_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 ]