_Wo to thee that spoilest_ To Sennacherib, who wasted the land of Judah. The prophet speaks “as if he had found this great spoiler,” to whom he addresses himself, “in the very act of spoiling, and was face to face denouncing the divine judgment upon him.” _And thou wast not spoiled_ Hadst not receiv... [ Continue Reading ]
_O Lord, be gracious unto us_ The prophet and the pious Jews, contemplating the calamity coming upon their country, here direct their prayer unto God for themselves and their people. _Be thou their arm_ That is, their _strength_, namely, the strength of all that trust in thee, and wait for thee, Psa... [ Continue Reading ]
_At the noise of the tumult_ Which shall be made upon the angel's destroying the army; _the people fled_ Namely, those of the army who escaped that stroke. _At the lifting up of thyself_ To execute judgment; _the nations were scattered_ The people of divers nations which made up Sennacherib's army.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord is exalted_ By the destruction of so potent an army, and by the defence of his people. _For he dwelleth on high_ He is, and will appear to be, superior to his enemies, both in place and power. He dwelleth in heaven, whence he can easily and irresistibly pour down judgments upon his enemies... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold_, &c. That the mercy here promised might be duly appreciated and magnified, he gives a lively representation of the great danger and distress in which it found them. _Their valiant ones_ “Three MSS.,” says Bishop Lowth, “read אראלים, _lions of God_, or _strong lions;_ so they called valiant... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now will I rise_ In this extremity I will appear on the behalf of my people and land. _Ye shall bring forth stubble_ Instead of solid corn. Your great hopes and designs, O ye Assyrians, shall be utterly disappointed. _Your breath, as fire, shall devour you_ Your rage against my people shall bring r... [ Continue Reading ]
_The sinners in Zion are afraid_ This is spoken, not of the Assyrians, but of the Jews. The prophet, having foretold the deliverance of God's people, and the destruction of their enemies, for the greater illustration of that wonderful work, may be here considered as returning to the description of t... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that walketh righteously_ He who, being first made righteous by the justification of his person, and the renovation of his nature, (see on Genesis 15:6, and Psalms 32:1,) afterward practises righteousness in all its branches: (1 John 3:7,) and particularly in all his dealings with men, of which... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty_ Hezekiah, in a more prosperous condition than formerly. Having put off his sackcloth, and all the sadness of his countenance, he shall appear publicly in his beauty, in his royal robes, and with a pleasing aspect, to the great joy of all his loving subje... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt not see a fierce people_ As Moses said of the Egyptians, (Exodus 14:13,) _The Egyptians, whom you have seen to- day, you shall see them again no more;_ so I say of the Assyrians, that fierce and warlike people, whom thou hast seen, with great terror, near the walls of Jerusalem, thou sha... [ Continue Reading ]
_Look upon Zion_ Contemplate Zion's beauty and safety, and her glorious and peculiar privileges; _the city of our solemnities_ This was the chief part of Zion's glory and happiness, that God was solemnly worshipped, and the solemn assemblies and feasts kept in her. _Thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy tacklings are loosed_ This apostrophe of the prophet is directed to the hostile nation. Having designed their army under the notion of a _gallant ship_, (Isaiah 33:21,) he here represents their undone condition by the metaphor of a ship, tossed in a tempestuous sea, having her cables broke, and... [ Continue Reading ]