This chapter comprises a new prophecy and relates to a new subject. Gesenius supposes that it is to be connected with the following to to the close of Isaiah 33, and that they relate to the same subject, and were delivered at the same time. Munster supposes that the prophecy here commenced continues... [ Continue Reading ]
WO - (see the note at Isaiah 18:1). The word here is used to denounce impending judgment. TO THE CROWN OF PRIDE - This is a Hebrew mode of expression, denoting the proud or haughty crown. There can be no doubt that it refers to the capital of the kingdom of Ephraim; that is, to Samaria. This city wa... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THE LORD HATH A MIGHTY AND STRONG ONE - The Hebrew of this passage is, ‘Lo! there is to the Lord (לאדני _la'donāy_) mighty and strong.’ Lowth renders it, ‘Behold the mighty one, the exceedingly strong one,’ And supposes that it means the Lord himself. It is evident, however, that something... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THE HASTY FRUIT BEFORE THE SUMMER - The word rendered ‘hasty fruit’ (בכוּרה _bikûrâh_); in Arabic, _bokkore_; in Spanish, _albacore_), denotes the “early fig.” this ripens in June; the common fig does not ripen until August. Shaw, in his “Travels,” p. 370, says: ‘No sooner does the “boccore” (t... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THAT DAY - This verse commences a new subject, and affirms that while the kingdom of Israel should be destroyed, the kingdom of Judah would be preserved, and restored (compare Isa. 7–9) BE FOR A CROWN OF GLORY - He shall reign there as its king, and he shall guard and defend the remnant of his p... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FOR A SPIRIT OF JUDGMENT - (compare the note at Isaiah 1:26; Isaiah 11:2). The sense of this passage is, that Jehovah would enlighten the judges of the land, so that they should understand what was right, and be disposed to do it. TO HIM THAT SITTETH IN JUDGMENT - This is to be understood colle... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THEY ALSO HAVE ERRED THROUGH WINE - In the previous verses the prophet had said that the kingdom of Judah should be saved, while that of Ephraim should be destroyed. Yet he does not deny that they also were guilty of crimes for which punishment would come upon them. To portray these crimes, and... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR ALL TABLES ... - The tables at which they sit long in the use of wine (see the note at Isaiah 5:11). There was no place in their houses which was free from the disgusting and loathsome pollution produced by the use of wine.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOM SHALL HE TEACH KNOWLEDGE? - This verse commences a statement respecting another form of sin that prevailed among the people of Judah. That sin was contempt for the manner in which God instructed them by the prophets, and a disregard for his communications as if they were suited to children and... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR PRECEPT MUST BE UPON PRECEPT - This is probably designed to ridicule the concise and sententious manner of the prophets, and especially the fact that they dwelt much upon the same elementary truths of religion. In teaching children we are obliged to do it by often repeating the same simple lesso... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR - This verse is to be understood as a response to what the complaining and dissatisfied people had said, as expressed in the previous verse. God says that he will teach them, but it should be by another tongue - a foreign language in a distant land. Since they refused to hearken to the messages... [ Continue Reading ]
TO WHOM HE SAID - To whom God had said; that is, to the Jews. He had taught them the way of rest through the prophets, but they had refused to learn. THIS IS THE REST - That is, this is the true way of happiness, to wit, by keeping the commands of God which had been so often repeated as to become t... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD WAS UNTO THEM - Or, rather, but the word of Yahweh “shall be” unto them. This refers to the mode in which God said He would instruct them in a foreign land. They had complained Isaiah 28:9 that his instructions had been like a short lesson constantly repeated, as we instruct... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE ... - This verse commences a direct address to the scoffing and scornful nation, which is continued to the close of Isaiah 28:22. It is addressed particularly to the rulers in Jerusalem, as being the leaders in crime, and as being eminently deserving of the wrath of God. YE SCORNFUL MEN -... [ Continue Reading ]
