_THE PROPHET LAMENTETH THE INVASION OF JEWRY BY THE PERSIANS: HE REPROVETH THEIR HUMAN WISDOM, AND WORLDLY JOY: HE PROPHESIETH SHEBA'S DEPRIVATION, AND ELIAKIM'S SUBSTITUTION, PREFIGURING THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST._ _Before Christ 714._... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BURDEN OF THE VALLEY OF VISION— The seventh discourse of the second book, contained in this chapter, relates to the calamity of the people of Jerusalem, and to the fall of Shebna. Besides the inscription, it contains _first,_ an account of the calamity and perturbation of the people of Jerusalem... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT AILETH THEE NOW, &C.— The former part of this discourse sets forth the distress of Jerusalem from the Chaldees and Assyrians; and in these verses we have, _first,_ the fate of the city; the commotion and perturbation thereof upon the report of the hostile army approaching to besiege it, and the... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE SAID I, LOOK AWAY— Behold the prophet here anticipating those lamentations which he was afterwards to pour forth, and which Jeremiah afterwards so pathetically poured forth, an eye-witness of this calamity. See his Lamentations. The expressions here are too strong to be applied to any othe... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ELAM, &C.— _And Elam beareth the quiver; with chariots cometh the Syrian, and with horsemen; and Kir uncovereth the shield._ Lowth. The second member of the first part of this prophesy begins here, setting forth the Assyrian calamity, which was the forerunner of the greater one described in the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE DISCOVERED, &C.— _And the barrier of Judah shall be laid open._ Lowth. This might be rendered, "And he shall dismantle the fortified cities of Judah." The meaning of the metaphor is, that the fortified cities covered Judaea as with a veil. What the prophet here expresses figuratively, is expr... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOU DIDST LOOK IN THAT DAY, &C.— Or, _And thou shalt look,_ &c. The verbs may be rendered throughout in the future. The third member of the former part contains the causes of these judgments; namely, the crimes and vices of the people; and, in these verses, their inconsideration and want of fai... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN THAT DAY DID, &C.— Or, _And in that day will,_ &c. Another fault which the prophet imputes to the carnal Jews, is manifest and hardened epicurism, or carnal security, founded in impious and profane principles, by which, giving up the hopes of a better life, they indulged themselves in the vol... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS— The other part of this discourse, which contains the judgment upon Shebna, the overseer of the palace, is so connected with the former, as plainly to shew that this man was the chief and most eminent among the profane nobles of that time, against whom the prophet de... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, &C.— Or, _Behold, the Lord will throw thee out hence with a mighty throw,_ &c. Isaiah 22:18. _He will toss and whirl thee, as if he were whirling a ball,_ &c. _and there_ [_shall be_] _thy glorious chariots, O thou shame of thy Lord's house._... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE KEY OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID WILL I LAY UPON HIS SHOULDER— In the former verses the prophet declares the investiture of Eliakim with the office and dignities of Shebna, as well as the goodness of Eliakim's disposition. He here says metaphorically, _that the keys of the house of David shall be u... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL FASTEN HIM AS A NAIL— See Ezra 9:8. The word יתד _iathed,_ rendered a _nail,_ signifies a _pole,_ or post, fixed in the earth, in the middle of a tent, to support the top, which, being full of hooks, serves likewise to hang vessels, garments, and the like, upon. See Zechariah 10:4. The me... [ Continue Reading ]