Isaiah 34 - Introduction

The judgments wherewith God revengeth his church. The desolation of her enemies. The certainty of the prophesy.

Before Christ 713.

THE third discourse of the third part of Isaiah's prophesies, is contained in this and the subsequent chapter; which are connected with that preceding, and were delivered, probably, at the same time with it. The first section—contained in this chapter—exhibits the judgment upon the adversaries of the church, and particularly upon Edom; the latter—in chap. 35: the jubilee of the church, and its happy flourishing state. The first action resolves itself into two members; the former member contains a general prophesy against the nations which persecuted the church; wherein we have, first, a judicial convocation of all people to hear the sentence of the divine tribunal upon these nations, Isaiah 34:1.; secondly, the sentence itself set forth and illustrated from its cause and effects, Isaiah 34:2. The second member contains a special prophesy concerning Edom; wherein we have the sentence against Edom, Isaiah 34:5 and the confirmation of that sentence, Isaiah 34:16. The sentence itself is two-fold; first, concerning the terrible vengeance to be taken by God upon Edom, with the destruction of great and small, rich and poor, Isaiah 34:5.; secondly, concerning the full and everlasting desolation of that land, which is variously set forth, Isaiah 34:9. Vitringa is of opinion, that by all the nations and Edom, we are not to understand the nations and Edomites of antiquity, though the prophet's figure and ideas are drawn thence; but rather the nations which opposed or shall oppose the kingdom of Jesus Christ, and some particular people of those nations; namely, Rome, red or drunken with the blood of the saints and martyrs of Jesus.