Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
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. restimage 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, CHAPTER VIII.
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 supporters 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 diflicu Uies. 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 cc Thunt!/ ot tlieir being thrown into cottternation (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-sha Zal-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 anxtablet, 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 CHAPTER IX.
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, "ior 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," Zsaiaand 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 Tiglathpileser, 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 birninrj 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 Galilee, 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, hnstthe 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'oc, 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 of their 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 ; Jeremlaha5.11). [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," Revelation 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 sinners 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 oter them (Ezekiel 26.7; Ezra
68. 5 ; Jeremiah 49. 11 ; Hosea 14. 3) shall be spared, hypocrite—rat lier, a libertine, polluted. [Horsley.] folly Wickedness (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, HoRSiEV], 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
CHAPTER X.
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-
In Knalish Version " from judgment" means "from