1._Draw near, ye nations. _Hitherto the Prophet, intentding to comfort the children of God, preached, as it were, in the midst of them; but now, directing his discourse to the Gentiles, he pursues the same subject, but in a different manner. Having formerly shewn (Isaiah 33:6) that the Lord takes su... [ Continue Reading ]
2._For the indignation of Jehovah is on all the nations. _He undoubtedly means “the nations” which were hostile to the Jews, and at the same time were contiguous to them; for, being surrounded on all sides by various nations, they had almost as many enemies as neighbors. Though this hatred arose fro... [ Continue Reading ]
3._Their slain shall be cast out. _By this circumstance he shews that it will be a great calamity, for if a few persons are “slain,” they are committed to the earth; but when so great a multitude is slain at one time, that there are not left as many as are necessary for burying them, there is no tho... [ Continue Reading ]
4._And all the armies of heaven shall fade away. _Isaiah employs an exaggerated style, as other prophets are accustomed to do, in order to represent vividly the dreadful nature of the judgment of God, and to make an impression on men’s hearts that were dull and sluggish; for otherwise his discourse... [ Continue Reading ]
5._For my sword is made drunken in the heavens. _He says that the “sword” of the Lord is bloody, as extensive slaughter makes the “swords” wet with gore; and, in order to give greater weight to his style, he represents the Lord as speaking. But why does he say that it is _in heaven? _for God does no... [ Continue Reading ]
6._The sword of Jehovah is filled with blood. _He follows out the same statement, but by a different description, which places the matter in a much stronger light, in order to shake off the drowsiness of wicked men, who are wont to laugh and scoff at all doctrine, as we have formerly remarked. It is... [ Continue Reading ]
7._And the unicorns shall come down with them. _This verse is closely connected with the former, for he adds nothing new, but proceeds with the same figure, amplifying what he had said about “rams” and “goats,” to which he adds not only _bullocks _but wild and savage beasts. It amounts to this, that... [ Continue Reading ]
8_For it is the day of vengeance of Jehovah. _This verse must be viewed as closely connected with the preceding verses, for it points out the object which the Lord has in view in punishing the Edomites with such severity; and that object is, that he wishes to avenge his people and defend their cause... [ Continue Reading ]
9._And its streams shall be turned into pitch. _What the Prophet now adds contains nothing new, but describes more fully this desolation. We have formerly explained the reason wily the prophets employ these lively pictures in representing the judgments of God. It is for the purpose of leading men to... [ Continue Reading ]
10._By night and by day it shall not be quenched. _The Prophet’s language is undoubtedly hyperbolical; but the Lord is compelled to act towards us in this manner, for otherwise plain words would produce no impression on us. When he declares that the wrath of God against the Edomites will resemble a... [ Continue Reading ]
11._Therefore the pelican and the owl shall possess it. _As to these animals there are various opinions, and Hebrew commentators are not agreed about them; but the design of the Prophet is evident, which is, to describe a desert place and an extensive wilderness. He undoubtedly mentions dreadful bea... [ Continue Reading ]
12._They shall call her nobles without a kingdom. _This passage has received various interpretations, which I do not quote, because it would be tedious to refute them. One of the most probable is, “They shall call his nobles to reign, but in vain.” As if he had said, “In their wretched condition non... [ Continue Reading ]
13._In her palaces she shall bring forth thorns. _He pursues the same subject; for he describes a frightful desolation, by which splendid houses and palaces are levelled to the ground, or reduced to a state so wild that they are of no use to men, but produce only _briers, thorns, _and _nettles; _whi... [ Continue Reading ]
14._And the wild beasts shall meet with the satyrs. _(20) These animals are thought by some commentators to mean fauns, by others screechowls or goblins, and by others satyrs; and it is not fully agreed what is the exact meaning of the Hebrew words; but it would serve no good purpose to give ourselv... [ Continue Reading ]
16._Inquire at the book of Jehovah. _By “the book of the Lord” some understand this prophecy, as if he had enjoined them to read attentively this prediction; for not even in the minutest point will it fail at the appointed time, as he will afterwards add. Others explain it more ingeniously as denoti... [ Continue Reading ]
17._And he hath cast the lot for them. _He says that to those wild beasts and monsters there hath been granted a secure and permanent habitation, from which they cannot be easily banished or driven out; because God hath allotted it to them as.their portion by inheritance. This means that the whole o... [ Continue Reading ]