_A.M. 3279. B.C. 725._ In this chapter the Ephraimites are reproved for their pride and drunkenness, their security and sensuality, Isaiah 28:1. A gracious promise of God's favour is made to Judah, termed the residue of his people, Isaiah 28:5; Isaiah 28:6. A reproof is given to many of them also,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wo_, &c. The second discourse of the third book of Isaiah's prophecies, according to Vitringa, begins here, and is continued to the end of the thirty-third chapter. He supposes that the whole of it was delivered before the expedition of Sennacherib, and on occasion of some solemn embassy sent to Eg... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, the Lord hath_ Namely, at his command, prepared and ready to execute his judgments; _a mighty and strong one_ Shalmaneser, the king of Assyria; _which, as a tempest of hail, &c., shall cast down_ The crown of pride, _to the earth, by his hand_ By the hand of God, which shall strengthen him... [ Continue Reading ]
“Thus far,” says Bishop Lowth, “the prophecy relates to the Israelites, and manifestly denounces their approaching destruction by Shalmaneser. Here it turns to the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, the remnant of God's people, who were to continue a kingdom after the final captivity of the Israelite... [ Continue Reading ]
_But they also have erred_ But, alas! Judah is guilty of the same sins with Israel, therefore they also must expect the same calamities, of which he speaks afterward. _The priest_ To whom strong drink was expressly forbidden in the time of their sacred ministrations; _and the prophet_ The teachers,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whom shall he_ Namely, God, or his prophet, or minister; _teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine?_ Who is there among this people, that are capable and willing to be taught the good knowledge of God? _them that are wearied from the milk_, &c. A minister may as soon teach a y... [ Continue Reading ]
_For_ Or, rather, _therefore_, as the particle כי is often used. For the prophet here evidently intends to express the punishment of their dulness. _With stammering lips, and another tongue_ By people of a strange language, whom he will bring among them, and into whose power he will deliver them; _w... [ Continue Reading ]
_But the word of the Lord was unto them_, &c. The sense of the passage thus rendered, may be, that they spake of God's word with scorn and contempt, repeating the prophet's words, (which are as peculiar in sound, as they are strong and expressive in sense, קו לקו, קו לקו, צו לצו, צו לצו, _tzav latza... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore hear, ye scornful men_ Who make a mock at sin, and at God's word and threatenings, and who doubt not that by your crafty counsels, and human efforts, you shall escape God's judgments; who _have said_ In your hearts; _we have made a covenant with death_, &c. We are as safe from _death_ and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore, thus saith the Lord_ Because your refuges are vain and deceitful; therefore I will direct you to a better and surer refuge, which will never fail those that trust to it, which God hath prepared in Zion. But if you shall despise and reject that refuge, which I now offer to you all; if you... [ Continue Reading ]
_Judgment also will I lay to the line_, &c. I will execute just judgment, as it were by a line and plummet annexed to it; that is, with exactness and care. I will severely punish and utterly destroy all who reject that stone. For _the line_ and _plummet_, or _the plumb-line_, was not only used in er... [ Continue Reading ]
_And your covenant with death shall be disannulled_ Made void, or of none effect. _Ye shall be trodden down_ Namely, by the overflowing scourge, which you flattered yourselves should not come unto you. _From the time that it goeth forth_ Namely, from me into the land, it shall assuredly, and with th... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the bed is shorter_, &c. For those lying refuges, to which you trust, will not be able to give you that protection which you expect from them, no more than a man can stretch himself upon a bed that is too short for him. _For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim_ Where he fought against th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now therefore be not mockers_ For your own sakes do not make a mock of God's word and threatenings, as you use to do. _Lest your bands be made strong_ Lest thereby you make the judgments of God, which are often compared to bands, more sure and unavoidable, and more severe and terrible, as bands are... [ Continue Reading ]
_Give ye ear_ Observe what I say, and do you judge if it be not reasonable. “We have here the last member of this section, in which this severe judgment of God, denounced in the preceding verses, is defended by a parable taken from agriculture, wherein the prophet represents allegorically the intent... [ Continue Reading ]
_For his God doth instruct him_ The art of husbandry is so necessary for the support of human life, that all men have ascribed its original to God as the inventor and ordainer of it. _The Most High hath ordained husbandry_, saith the son of Sirach, Sir 7:15. In like manner, Virgil, _Georg._, lib. 1.... [ Continue Reading ]
“Four methods of thrashing are here mentioned, by different instruments: the _flail_, the _drag_, the _wain_, and the _treading of cattle._ The _staff_, or _flail_, was used for the grain that was too tender to be treated in the other methods. The _drag_ consisted of a sort of frame of strong planks... [ Continue Reading ]