" express earthly potentates. " The stairs" are often also used to express heavenly principalities (Job
139. 20, viz., lest they inundate the world with their armies. Vitrinoa translates, " disturliers." In English Versiori the meaning is, "lest they till Ihe land with such cities" of pride as Babylon was. aS. against thon—the family of the king of Babylon, name—all the male representatives, so that the name shall become extinct (ch. 56.5;
38.7). mount of coM^regatlon-the place of solemn meeting between God and His people in the temple at Jerusalem. In Daniel 11. 37, and 2 Thessalonlans 2. 4, tliis is attributed to Antichrist, sides of . . . north—viz., the sides of Mount Moriah on which the temple was bnilt; north of Mount Zion (Ps;ilm 48. 2). However, the parallelistn supports the notion that the Babylonian kingexpresses him-
Ruth 4.5). remnant— all that is left of them. The dynasty shall cease (Daniel 5. 28-31). Cf. as to Babylon ia general, .Jeremiah 51. 62. 33. bittern—rather the hedgehog. [JlAtTREU and GE.SENIUS.] S(rabo(16. 1) states that enormous hedgehogs were found in the islands of the Euphrates, pools—owing to Cyrus turning the waters of the Euphrates over the country, besom — sweep-net, [MAURER.] (1 Kings 14. 10; 2 Kings 21. 13.)
self nccorulng to his own, and not Jewish opinions (so in
ch. 10. 10). tnus" mount of the congregation" will mean the northern mountain (perhaps in Armenia) fabled by the Babylonians to be Die common meeting-place of their goils. "Both sides" Imply the angle In which the sides meet; and hothe expression comes to mean " the extreme ports of the norlli. " So the Hindoos place the Meru, the dwelliDg-place of tbeii gods. In the north, in the Himalayan
24-27. A Fragment as to the Destkuction of thk Assyrians under Sennachei{IH. This would comtori the Jews when captives in Babylon, being a pledge thai Goi\.whohM\ by that time fullllled the promise concern-
•146
Prophecy against Phillstia. ISAIAH XV, XVI. A Provhecy on Moab
from Ar, towards the south. 3. He—Moab personified. Bajith—Rather, "to the temple" [Maurer 1; answering to llie "sanctuary" ch. 16.12), in a similar context, to Dibon—Rather, as Dibon was in a plain north of the Arnon, " Dibon (is gone up) to tlie higli places," the usual places of sacrifice in tlie East. Same town as Dinion (v. 9) to weep—at the sudden calamity, over Nebo— Ratlier "In Nebo;" not on account o/ Nebo (cf. v.S). [Maurer.] Tlie town Nebo was adjacent to the mountain, not far from the northern shore of the Dead Sea. There it was that Chemosh, the idol of Moab, was worshipped (cf. Deuteronomy 34. 1). Medeba—South of Heshbon, on a hill east of Jordan, baldness . . . beard cut oil—The Orientals regarded the beard with peculiar veneration. To cut erne's beard off is the greatest mark of sorrow and mortification (cf. Jeremiah 48.37). 3. tops of . . . houses—fiat; places of resort for prayer, &c., in the East (Acts 10. 9). tveeping abundantly—"melting away in tears." HORSLEY prefers "descending to weep." Thus there is a "parallelism by alternate construction" [Lowth], or chiasmus; "howl" refers to "tops of houses." "Descending
tng Sennacherib (though now still future), would also
fulrtl His promise as to destroying Babylon, Judali's enemy. In this v. 21 the Lord's tJwught (purpose) stands
in antilhesiK to the Assyrians' thoughts (ch. 10.7). (See ch.
46.10, 11; 1 Siiniuel 15.29; Maiacbi 3.6.) 25. That— my purpose, naujely, "that." break . . . yoke—(Ch. 10.27.) my ino«iutaliis—Sennacherib's army was destroyed on
the mountains near Jerusalem (ch. 10.33, 34). God regarded Judali as peculiarly His. 36. This Is . . . purpose . . . Avholc earth—a hint that the propliecy em-
braces tlie present world of all ages In its scope, of whicli the purpose concerning Babylon and Assyria, the then representatives of the world-power. Is but a part, hand
. . . stretched out upon—-uiz., In punishment (ch. 5. 25). 27. (Daniel 4.35.)
