The thirty-fourth and thirty-fifth chapters make one distinct and beautiful prophecy, consisting of two parts; the first containing a denunciation of judgment on the enemies of the Jews, particularly Edom Isaiah 34; and the second a most beautiful description of the flourishing state of the people o... [ Continue Reading ]
COME NEAR, YE NATIONS, TO HEAR - That is, to hear of the judgments which God was about to execute, and the great purposes which he was about to accomplish. If the supposition be correct, that this and the following chapter contain a summing up of all that the prophet had thus far uttered; a declarat... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE INDIGNATION OF THE LORD - Yahweh is about to express his wrath against all the nations which are opposed to his people. HE HATH UTTERLY DESTROYED THEM - In his purpose, or intention. The prophet represents this as so certain that it may be exhibited as already done.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR SLAIN ALSO SHALL BE CAST OUT - They would lie unburied. The slaughter Would be so extensive, and the desolation would be so entire, that there would not remain enough to bury the dead (compare the notes at Isaiah 14:19). AND THE MOUNTAINS SHALL BE MELTED WITH THEIR BLOOD - The expression here... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ALL THE HOST OF HEAVEN - On the word ‘host’ (צבא _tsâbâ'_), see the note at Isaiah 1:9. The heavenly bodies often represent kings and princes (compare the note at Isaiah 24:21). SHALL BE DISSOLVED - (ינמקוּ _v__e__nâmaqqû_. This figure Vitringa supposes to be taken from the common prejudice... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR MY SWORD SHALL BE BATHED IN HEAVEN - A sword is an instrument of vengeance, and is often so used in the Scriptures, because it was often employed in capital punishments (see the note at Isaiah 27:1). This passage bas given much perplexity to commentators, on account of the apparent want of meani... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SWORD OF THE LORD IS FILLED WITH BLOOD - The idea here is taken from the notion of sacrifice, and is, that God would devote to sacrifice, or to destruction, the inhabitants of Idumea. With reference to that, he says, that his sword, the instrument of slaughter, would be satiated with blood. “It... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE UNICORNS - Margin, ‘Rhinoceros’ (ראמים _r__e__'ēmı̂ym_ from ראם _r__e__'êm_). This was evidently an animal well known in Palestine, since it is frequently mentioned in the Old Testament (Numbers 23:22; Deuteronomy 33:17; Job 39:9; Psalms 22:21; Psalms 29:6; Psalms 92:10, in all which place... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IT IS THE DAY OF THE LORD’S VENGEANCE - A time when Yahweh will take vengeance. THE YEAR OF RECOMPENSES FOR THE CONTROVERSY OF ZION - The time when he will recompense, that is, punish those who have had a controversy with Zion.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE STREAMS THEREOF - The idea here is, that there would be as great and awful a destruction as if the streams everywhere should become pitch or resin, which would be set on fire, and which would fill the land with flame. This image is very striking, as we may see by supposing the rivers and str... [ Continue Reading ]
IT SHALL NOT BE QUENCHED NIGHT NOR DAY - That is, the burning brimstone and pitch Isaiah 34:9, the emblem of perpetual and entire desolation, shall not be extinguished. THE SMOKE THEREOF SHALL GO UP FOR EVER - Every river and rivulet is Supposed to be heated pitch, and every particle of dust sulphur... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE CORMORANT - This and the following verses contain a description of the desolations of Edom in language remarkably similar to that employed in the account of the destruction of Babylon Isaiah 13:20; Isaiah 14:23. The word here translated ‘cormorant’ (קאת _qâ'ath_), occurs in this place and i... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL CALL THE NOBLES THEREOF TO THE KINGDOM - A more correct rendering of this would be, ‘As to the nobles, they shall call them, but there shall be there no kingdom.’ The idea is, that the kingdom would be desolate; there would be no people to rule. Or, there will be no nobles there who shall... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THORNS ... - (see the note at Isaiah 5:6) IT SHALL BE AN HABITATION OF DRAGONS - On the meaning of the word ‘dragons,’ see the note at Isaiah 13:22. COURT FOR OWLS - A place of resort, a residence of owls. The word rendered ‘court’ (חציר _châtsı̂yr_) means a dwelling-place, a habitation, as we... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WILD BEASTS OF THE DESERT - There is in the original here a paronomasia, which cannot be conveyed in a translation. The word rendered, ‘wild beasts of the desert’ (ציים _tsı̂yı̂ym_), is rendered by the Septuagint, δαιμόνια _daimonia_, ‘demons.’ On the meaning of the word, see the note at Isaiah... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE SHALL THE GREAT OWL - (קפוז _qı̂pôz_). Gesenius supposes that this is the arrow-snake, so called from its darting or springing, in the manner of the rattle-snake - from an obsolete root to draw oneself together, to contract. Bochart (Hieroz. ii. 3. 11. 408-419) has examined the meaning of the... [ Continue Reading ]
SEEK YE OUT - Lock carefully at the prediction, and its fulfillment. This seems to be addressed to the inhabitants of that land, or to any who might doubt, or be disposed to examine. They were invited to compare the prediction with the fulfillment, and see how literally all would be fulfilled - an e... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE HATH CAST THE LOT FOR THEM - He hath assigned to them the land of Edom to be occupied by them as their portion. This language is taken from the fact that countries were commonly apportioned, particularly among conquerors, by the lot. In this way Judea was divided among the tribes of Israel Nu... [ Continue Reading ]