_THE PROPHET THREATENETH THE PEOPLE FOR THEIR CONFIDENCE IN EGYPT, AND CONTEMPT OF GOD'S WORD. GOD'S MERCIES TOWARD HIS CHURCH. GOD'S WRATH AND THE PEOPLE'S JOY IN THE DESTRUCTION OF ASSYRIA._ _Before Christ 713._ THE third section of this discourse is contained in the four following Chapter s, an... [ Continue Reading ]
WOE TO THE REBELLIOUS CHILDREN, &C.— These two verses contain the proposition of the discourse, exhibiting the carnal counsel of the Ephraimites condemned by God, which makes the basis of this prophetical declamation. The Ephraimites are addressed as refractory children, more strongly to mark their... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE, &C.— The prophet here foretels the unfortunate event of their enterprize; namely, that their reliance on the strength of _So,_ the Pharaoh or king of Egypt, should avail them nothing, but turn out to their confusion. See 2 Kings 17:4. This is more fully set forth in the subsequent verses.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HIS PRINCES WERE AT ZOAN— _When his princes—to Hanes,_ Isaiah 30:5 _they were,_ &c. Isaiah 30:6 _as to the burden of the beasts southward, unto a land—from whence come the lioness and stout lion_—ver. 7. _Therefore have I called her, Rage to rest;_ or _Pride_ [_Rahab,_ a name of Egypt] _be still... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW GO, WRITE IT BEFORE THEM, &C.— See the analysis. The Spirit of God, about to convict the degenerate people of the foolishness of their counsels, pierces into the inmost source of their errors, namely, their irreverence and disregard of the true word of God, and the faithful teachers of that word... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE THUS SAITH THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL— The consequence of the fault is here exhibited by the prophet in two sentences; the former in these verses, the latter in Isaiah 30:15. The prophet in this place declares, that their punishment shall be the entire destruction of their state, set forth und... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD— The second sentence contains a judicial reproof and denunciation, wherein the punishment to be inflicted upon the disobedient and badly advised, is distinctly compared with the crime; for the Almighty, wonderful in all his ways, generally puts carnal men to shame by those ve... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE PEOPLE SHALL DWELL— The consolatory part of this discourse begins here, which is connected with the preceding part by the last clause of the former verse, _Blessed are all they that wait for him:_ here follows, therefore, a series of excellent blessings, to be conferred by God upon his churc... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOUGH THE LORD GIVE YOU, &C.— The prophet here, setting forth the second benefit, tells them, that though at the time of the restoration of their state they should by no means be free from various afflictions, (as Daniel also foretels, Daniel 9:25.) yet these temporal afflictions should be comp... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL DEFILE ALSO THE COVERING, &C.— The meaning of these words is, that the people, at the period of time here marked out, should refrain from idolatry; not public only, but private and domestic also, which seems here particularly to be described; for the Jews, prone to idolatry even when it was... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SHALL HE GIVE THE RAIN OF THY SEED— _And he shall give rain for thy seed._ Lowth. It appears very plainly from the latter end of the 25th verse, and from the 26th, that the prophet here is not to be understood literally, but figuratively, and that the words contain a splendid promise of pure an... [ Continue Reading ]
MOREOVER, THE LIGHT OF THE MOON, &C.— The images of light and darkness are made use of in almost all languages, to represent prosperity and adversity; but the Hebrews make use of them more frequently than any other nation, insomuch that they scarce ever omit them when the subject will bear them. The... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THE NAME OF THE LORD COMETH— _Lo! the name of_ JEHOVAH _cometh from afar; his wrath burneth, and the shame rageth violently: his lips are filled with indignation; and his tongue is as a consuming fire. His spirit is like a torrent overflowing; it shall reach to the middle of the neck: he com... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL HAVE A SONG, &C.— The consequence of God's judgment upon the Assyrian, the prophet here declares, should be great rejoicing in the Jewish church, celebrated with hymns and songs on that night in which their haughty enemy should be destroyed: such songs as the Israelites used when delivered... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SHALL CAUSE, &C.— The prophet resumes the thread of his narration from Isaiah 30:28 and having hinted, not obscurely, in the preceding verse, the time of the execution of the judgment, he describes in the present verse the manner of it; which, from this and the parallel passage, ch. Isa... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN EVERY PLACE— The prophet here again, as in the 29th verse, subjoins the consequence of the fall of the Assyrian. The sum of the passage is, that in every place which the Assyrian, passing with his formidable army, had left desolate, or where he had rested with his army, his overthrow should b... [ Continue Reading ]