28-32. Prophecy against Philistia. To comfort the Jews, lest they should fear that people; not In order to
call the Philistines to repentance, since the prophecy was probably never circulated among them. They had been eubdued by Uzziah or Azarlah (2 Chronicles 26. 6); but in the reign of Ahaz (2 Chronicles 28. 18) they took several towns in south Judea. Now Isaiah denounces their final subjugation by Hezekiah. 38. In . . . year . . . Ahaz died—726 B. c. Probably it was In this year that the Phil-
to weep" to "streets" or squares, whitlier they descend from the house tops. 4. IlesUbon—an Amorite city, twenty miles east of Jordan; taken by Moab after tht carrying away of Israel (cf. Jereiriiah 48.). Elealeh—near Heshbon, In Reuben. Jahaz—East of Jordan, in Reuben. Near it Moses defeated Sihon. therefore—because of the sudden overthrow of their cities. Even the armed men, instead of fighting In defence of their land, shall join in. the general cry. life, &c.—rather, "his soul is grieved" (1 Samuel 1. 8). [Maurer.] 5. My—The prophet himself is moved with pity for Moab. Ministers, in denouncing tha wrath of God against sinners, should do it with tender sorrow, not with exultation, fugitives—fleeing from Moab, wander as far as to Zoar, on the extreme boundary south of the Dead Sea. Hor-SLey translates, her
istines threw off the yoke put on them by Uzziah. 39. Palestina—/ii.. The land of sojourners, rod . . . broken — the ijoke imposed by Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26.6) was thrown off under Ahaz (2 Chronicles 28. 18). serpent's root—the stock of Jesse (ch. 11. 1). Uzziah was doubtless
regar<ie<l by the Philistines as a biting "serpent."' But though the effects of his bite have been got rid of, a more deadly viper, or " cockatrice" {lit., viper's offspring, as Pliil-
istia would regard him), viz., Hezekiah awaits you (2 Kings is. 8). 30. first-born of . . . poor—Hebraism, for
the most abject poor; the first-bom being the foremost of the family, (jo "first-born of death" (Job 18.13), for the most fata', dmfh. The Jews, heretofore exposed to Pliil-
nobility, or " rulers" (Hosea 4. 18). heifer, &c.— j. e., raising
istine invasions and alarms, shall be in safety. Cf. Psalm
their voices " like a heifer" (cf. Jeremiah 48, .34, .36). Tlie expression "three years old," Implies one at its lull vifiour (Genesis 15. 9), as yet not brought under the yoke ; as Moab heretofore unsubdued, but now about to be broken. So' Jeremiah 31. 18; Hosea 4. 13. Maurer translates, " Ejihitli
72.1, "(.liildren of the needy," expressing those "needy
In condilic/n." feed—image from a flock feeding in safety, root—radical destruction. He shall slay Jehovah sliall. The ciiange of person. He after I, Is a common Hebraism. 31. §ate—i. c., ye wlio throng the gate; the cliief place of concourse in a city, from . . . north—Judea, north and east of Palestine, smoke—from the signal-fire, wliereby a hostile army was called together (the Jews' signal-fire is meant here, the " pillar of cloud and Are," Exodus 13. 21
(in English Version, "a heifer") Shelishijah" (i. e., the third,
to distinguish it from two others of the same name;, by the mounting tip—up the ascent. Luhlth—a mountain in Moab. Horonalm—a town of Moab not far from Zfiar (Jeremiah 48. 5). It means the two poles, being near caves, cry of destruction—a cry appropriate to the (Ustru< tion. wliich visits their country. 6. For—The cause of tlielr
Nehemiah 9.19); or else from the region devastated by
fire. [Maurek.] Gesentus less probably refers it to the cloud of dust raised by the invading army, none . . . alone . . . in . . . appointed times—Rather, "Tliere shall not l)e a straggler am>j;~:v\ his (the enemy's) levies." The Jewisli host shi'.ll advance on Palestine in close array; none shall fall back or lag from weariness (ch. 5. 20, 27). [Lovv^TH.] Maurer tliinks the /feftretf will not bear the rendering levies or armies. He translates, "There is not one (of ttie Piiilistlne watch-guards) who will remain alone (exposed to the enemy) at his post," through fright. On "alone," cf. Psalm 102.7; Hosea 8. 9. 33. messengers of the nation—When messengers come fi'om Pliilistia to Inquire .as to the state of Judea, the reply shall be, that he Lord, &c. (Psalm 87.1,5; 102.16). poor—(Zephaniah
flight southwards (2 Kings 3.19,2.5). For the northern regions and even the city Nimrim (the very name of which means limpid waters, in Gllead near Jordan) are without water or herbage. 7. Therefore—Because of the devastation of the land, abundance- /jV., that wJiicIt isnver and above the necessaries of life, brook of . . . ivlllowa
Tlie fugitives flee from Nimrim, where the waters liave
failed, to places better watered. Margin has valley of Arabians, i. e., to the valley on the boundary between them and Arabia Petrea ; now Wady-el Arabah. Arabia means a desert. 8. Eglalm—(Ezekiel 47. 10), En-egtaim, Not the Agalum of Eusebius, eight miles from Areopolis towards the south; the context requires a town on the very borders of Moab or beyond them. Beer-ellm lit.. The well of the Princes—{so Numbers 21. 16-18). Beyond the east borders of Moab. 9. Dlmon—Same as Dilion (v. 2). Its waters are the Arnon. full of blood—tlie slain of Moab shall be so many, bring more— fresh calamities,
3. 12.) CHAPTER XV.
