_A.M. 3292. B.C. 712._ “The subject of this chapter,” says Bishop Lowth, “seems to be the nature, the measure, and the design of God's dealings with his people.” We have his judgments inflicted on their great and powerful enemies, Isaiah 27:1. His constant care and protection of his favourite viney... [ Continue Reading ]
_In that day_, &c. This verse, which Bishop Lowth considers as being connected with the last two verses of the preceding chapter, is translated by him as follows: “In that day shall Jehovah punish with his sword; his well-tempered, and great, and strong sword; Leviathan the rigid serpent, and Leviat... [ Continue Reading ]
_In that day_ When these powerful enemies shall be destroyed. _Sing ye unto her_ Hebrew, ענו לה, _answer ye her_, or _say ye to her_, namely, to the church of God. _A vineyard of red wine_ “Behold _a vineyard,”_ or, “Thou art _a vineyard of red wine,”_ that is, of the choicest and best wine, which i... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fury is not in me_ Namely, against my vineyard or my people; I have been displeased with them, and have chastized them, but I am not implacable toward them, and resolved utterly to destroy them, as their enemies are. _Who would set the briers and thorns against me_, &c. Yet if any hypocrite in the... [ Continue Reading ]
_He shall cause them of Jacob to take root_ To be firmly settled in their possessions. The words may be rendered, _In times to come he shall cause Jacob to take root. Israel shall blossom and bud_ Shall revive _and flourish._ The metaphor of a vine is still pursued, and these expressions signify the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hath he smitten him_ Namely, Jacob; _as he smote those that smote him?_ The question implies a denial. He hath not so smitten him. He hath not dealt so severely with his people as he hath with their enemies, whom he hath utterly destroyed. _Or is he slain_ as those _slain by him_ Namely, those slai... [ Continue Reading ]
_In measure when it shooteth forth_ Rather, _In measure when thou sendest it forth_, as בסאסאה בשׁלחה, may be properly rendered. The words seem to be addressed by the prophet to God, and to signify that God would observe a measure in punishing the Jewish people, and not go beyond a certain degree; a... [ Continue Reading ]
_By this therefore_ By this manner of God's dealing with his people; _shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged_ Hebrew, יכפר, _expiated_, or forgiven: that is, by these chastisements Jacob shall be brought to true repentance, and in consequence thereof shall be pardoned. _And this is all the fruit_ The... [ Continue Reading ]
_Yet_, &c. Before this glorious promise, concerning the removal of Israel's sin and calamity, shall be fulfilled, a dreadful and desolating judgment shall come upon them. _The defenced city shall be desolate_ Jerusalem, and the rest of the defenced cities of the land, the singular number being put f... [ Continue Reading ]
_It shall come to pass, &c., that the Lord shall beat off_ Or, _beat out:_ which is not meant in the way of punishment, but as an act of mercy, as is evident from the following clause of this, and of the next verse: the sense is, He shall sever, and take from among the nations, and gather together,... [ Continue Reading ]