This chapter comprises a new and distinct prophecy, though manifestly relating to the same general subject as the preceding. In Isaiah 33:19 of the previous chapter, the prophet had foretold the destruction of the army of Sennacherib and this chapter is designed still further to set forth the circum... [ Continue Reading ]
WO TO THEE THAT SPOILEST - This description accords entirely with Sennacherib and his army, who had plundered the cities and countries which they had invaded, and who were about to advance to Jerusalem for the same purpose (compare Isaiah 29:7; Isaiah 37:11). AND THOU WAST NOT SPOILED - That is, th... [ Continue Reading ]
O LORD - This is a solemn prayer to Yahweh, made by the Jews in the apprehension of the invasion of the Assyrian. It is not meant that this prayer was actually offered, but it is a prophetic representation indicating the alarm of the Jews at his approach, and their disposition to throw themselves up... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THE NOISE OF THE TUMULT - Lowth supposes that this is addressed by the prophet in the name of God, or rather by God himself to the Assyrian, and that it means that notwithstanding the terror which he had caused the invaded countries, he would himself fall and become an easy prey to those whom he... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YOUR SPOIL - The booty that the Assyrian army bad gathered in their march toward Jerusalem, and which would now be left by them to be collected by the Jews. SHALL BE GATHERED LIKE THE GATHERING OF THE CATERPILLAR - The grammatical construction here is such that this may admit of two interpretati... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD IS EXALTED - (compare Psalms 97:9). The prophet here introduces a chorus of the Jews, celebrating the praises of God for delivering them from the Assyrian. HE HATH FILLED ZION WITH JUDGMENT - That is, the effect of his destroying his enemies will be to fill Jerusalem with reverence for his... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE SHALL BE - This verse contains evidently an address to Hezekiah, and asserts that his reign would be characterized by the prevalence of piety and knowledge. This chapter abounds in sudden transitions; and it accords with its general character that when Yahweh had been addres... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD - This verse introduces a new subject by a very sudden transition. It is designed, with the two following, to exhibit the desolation of the land on the invasion of Sennacherib, and the consternation that would prevail. For this purpose, the prophet introduces Isaiah 33:7 the ambassadors who h... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HIGHWAYS LIE WASTE - This verse contains a description of the desolations that had been caused by the invasion of Sennacherib. Some have understood it as containing the account which the ambassadors sent by Hezekiah gave of the effects of the invasion. Thus Grotius interprets it. But it is proba... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EARTH MOURNETH - The land through which he has passed. For the sense of this phrase, see the note at Isaiah 24:4. LEBANON IS ASHAMED AND HEWN DOWN - For the situation of Lebanon, see the note at Isaiah 10:34. Lebanon was distinguished for its ornaments of beautiful cedars. Here iris represented... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW - This verse commences another transition. In the previous verses, the desolation of the land had been described, and the hopelessness of obtaining any terms of favor from Sennacherib, or of binding him to any compact, bad been stated. In this state of things, when inevitable ruin seemed to be c... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL CONCEIVE CHAFF - An address of God to the Assyrians. The figure is one that denotes that their counsels would be in vain. Chaff and stubble are used in the Scriptures, in contrast with grain, to denote anything which is not solid, nutritious, or substantial; then anything which is frivolous... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE PEOPLE - In the army of Sennacherib. AS THE BURNINGS OF LIME - As if placed in a burning lime-kiln, where they must certainly be destroyed (see Isaiah 30:33; compare Amos 2:1). AS THORNS CUT UP - As thorns, or small brushwood, that has been long cut up and perfectly dried are speedily cons... [ Continue Reading ]
HEAR, YE THAT ARE FAR OFF - This is an address of Yahweh, indicating that the destruction of the Assyrian army would be so signal that it would be known to distant nations, and would constitute an admonition to them. YE THAT ARE NEAR - Ye Jews; or the nations immediately adjacent to Judea. The phra... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SINNERS IN ZION ARE AFRAID - This verse is evidently designed to describe the alarm that was produced in Jerusalem on impenitent sinners and hypocrites by a view of the judgment of God on the army of Sennacherib. They would see his wrath on his enemies then, and in view of the terrors of his ind... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT WALKETH RIGHTEOUSLY - In this and the following verses the prophet presents, in contrast, the confidence and the security of the righteous. He first, in this verse, describes the characteristics of the righteous, and in the following verses their confidence in God, and their security and saf... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL DWELL ON HIGH - See the margin. Heights, or high places, were usually places of safety, being, inaccessible to an enemy. The sense here is, that such a man as is described in Isaiah 33:15, should be preserved from alarm and danger, as if his habitation were on a lofty cliff or rock. The par... [ Continue Reading ]
THINE EYES - The eyes of the righteous, described in Isaiah 33:15. SHALL SEE THE KING IN HIS BEAUTY - Some understand this of the Assyrian king. Thus Kimchi understands it, and supposes it means that they shall see him at the walls of Jerusalem; that is, shall see him destroyed. Vitringa supposes it... [ Continue Reading ]
THINE HEART - The heart of the people of Jerusalem. SHALL MEDITATE TERROR - This is similar to the expression in Virgil: - _forsan et haec olim meminisse jurabit_. _AEn. ii. 203._ The sense here is, ‘You shall hereafter think over all this alarm and distress. When the enemy is destroyed, the city... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT NOT SEE A FIERCE PEOPLE - Or, rather, ‘this fierce and boasting people you shall not see.’ They shall not enter the city; but though they are advancing with so much confidence, they shall be suddenly cut, off and destroyed. The word rendered “fierce,” (נועז _nô‛âz_ from נעז _yâ‛az_), p... [ Continue Reading ]
LOOK UPON ZION - Lowth renders this, ‘Thou shalt see Zion,’ by Changing the Hebrew text in conformity with the Chaldee. There is no doubt that this accords with the sense of the passage, but there is no authority for the change It stands in contrast with what had been said in Isaiah 33:19. There, th... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THERE - In Jersalem; or in his church, of which Jerusalem was the emblem. THE GLORIOUS LORD - Lowth renders it, ‘The glorious name of Yahweh,’ שׁם _shâm_ to be a noun, as if it were pointed שׁם _shēm_. So the Syriac and the Septuagint read it. The word ‘glorious’ (אדיר _'adiyr_) means magnifi... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE LORD IS OUR JUDGE - Yahweh will be to us nothing but a source of happiness, truth, and prosperity. His presence will be to us only a blessing, and a means of success and joy. The repetition of the name Yahweh three times is common in the Scriptures.... [ Continue Reading ]
THY TACKLINGS - This is evidently an address to Sennacherib. The mention of the war-galley and the ship seems to have suggested the application of the figure to the enemies of the Jews, and particularly to Sennacherib. The prophet, therefore, compares the Assyrian to a ship that was rendered unservi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE INHABITANT - The inhabitant of Jerusalem. SHALL NOT SAY, I AM SICK - That is, probably, the spoil shall be so abundant, and the facility for taking it so great, that even the sick, the aged, and the infirm shall go forth nerved with new vigor to gather the spoil. THE PEOPLE THAT DWELL THER... [ Continue Reading ]