Ver. 1-9. Chaps. 15. and 16. form one Prophecy on Moab. Lowth thinks it was delivered In the first years of Hezekiah's reign, and fulfilled in the fourth, wlien Shalmaneser, on his way to Invade Israel, may have seized on tlxe strongholds of Moab. Moab probably had made common cause with Israel and Syria in a league against Assyria. Hence it incurred the vengeance of Assyria. Jeremlali has introduced much of this propliecy into his 48th chapter. 1. Because—Rather, iVure/i/ HI. d Affirm), that. [Maurer.] night—the time best suited for a hostile incursion (ch. 21. 4; Jeremiah 39.4). Ar—meaning in Hebrew, T%e city; the metropolis of Moali, on the eonlh of the river Arnou. Kir—lU., A citadel; not far
viz., the "lions" afterwards mentioned (2 Kings 17.25; Jeremiah 5.6; 15.3). Vitringa understands Nebuchadnezzar as meant by " the lion ;" but it is plural, " lions." Tlie "more," or In Hebrew, additions, he explains ol the addition made to the waters of Dimon by the streams of blood of the slain.
Ver 1-14. Continuation of the Prophecy as to Moab.
1. lamb— Advice of the prophet to the Moabites who had 447
ISAIAPI XVII.
Prophecy as to Moah.
Prophecy concerniny Damascus.
Maurek thinks the following words require rather the rendering, "Its (the vine of Sibmaii) shoots (the wines got from them) overpowered (by its generous liavour and potency) the lords of the nations" (Genesis 49. 11, 12, 22). come . . . Jaier—They (the vine-shoots) reached even to Jazer, fifteen miles from Heshbon. wandered—They overran in wild luxuriance the wilderness of Arabia, encompassing Moab. the sea—the Dead Sea; or else some lake near Jazer now dry; in Jeremiah 48. 32 called the sea of Jazer ; but see note there (Psalm 80. 8-11). 9. I—will bewail for its desolation, though I belong to another nation (note, ch. 15. 5). with . . . weeping of Jazer—as Jazer weeps, shouting for . . . fallen—rather, " t/pori thy summer fruits and upon thy luxuriant vines the siiouting
fled southwards to Idumea. to send to the king of Judah the tiMbute of lambs, which they liad formerly paid to
Israel, but wliicli tliey had given up (2 Kings 3. i, 5). David probably imposed this tribute before the severance of Judah and Israel (2 Samuel 8. 2). Therefore Moab is recommended to gain the favour and protection ot Judah, by paying it to the Jewish king. Type of the need of submitting to Messiah (Psalm 2. 1012; Romans 12. 1). from Scla to—rather, "from Petra through (lit., towards) the wilderness." [Maurek.J Sela means " a rock," PeZra in Greek; the capital of Idumea and Arabia Petrea; the dwellings are mostly hewn out of the rock. The country around was a vast common ("wilderness") or open pas-
tui'age, to which the Moabites had fled on the invasion from the west (ch. 15. 7). ruler of the land viz., of Idumea, i. e., the king of Judah ; Amaziah had become master of Idumea and Sela (2 Kings 14.7). 3. cast out of . . . nest—rather, "as a firood cast out" (in apposition with "a wandering bird," or rather, wandering birds), viz., a brood just fledged and expelled from the nest in which they were hatched. [Hor3ley.] Cf. ch. 10. 14; Deuteronomy
(the battle shout, instead of the joyous shout of the grapegatherers, usual at the vintage) is fallen" (v. 10; Jeremiah
25. 30 ; 51. 14). In the parallel passage (Jeremiah 48. 32) the words substantially express the same sense, " The spoiler
