For the general design of this chapter see the analysis of Isaiah 24. Many different expositions have been given of its design, and indeed almost every commentator has had his own theory, and has differed from almost every other. Some of the different views which have been taken may be seen in the n... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THAT DAY - In that future time when the Jews would be captive in Babylon, and when they would sigh for deliverance (see the note at Isaiah 26:1). This verse might have been connected with the previous chapter, as it refers to the same event, and then this chapter would have more appropriately com... [ Continue Reading ]
SING YE UNTO HER - That is, sing unto, or respecting the vineyard. The word rendered ‘sing’ (ענוּ _‛__anû_) signifies properly, “answer, respond to;” and then, sing a responsive song, where one portion of the choir responds to another (see Exodus 15:21). This has been well expressed here by Lowth i... [ Continue Reading ]
I THE LORD DO KEEP IT - There is understood here or implied an introduction; as ‘Yahweh said’ (compare Psalms 121:3). I WILL WATER IT EVERY MOMENT - That is, constantly, as a vinedresser does his vineyard.... [ Continue Reading ]
FURY IS NOT IN ME - That is, I am angry with it no more. He had punished his people by removing them to a distant land. But although he had corrected them for their faults, yet he had not laid aside the affection of a Father. WHO WOULD SET - Hebrew, ‘Who would give me.’ The Septuagint renders this,... [ Continue Reading ]
OR LET HIM - The Hebrew word rendered here or (או _'ô_) means “unless;” and the sense is, the enemies of the Jewish people shall be completely destroyed as briers are by fire, “unless” they flee to God for a refuge. TAKE HOLD OF MY STRENGTH - That is, let the enemy take hold of me to become reconc... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL CAUSE THEM THAT COME OF JACOB TO TAKE ROOT - This language is derived from the vine, as the shoots or cuttings of the vine take root and flourish. To take root, therefore, is an emblem denoting that the descendants of Jacob, or the people of God, would increase and prosper. SHALL BLOSSOM A... [ Continue Reading ]
HATH HE SMITTEN HIM, AS HE SMOTE THOSE THAT SMOTE THEM? - Has God punished his people in the same manner and to the same extent as he has their enemies? It is implied by this question that he had not. He had indeed punished them for their sins, but he had I not destroyed them. Their enemies he had u... [ Continue Reading ]
IN MEASURE ... - This verse in our translation is exceedingly obscure, and indeed almost unintelligible. Nor is it much more intelligible in Lowth, or in Noyes; in the Vulgate, or the Septuagint. The various senses which have been given to the verse may be seen at length in Vitringa and Rosenmuller.... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THIS - This verse states the whole design of the punishment of the Jews. They were taken away from their temple, their city, and their land; they were removed from the groves and altars of idolatry by which they had been so often led into sin; and the design was to preserve them henceforward from... [ Continue Reading ]
YET THE DEFENSED CITY - Gesenius supposes that this means Jerusalem. So Calvin and Piscator understand it. Others understand it of Samaria, others of Babylon (as Vitringa, Rosenmuller, and Grotius), and others of cities in general, denoting those in Judea, or in other places. To me it seems plain th... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE BOUGHS THEREOF ARE WITHERED - This is a further description of the desolation which would come upon Babylon. The idea is, that Babylon would be forsaken until the trees should grow and decay, and the branches should fall to be collected for burning. That is, the desolation should be entire,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THAT DAY, THAT THE LORD SHALL BEAT OFF - The word which is used here (חבט _châbaṭ_) means properly “to beat off with a stick,” as fruit from a tree Deuteronomy 20:20. It also means to beat out grain with a stick Judges 6:11; Ruth 2:17 The word which is rendered in the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GREAT TRUMPET SHALL BE BLOWN - This verse is designed to describe in another mode the same fact as that stated in Isaiah 27:12, that Yahweh would re-collect his scattered people. The figure is derived from the trumpet which was blown to assemble a people for war (Grotius); or from the blowing of... [ Continue Reading ]