_A.M. 3292. B.C. 712._ The contents of this chapter relate to the city of Jerusalem, and the neighbouring country. We have the grievous distress into which the Jews should be brought by the Assyrian invasion, under Sennacherib, or that of the Chaldeans, under Nebuchadnezzar, Isaiah 22:1. A reproof... [ Continue Reading ]
_The burden of the valley of vision_ Of Judah, and especially of Jerusalem, called a _valley_, because a great part of it stood in a valley between the opposite hills of Zion and Acra, and between Acra and Moriah; (see Josephus's _Jewish War, 5:_ 13; and 6:6;) and _the valley of vision_, because it... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore said I_, &c. “Behold the prophet here anticipating those lamentations which he was afterward to pour forth, and which Jeremiah so pathetically poured forth, an eye-witness of this calamity. For the expressions here are too strong to be applied to any other calamity than the great and fina... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Elam bare the quiver_ This second member of the first part of this prophecy, which begins here, seems evidently to refer to the Assyrian invasion; for the Medes and Elamites, or Persians, were united with the Assyrians in the time of Sennacherib, but not of Nebuchadnezzar. The Persians were exp... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he_ Namely, the enemy Sennacherib, of whose invasion he seems to speak; _discovered the covering of Judah_ Took those fenced cities which were a covering or safeguard, both to the people of Judah and to Jerusalem. _Thou didst look_ Or, rather, as Dr. Waterland and Bishop Lowth render it, _Thou... [ Continue Reading ]
_And in that day did_, or _will, the Lord call_, &c. Another fault, which the prophet imputes to the carnal Jews, is impenitence, or carnal security. He foretels that God would call them to weeping and mourning, and other instances and evidences of humiliation and godly sorrow; but that, instead the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thus saith the Lord of hosts_, &c. This second part of the prophet's discourse, which contains the judgment upon Shebna, seems to be so connected with the former as to give reason to suppose that this man was the chief among the profane nobles of that time, against whom the prophet declaims in the... [ Continue Reading ]
_What hast thou here?_ Or, _What dost thou here?_ What right hast thou to this place and office? _And whom hast thou here?_ What relations or family? _That thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre_ That thou art ambitious of raising a stately sepulchre for thyself and thine heirs? _As he that heweth out... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will call my servant Eliakim_ By my Spirit fitting him for the work, and moving the heart of Hezekiah to call him to it. _And I will clothe him with, thy robe_, &c. There was a peculiar sort of robe and girdle, which was the badge of his office, which should be taken from him and given to Eliakim... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will fasten him as a nail_ I will establish the power in his hands, as a nail is fixed in the strong walls or solid timber of a house. “In ancient times, and in eastern countries, as the way of life, so the houses were much more simple than ours at present. They had not that quantity and variety... [ Continue Reading ]
_They shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house_ Of his own kindred and family, who shall all depend upon him, and receive glory from him; _the offspring and the issue_ Great and small, the children and grand-children, of his father's house. _All vessels of small quantity_ The meanest... [ Continue Reading ]