is fallen upon thy summer fruits." 10. gladness—such as is felt in gathering a rich harvest. There shall be no harvest or vintage owing to the desolation ; therefore no "gladness." 11. bowels—in Scripture the seat of yearning compassion. It means the inward seat of emotion, the heart, &c. (ch. 63. 15 ; cf. ch. 15. 5; Jeremiah 48. 36.) sound
32. 11. daugliters of Moal>— e., the inhabitants of Moab. So 2 Kings 19. 21; Psalm 48. 11; Jeremiah 46. 11; Lamentations 4. 22. [Maurer.] at the fords—trying to cross the boundary river of Moab, in order to escape out of the land. EwALD and Mauker make "fords" a poetical expression for "the dwellers on Arnon," answering to the pai-allel clause of the same sense, "daughters of Moab." 3-5. Gesenius, Maurer, &c., regard these verses as an address of the fugitive Moabites to the Jews for pro-
. . . harp — as its strings vibrate when beaten with the plectrum or hand. 1!J. when It Is seen that—rather, " When Moab shall have appeared (before his gods ; cf. Exodus 23. 15), when he is weary (i.e., when he shall have fatigued himself with observing burdensome rites; 1 Kings
18. 26. etc.), on the high place (cf. ch. 15. 2), and shall come to his sanctuary (of the idol Chemosh on Mount Nebo) to pray, he shall not prevail :" he shall effect nothing by his prayers. [Mauree.] 13. since that tim«— rather, "respecting that time." [Horsley.] Barnes translates It, '^formerly," in contrast to "but now" (v. 14) : heretofore former prophecies (Exodus 15. 15 ; Numbers 21. 29) have been given as to Moab, of which Isaiah has given the substance: but now a definite and steady time also is fixed. 14. three years . . . hireling—Just as a hireling has his fixed term of engagement, which neither he nor his master will allow to be added to or to be taken from, so the limit within which Moab is to fall is unalterably fixed (ch. 21. 16). Ful-
tection ; they translate V. 4, "Let mine outcasts of Moab dwell with tliee, Judah;" the protection will be refused by the Jews, for t he pride of Moab {v. 6). Vitringa makes
it an additional advice to Moab, besides paying tribute. Give shelter to tlie Jewish outcasts who take refuge in thy land {v. 3, 4); so "mercy" will be shown thee in turn by whatever king sits on the "throne" of "David" (v. 5). Isaiah foresees that Moab will be too proud to pay the tribute, or conciliate Judah by sheltering its outcasts (v.
6); therefore judgment shall be executed. However, as Moab just before is represented as itself an outcast in Idumea, it seems incongruous that it should be called on to
filled about the time when the Assyrian led Israel into captivity. The ruins of Elealeh, Heshbon, Medeba, Dibon,
shelter Jewish outcasts. So that it seems rather to foretell the ruined state of Moab when its people should beg the Jews for shelter, but be refused for their pride, make . . . ehailow as , , . niglit , . , In . , , noonday—emblem of a thick shelter from the glaring noonday heat (ch.4.
&c., still exist to confirm the inspiration of Scripture. The
&cc\XT:&t(} particularity of specification of the places 3000 years ago, confirmed by modern research, is a strong testimony to the truth of prophecy.
6; 25. 4; 32. 2). bewray . . . wandereth—betray not the fugitive to his pursuer. 4. Rather, "Let the outcasts of Moab dwell with thee" (Judah). [Horsley.] 4. for tlie extortioner, <fcc.—The Assyrian oppressor probably. Is at an end—IJy the time that Moab begs Judah for shelter, Judah shall be in a condition to afford it,/or the Assyrian oppressor shall have been "consumed out of the land."
