_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 ]