This chapter has been regarded by many as a continuation and conclusion of the prediction commenced in the preceding chapter. Though it was, however, probably uttered at about the same time, and with reference to the same general subject, yet there is no impropriety in its being separated. The previ... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, A KING - That is, Hezekiah. That it refers to him is apparent from the connection. The reign of Ahaz had been one of oppression and idolatry. This was to be succeeded by the reign of one under whom the rights of the people would be secured, and under whom there would be a state of general pr... [ Continue Reading ]
AND A MAN - That is, evidently, the man referred to in the previous verse, to wit, Hezekiah. SHALL BE AS AN HIDING-PLACE FROM THE WIND - A place where one may take refuge from a violent wind and tempest (see the note at Isaiah 25:4). A COVERT - A place of shelter and security. Wind and tempest are... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE EYES OF THEM THAT SEE ... - The sense of this verse is, that there shall be, under the reign of this wise and pious prince, on the part of the prophets and teachers, a clear view of divine truth, and on the part of the people who hear, a disposition to hearken and to attend to it. The phrase... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HEART ALSO OF THE RASH - Margin, ‘Hasty.’ The Hebrew word denotes those who hasten; that is, those who are precipitate in forming a judgment, or deciding on a course of action. They do not take time to deliberate, and consequently they are led headlong into error, and into improper courses of li... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VILE PERSON - Hebrew, ‘Fool.’ But the connection requires us to understand this as the opposite of liberal; and it means a person who is close, miserly, narrow-minded, covetous. This person is designated, very appropriately, as a fool. SHALL BE NO MORE CALLED LIBERAL - It is probable that under... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE VILE PERSON - Hebrew, ‘The fool.’ This word more properly expresses the idea than ‘vile person.’ The Hebrews Used the name fool to denote not only one destitute of understanding, but a knave, a dishonest man - regarding sin as the highest folly (see 1Sa 25:25; 2 Samuel 3:33; Job 2:10). WILL... [ Continue Reading ]
THE INSTRUMENTS ALSO - In the Hebrew here there is a paronomasia which cannot be imitated in a translation. The word ‘instruments’ here denotes evidently the means by which the churl accomplishes his object; whether it be by words, by judicial decisions, or by crafty devices. This is also a kind of... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE LIBERAL - This seems also to have the force of a proverbial expression. The word ‘liberal’ means generous, noble, large-hearted, benevolent; a man of large views and of public spirit; a man above covetousness, avarice, and self-seeking; a man who is willing to devote himself to the welfare o... [ Continue Reading ]
RISE UP ... - Rosenmuller supposes that this commences a new vision or prophecy; and that the former part Isaiah 32:9 refers to the desolation of Judea by the invasion of Sennacherib, and the latter Isaiah 32:15 to the prosperity which would succeed that invasion. It cannot be doubted that this is t... [ Continue Reading ]
MANY DAYS AND YEARS - Margin, ‘Days above a year.’ This is a literal translation of the Hebrew. Septuagint, ‘Make mention of a day of a year in sorrow, with hope.’ Targum, ‘Days with years.’ Kimchi supposes it means ‘two years.’ Grotius supposes it means ‘within three years.’ Various other interpret... [ Continue Reading ]
STRIP YE, AND MAKE YE BARE - That is, take off your joyful and splendid apparel, and put on the habiliments of mourning, indicative of a great calamity. AND GIRD SACKCLOTH - (See the note at Isaiah 3:24).... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL LAMENT FOR THE TEATS - Interpreters have been not a little perplexed by this expression. Lowth supposes it is to be taken in connection with the previous verse, and that it denotes that sackcloth was to be girded upon the breast as well as upon the loins. Others have supposed that it deno... [ Continue Reading ]
UPON THE LAND OF MY PEOPLE - A description similar to this, in regard to the consequences of the invasion of Sennacherib, is given in Isaiah 7:20 (see the notes at that passage). YEA, UPON ALL THE HOUSES OF JOY - Margin, ‘Burning upon.’ The marginal readling has originated from the supposition that... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE THE PALACES SHALL BE FORSAKEN - That is, the palaces in the cities and towns which Sennacherib would lay waste. Or, if it refers, as Lowth supposes, to the invasion of the land in the time of the Chaldeans, then it relates to the palaces in Jerusalem. Vitringa supposes that the temple at Jer... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTIL THE SPIRIT - The Spirit of God, as the source of all blessings, and especially as able to meet and remove the ills of the long calamity and desolation. This evidently refers to some future period, when the evils which the prophet was contemplating would be succeeded by the spread of the true r... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN JUDGMENT SHALL DWELL - Or, justice shall make its appropriate dwelling-place there. IN THE WILDERNESS - In the place that was a wilderness, but that shall now be turned to a fruitful field. IN THE FRUITFUL FIELD - In the nation that is like a fruitful field; in Judea restored.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE WORK OF RIGHTEOUSNESS - That which righteousness produces; or the effect of the prevalence of righteousness on the nation. SHALL BE PEACE - There shall be no internal agitation, and no conflicts with foreign nations. QUIETNESS AND ASSURANCE - This is a beautiful description of the happy ef... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MY PEOPLE SHALL DWELL IN A PEACEABLE HABITATION - In cities and towns that would not be alarmed bv internal or external foes. AND IN SURE DWELLINGS - In dwellings that would be secure from invasion. - All this is descriptive of the peaceful times, and the general security which followed the ret... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN IT SHALL HAIL - Hebrew, ברדת ברד _bârad_ _b__e__redeth_ - ‘And it shall hail in coming down. There is a paranomasia in the original here, which cannot be expressed in a translation - a figure of speech, which, as we have seen, is common in Isaiah. ‘Hail’ is an image of divine vengeance or puni... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED ARE YE - The sense of this verse is, that while the enemies of the Jews would be overthrown, they themselves would be permitted to cultivate their lands in security. Instead of predicting this directly, the prophet implies that this would occur, by declaring that those who were permitted to... [ Continue Reading ]