Ver. 1-11. Prophecy concerning Damascus and its Ally Samaria, t. e., Syria and Israel, which had leagued together (eh. 7. and 8). Already, Tiglath-pileser had carried away the people of Damascus to Kir, in the fourth year of Ahaz (2 Kings 16.9); but now in Hezeklah's reign
5. IX Judah shelters the suppliant Moab, allowing him to remain in Idumea, a blessing will redound to Judah itself and its "throne." truth . . . Judgment . . . righteousness—language so divinely framed as to apply to "the latter days" under King Messiah, when "the Lord shall bring again the captivity of Moab" (Psalm 72. 2; 96. 13; 98.
a/a?Z7iejoverthrow is foretold (Jeremiah 49.23; Zechariah
9. 1). Also, Shalmaneser carried away Israel from Samaria
to Assyria (2 Kings 17. 6; 18. 10. 11) in the sixth year of Heze* kiah of Judah (the ninth year of Hoshea of Israel). This prophecy was, doubtless, given previously in the first years of Hezelciah, when the foreign nations came into nearer collision with Judah, owing to the threatening aspect of Assyria. Damascus—put before Israel (Ephraim,
9 ; Jeremiah 48. 47 ; Romans 11. 12). hasting—pj ompi in executing. 6. We—Jews. We reject Moab's supplication
for liis pride, lies—false boasts, not be so—rather, not right; shall prove vain (ch. 25. 10; Jeremiah 48. 29,30; Zephaniah 2. S). "It shall not be so; his lies shall not so effect it." 7. Therefore—all hope of being allowed shelter by the Jews being cut off. foundations i.e.,i-uins; because, when houses are pulled down, the " foundations" alone are left (ch. 58. 12). Jeremiah, In the parallel place (Jeremiah 48.31), renders it "men," who are tlie moral foundations or stay of a city. KIr-hareseth lit., A cita-
V. 3), which is chiefly referred to in what follows, because
it was the prevailing power in the league: with it Ephraim
either stood or fell (ch. 7). 3. cities of Aroer— i.e., the
cities round about Aroer, and under its jurisdiction, [Gesenius.] So "cities with their villages" (Joshua 15.
44); "Heshbon and all her cities" (Joshua 13.17). Aroer was near Rabbah-ammon, at the river of Gad, an arm of
del of Ijriclc. surely they are stricken—rather, joined
the Jabbok (2 Samuel 24. 5), founded by the Gadltes (Num-
witli " mourn ;" " Ye shall mourn wWeWy stricken." [Maurer and Horsley.] 8. Ilelds—vine-fields (Deuteronomy
bers, 32. 34). for flocks—(Ch. 5. 17.) 3. fortress . . . cease—
32. 32). vine of SIbmah—near Heshbon : mz., languishes. lords of . . . heathen—the heatlien princes, the Assyrians, etc., wlio invaded Moab, destroyed his vines. 8o Jeremiah in the parallel place (Jeremiah 48. 32 33). 448
the strongholds shall be pulled down (Samaria especially: Hosea 10. 14; Micah 1. 6; Habakkuk 1. 10). remnant of Syria—all that was left after the overthrow by Tiglath-
pileser (2 Kings 16.9). a« the glory of . . . Israel—they
TItc Woe of IsraeVs Enemies. ISAIAH XVIII. Announcement to the Ethiopians.
shall meet with the same fate as Israel, their ally. 4.
glo»-y of Jacob— the kingdom of Ephraim and all that
tliey rely on (Ilosea 12. 2; Micah 1. 5). fatness . . . lean—
Isaiah announces the overtln-ow of Sennacherib's hosts, and desires the Etliiopian am))assadors, now in Jerusalem, to bring word of it to their own nation, and calls on the whole world to witness the event (f. 3). As ch. 17. 12-14 announced the presence of the foe, so cli. 18. foretells his overthrow. The heading in English Version, " God will destroy the Ethiopians," is a mistake arising from the wrong rendering "Woe," whereas the Hebrew does not express a threat, but is an appeal calling attention (ch. 55.