WE HAVE MADE A COVENANT WITH DEATH - We are not to suppose that they had formally said this, but that their conduct was as if they had said it; they lived as securely as if they had entered into a compact with death not to destroy them, and with hell not to devour them. The figure is a very bold one... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD - God. This verse is introductory to the solemn threatening which follows. Its design seems to be this. The prophet was about to utter an awful threatening of the judgment of God upon the nation. It might be supposed, perhaps, that the intention was completely to sweep... [ Continue Reading ]
JUDGMENT ALSO WILL I LAY TO THE LINE - The sense of this is, I will judge them according to the exact rule of law, as an architect frames everything according to the rule which he uses. In other words, there shall be no mercy intermingled. The line is used by a carpenter for measuring; the plummet c... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YOUR COVENANT WITH DEATH - (see the note at Isaiah 28:15). SHALL BE DISANNULLED - The word rendered ‘shall be disannulled,’ (וכפר _v__e__kupar_ from כפר _kâphar_), properly means “to cover, overlay;” then to pardon, forgive; then to make atonement, to expiate. It has the idea of blotting out,... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM THE TIME THAT IT GOETH FORTH IT SHALL TAKE YOU - It shall not delay, or be hindered, or put back. As soon as the judgment is sent forth from God it shall come upon you. FOR MORNING BY MORNING - Continually; without intermission. It shall be like floods and tempests that have no intermission; t... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE BED IS SHORTER ... - This is evidently a proverbial saying, and means that they would find all their places of defense insufficient to secure them. They seek repose and security - as a man lies down to rest at night. But they find neither. His bed furnishes no rest; his scanty covering furni... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE LORD SHALL RISE UP - To rise up is indicative of going forth to judgment, as when one rises from his seat to accomplish anything. AS IN MOUNT PERAZIM - There is reference here, doubtless, to the event recorded in 2 Samuel 5:20, and 1 Chronicles 14:11, where David is said to have defeated the... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THEREFORE - In view of the certain judgment which God will bring upon you. BE YE NOT MOCKERS - This was the prevailing sin Isaiah 28:9, and on account of this sin in part the judgment of God was about to come upon the guilty nation. LEST YOUR BANDS BE MADE STRONG - Lest your confinement should... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVE YE EAR - In this verse the prophet introduces an important and striking illustration drawn from the science of agriculture. It is connected with the preceding part of the chapter, and is designed to show the propriety of what the prophet had said by an appeal to what they all observed in the cu... [ Continue Reading ]
DOTH THE PLOWMAN ... - The question here asked implies that he does “not” plow all the day. The interrogative form is often the most emphatic mode of affirmation. ALL DAY - The sense is, does he do nothing else but plow? Is this the only thing which is necessary to be done in order to obtain a harv... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE HATH MADE PLAIN ... - That is, when he has leveled, or made smooth the surface of the ground by harrowing, or rolling it. DOTH HE NOT SCATTER ABROAD - He does not sow one kind of grain merely, but different species according to the nature of the soil, or according to his wishes in regard to... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HIS GOD DOTH INSTRUCT HIM ... - Margin, ‘He bindeth it in such sort as his God doth teach him.’ The more correct idea is conveyed in the text. The word יסרו _yis__e__rô_, properly means, he instructs, admonishes, or teaches him. The idea that skill in agriculture is communicated by God is not o... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE FITCHES ARE NOT THRESHED WITH A THRESHING INSTRUMENT - The word used here (חרוּץ _chârûts_) denotes properly that which is pointed or sharp, and is joined with מורג _môrag_ in Isaiah 41:15 - meaning there the threshing dray or sledge; a plank with iron or sharp stones that was drawn by ox... [ Continue Reading ]
BREAD CORN - Hebrew, לחם _lechem_ - ‘Bread.’ But the word evidently denotes the material from which bread is made. The word is used in the same sense in Isaiah 30:23. IS BRUISED - That is, is more severely bruised than the dill and the cummin; it is pressed and crushed by passing over it the sledge... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS ALSO COMETH ... - That is, these various devices for threshing his grain comes from the Lord no less than the skill with which he tills his land. (see Isaiah 28:26). AND EXCELLENT IN WORKING - Or rather, who magnifies (חגדיל _chigdiyl_) his wisdom ( תוּשׁיה _tûshı̂yâh_). This word properly me... [ Continue Reading ]