(JVotc, ch. 10. Ki.) 5. liarvestman, &c. — The inhabitants and wealth of Israel shall be swept away, and but few left
bell ind, just as the husbandman gathers the corn and the
frait, and leaves only a few gleaning ears and grapes (2 Kings 18. 9-U). ivitli Ills anii—he coUecteth tlie standing
9irain with one arm, so that he can cut It with the sickle
In the otlier hand. Repliatm—a fertile plain at the southwest of Jerusalem toward Bethlehem and the country of
the Philistines (2 Samuel 5. 18-22). 6. In It — i.e., in the land of Israel, iwo or tliree ... In the top—A few poor inhabitants shall be left in Israel, like the two or three
1; Zechariah 2. 6): "Ho." He is not speaking against but
to the Ethiopians, calling on them to hear his prophetical announcement as to the destruction of their enemies. 1. shadowing with wings—rather, "land of the winged bark:" i. e., " barks with wing-like sails, answering to vessels of bulrushes" in v. 2; the word "rivers," in the parallelism, also favours it; so LXX. and Clialdee. [Ewald.] "Land of the clanging sound of wings," i.e., armies, as in ch. 8. 8; the rendering "bark," or "ship," Is rather dubious. [Maurer.] The armies referred to are those of Tirhakah, advancing to meet the Assyrians (ch. 37. 9). In English Version, "shadowing" means protecting—stretching out its wings to defend a feeble people, viz., the Hebrews. [Vitringa.] The Hebrew for "wings " is the same as for tlie idol Cneph, which was represented in templesculptures with wings (Psalms 91. 4). beyond—Meioe, the island between the "rivers" Nile and Astaboras Is meant, famed for its commerce, and perhaps the seat of the Ethiopian government, hence addressed here as representing the whole empire: remains of temples are still found, and the name of "Tirhakah " in the inscriptions. This Island-region was probably the chief part of Quee*} Candace's kingdom (Acts 8.27). For "beyond" otheia translate less lit., "which borderest on." Ethiopia lit.,
olive berries left on the topmost boughs, which it is not worth while taking the trouble to try to reach. 7. look to Ills Maker—instead of trusting in their fortresses—(v. 3
Micah 7. 7). 8. groves-A symbolical tree is often found
in Assyrian inscriptions, representing the fiosts of heaven
(.Saba), answering to Asteroth or Astarte, the queen of heaven, as B.ial or Bel is the king. Hence the expression, " image of the grove," Is explained (2 Kings 21. 7). Images
—lit., images to the s-un, i.e., to Baal, who answers to the sun, as Astarte to the hosts of heaven (2 Kings 23. 5; Job 31. 26).
9. forsaken toongh— rather, "the leavings of woods," what the axeman leaves when he cuts down the grove
(cf. r. 6). wliicli tliey left because of— rather, "which
(the enemies) shall leave for the children of Israel;" lit.,
"shall leave (In departing) from before the face of the children of Israel. [Maukeb.] But a few cities out of many
shall be left to Israel, by the purpose of God, executed by
the Assyrian. 10. forgotten . . . God of . . . salvation . . . TOck— (Deuteronomy 32. 15, 18.) plants—rather, nursery-
grounds, pleasure-grounds. [Maurer.] set In— rather, " set them," the pleasure-grounds, strange eli-ps—cuttings
of plants from far, and therefore valuable. 11. In the day
Ciisli. Horsley is probably right that the ultimate and
. . . tUy plant— rather, "In the day of thy planting." [HORSLEY.] Shalt . . . make . . . grow—Maukek tram-
fullest reference of the prophecy is to the restoration of the Jews In the Holy Land through the instrumentality of Bome distant people skilled in navigation (r. 2; ch. 60. 9, 10; Psatm 45. 15; 68.31; Zephaniah 3.10): perhaps England. Phoenician voyagers coasting along would speak of all Western remote lands as "beyond" the Nile's mouths. " Cush," too, has a wide sense, being applied not only to Ethiopia, but Arabia Deserta and Felix, and along the Persian Gulf, as far as the Tigris (Genesis 2. 13). 2. ambassadors messengers sent to Jerusalem at the ti me that negotiations passed between Tirhakah and Hezekiah against the expected attack of Sennacherib (ch. 37. 9). by
Uites, " Thou didst fence it," viz., the pleasure-ground. The
parallel clause, "Make . . . flourish," favours English
Version. As soon a« thou plantest it grows. In the morning—i.e., immediately aflei-: so in Psalm 90. 14, the Hebrew, " in the morning," is translated early, but . . . shall be a heap— rather, "but (promising as was the prospect) the harvest is gone." [HonsLEY.] In . . . day ofgrief—rather,
*' in the day of (expected) possession." [Maurer.] " In the day of inundalion." [Horsley.] of desperate sorrow-
rather, "And the sorrow shall be desperate or irremedi-
. . . sea—on the Nile (ch. 19.5): as what follows proves, vessels of bulrushes—light canoes, formed of papyruS) daubed over with pitch: so tlie "ark" in which Moses was exposed (Exodus 2. 3). Go—Isaiah tells them to take back the tidings of what God is about to do (v. 4) against the common enemy of both Judah and Ethiopia, scattered and peeled—rather, strong and energetic. [Maurer. J The Hebrew for " strong " is lit., drawn out {Margin, Psalm
able." In English Version heap and sorrow may be taken together by heiidiad, "The heap of the harvest shall be desperate sorrow." [Rosenmuller.] Chap. 17. 12-18. 7. Sudden Destruction of a Great Army in Judea {viz., that of the Assyrian Sennacherib), AND Announcement of the Event to the Ethiopian Ambassadors. The connection of this fragment with what precedes is : notwithstanding the calami-
ties coming on Israel, the people of God shall not be utterly destroyed (ch. 6. 12, 13), the Assyrian spoilers shall perish (ch. 17. 13, 14). la. Woe . . . multitude — rather, "Ho (Hark)! a noise of," &c. The prophet in vision perceives the vast and mixed Assyrian hosts (Hebrew, " many
36.10; Ecclesiastes 2, 3). "Energetic," lit., sharp i^ahak' kuk 1. 8; Margin, the verb means to sharpen a sword, Ezeklel 21. 15, 16) ; also polished. As Herodotus (3. 20, 114) cha.. racterlzes the Ethiopians as "the tallest and fairest of men," G. V. Smith translates, "tall and comely:" lit.,.extended (ch. 45. 14, " men of stature ") and polished (the Ethiopians had smooth, glossy skins). In English Version the reference is to the Jews, scattered outcasts, and loade-J with indignity {lit., having their hair torn off. H0rsz,ey). terrible—the Ethiopians famed for warlike prowess. [R(>- SENMUiiLER.] The Jews who, because of God's plague; made others to fear the like (Deuteronomy 28. 37). Ratlier; "awfully remarkable." [Horsley.] God puts the " terror" of His people Into the surrounding nations at the
peoples," see note, ch. 5. 26): on the hills of Judah (so " mountains," ti. 13): butatthe " rebuke" of God theyshall " flee as chaff." to the rushing . . . that make—rather, "the i-oariug . . . roareth" (cf. ch. 8. 7; Jeremiah 6. 23). 13. sluall . . . shall — rather, "God rebuketh (Psalm 9. 5) them, and they Jlee—are chased:" the event is set before the eyes as actually present, not future. chalT of . . . mountains—threshing-floors in the East are In the open air on elevated places, so as to catch the wind which separates the chaff from the wheat (Psalm 88. 13 ; Hosea 13. 3). rolling thing—any thing that rolls: stubble. 14. evening . . . before morning—fulfilled to the letter In the destruction " before morning" of the vast host that " at evening-tide" was such a terrorr (" trouble") to Judah ; on
first (Exodus 23.27; Joshua 2.9); so it shall be again in the latter days (Zechariah 12. 2, 3). from . . . beginning hitherto—so English Version rightly. But Gf.seNius, " to the terrible nation (of upper E^ypt) and furtlier beyond" (to the Ethiopians properly so called), meted ont^Hebrew, of line, line. The measuring line was used In destroying buildings (ch. 34. 11; 2 Kings 21. 13; Lamentations 2, 8). Hence, actively, it means here " a i>eopi<» 449
tlie phrase see Psalm 90. 6 ; 30. 5. he Is not viz., the enemj'. us—the Jews. A general declaration of the doom that aw lits the foes of God's people (ch. 54. 17).
ClirisCs Kingdom slicdl Strengthen. ISAIAH XIX. Prophecy as to Egypt.
days, place ot the name—where Jehovah peculiarly manifests His glory. Acts 2. 10 and 8. 27 show how worshippers came up to Jerusalem from " Egypt " and " Ethiopia." Frnmentins, an Egyptian, in the4tii century, converted Abyssinia to Christianity ; and a Christian church'^ under an abuna or bishop, still flourishes there. The full accomplishment is probably still future.
meting out."—an all-destroying people;" which suits the (context better than " meted," passively. [Maurer.] IIORSI.EY, understanding it of the Jews, translates it, "Expecting, expecting (in a continual attitude of expectation of Messiali) and trampled under foot:" a graphic picture of ttiem. Most translate, of strength, strength (from a root,
to brace tlie sinews), /. e., a most powerful people, trodden down—true of the Jews. But Matjrek translates it actively, a people treading under foot all its enemies, t. e., victorious (ch. it. 25), viz., the Ethiopians, spoiled—" cut up." The Nile is formed by the Junction of many streams in Abyssinia, tlie Atbara, the Astapus or Blue river (between
Ver. lr-25. Chaps. 19. and 20. are connected, but with an interval between. Egypt had been held by an Ethiopian dynasty, Sabacho, Seveclius, or Sabacho II., and Tirhakah, for forty or fifty years. Sevechus (called iS'o, the ally of Hoshea, 2 Kings 17. 4) retired from Lower Egypt on account of the resistance of the priests; and perhaps also, as the Assyrians threatened Lower Egypt. On his withdrawal, Sethos, one of the priestly caste, became supreme, having Tanis ("Zoan") or else Memphis as his capital, 718
wliicli two rivers Meroe, tlie " Ethiopia " here meant, lies), and the Astaboras or White river; these streams wash down the soil along their banks in the "land" of Upper
Egypt, and deposit it on that of Lower Egypt. G. V. Smith translates it, "Divide." Horsley takes itfig. of the conquering armies \y\i\c\\ have often "spoiled " Judea. 3. see ye . . . hear ye—rather, ye shall see—shall hear. Call to the whole earth to be witnesses of what Jehovah (" He ")
B. c. ; whilst the Ethiopians retained Upper Egypt, with Thebes as its capital, under Tirhakah. A third native dynasty was at Sais, In the west of Lower Egypt; to this at a later period belonged Psammetichus, the first who admitted GreelvS into Egypt and its armies; he was one
is about to do. He will "lift up an ensign," calling the Assyrian motley hosts together (ch. 5. 26) on "the mountains" round Jerusalem to their own destruction. This
(ch. 18.) declares the coming overthrow of those armies whose presence is announced in ch. 17. 12, 13. The same motive, which led Hezekiah to seek aid from Egypt, led him to accept gladly the Ethiopian Tirhakah's aid (ch.36.
of the dodecarchy, a number of petty kincs between whom Egypt was divided, and by aid of foreign auxiliaries overcame the rest, 670 B. c. To the divisions at this last time, Gesenius refers v. 2; and to Psammetichus, v. 4, "a cruel lord." The dissensions of the ruling castes are certainly referred to. But the time referred to is much earlier than that of Psammetichus. In v. 1, the invasion of Egypt is represented as caused by "the Lord;" and in v. 17, " Judah" is spoken of as "a terror to Egypt," which it could hardly have been by itself. Probably, therefore, the Assyrian invasion of Egypt under Sargon, when .Tudah was the ally of Assyria, and Hezekian had not yet refused tribute as he did in the tjeginning of Sennacherib's reign,
6; 37. 9). Ethiopia, Egypt, and Judea were probably leagued together against the common enemy, 713 b. c. See notes on ch. 22., where a difference of tone (as referring to a different period) as to Ethiopia is observable. HorsLEY takes the " ensign " to be the cross, and the " trumpet the Gospel trumpet, whicli shall be sounded more loudly in the last days. 4. take . . . rest . . . consider—I will calmly look on and not interpose, whilst all seems to prom-
ise success to the enemy ; when fig., " the sun's heat " and "the night dews" ripen their "harvest;" but "before"
is meant. That Assyria was in Isaiah's mind appears from the way in wliich it is joined with Israel and Egypt in the worship of Jehovah (r. 24, 25). Tlius the dissensions referred to (v. 2) allude to the time of the withdrawal of the Ethiopians from Lower Egypt, probably not without a struggle, especially with the priestly caste; also to the time wlien Sethos usurped the throne, and entered on tlie contest with the military caste, by tlie aid of the town populations: when the Saltic dynasty was another cause of division. Sargon's reign was between 722-715 B. c, answering to 718 B. c, when Sethos usurped his tlirone. [G. V. Smith.] 1. burden {Note, ch. 13. 1.) upon . . . cloud —(Psalm 104.3; 18.10.) come into Egypt—to inflict vengeance. " Egypt," in Hebretv, Misraim, plural form, to express the two regions of Egypt. Bdnsen observes. The