III. (1) FOR, BEHOLD, THE LORD, THE LORD OF HOSTS, DOTH TAKE AWAY FROM JERUSALEM... — From the general picture of the state of Judah as a whole, of the storm of Divine wrath bursting over the whole land, Isaiah turns to the Holy City itself, and draws the picture of what he saw there of evil, of th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MIGHTY MAN, AND THE MAN OF WAR. — The first word points to the aristocracy of landed proprietors, the latter to those who, whether of that class or not, had been prominent as leaders in the king’s armies. THE JUDGE, AND THE PROPHET. — Each is named as the representative of a class. The latter w... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CAPTAIN OF FIFTY, AND THE HONOURABLE MAN. — The first title implies a division like that of Exodus 18:21, of which “fifty” was all but the minimum unit. So we have the three “captains of fifty” in 2 Kings 1:9. The “honourable man” (literally, _eminent in countenance_) would seem to occupy a posi... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL GIVE CHILDREN TO BE THEIR PRINCES. — Better, _youths._ The words may point obliquely to Ahaz, who had ascended the throne at the age of twenty (2 Chronicles 28:1). Manasseh was but twelve when he became king; Josiah but eight (2 Chronicles 33:1; 2 Chronicles 34:1). In an Eastern monarchy the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PEOPLE SHALL BE OPPRESSED... — The words paint the worst form of the decadence of an Eastern kingdom. All is chaotic and anarchic; a fierce struggle for existence; the established order of society subverted; the experience of age derided by the petulance of youth. The picture of the corruption o... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN A MAN SHALL TAKE HOLD OF HIS BROTHER... — Disorder was followed by destitution. The elder brother, the impoverished owner of the ruined dwelling, the head of a family or village, turns in his rags to the younger, whose decent garments seem to indicate comparative wealth, and would fain transfer... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR JERUSALEM IS RUINED... — The outward evils of the kingdom are traced to their true source. _Men_ have provoked, in the prophet’s bold anthropomorphic language, “the _eyes_ of His glory,” the manifestation of His being as All-knowing, Almighty, All-holy.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY DECLARE THEIR SIN AS SODOM. — The comparison is, it should be remembered, of probably an earlier date than that in Isaiah 1:10. In the reign of Ahaz (perhaps the prophet, editing in his old age, thought also of that of Manasseh) there was not even the homage which vice pays to virtue by feignin... [ Continue Reading ]
CHILDREN ARE THEIR OPPRESSORS... — This points, as before (Isaiah 3:4), to the youth and yet more the character of Ahaz. The influence of the queen-mother or of the seraglio was dominant in his counsels. Cowardly (Isaiah 7:2), idolatrous, delighting in foreign worships and foreign forms of art (2 Ki... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD STANDETH UP TO PLEAD... — The people may think that the prophet is their censor. He bids them know that Jehovah is their true accuser and their judge. “_Ye,_” he says, with all the emphasis of a sudden change of person, as if turning, as he spoke, to the nobles and elders, “_ye_ have devour... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE THE DAUGHTERS OF ZION... — From the princes that worked evil, Isaiah turns to their wives, sisters, concubines, who were showing themselves degenerate daughters of Sarah and Rebecca. A like denunciation meets us in Isaiah 32:9, but this is without a parallel in the minuteness of its detail.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD WILL SMITE WITH A SCAB... — The words point partly to diseases, such as leprosy, causing baldness, engendered by misery and captivity, partly to the brutal outrage of the Assyrian invaders, stripping off the costly garments and leaving the wearers to their nakedness. (Comp. Ezekiel 16:37; N... [ Continue Reading ]
TINKLING ORNAMENTS. — These were anklets, _i.e.,_ rings of metal, with or without bells, which produced the tinkling of Isaiah 3:16. The “cauls” were probably _wreaths,_ or plaits of gold or silver net-work, worn over the forehead from ear to ear, but have been taken by some scholars as sun-like bal... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHAINS. — Better, as in Judges 8:26, where they are also ornaments of Midianite kings, _earrings._ These and the “bracelets “were probably of gold. The “mufflers” were the long flowing veil, or _mantilla,_ worn so as to cover the head, as now in Spain, or Egypt, or Turkey.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BONNETS... — The English word is perhaps, too modern in its associations, and should be replaced by “diadems” (Exodus 39:28; Isaiah 61:10). THE ORNAMENTS OF THE LEGS. — These were chains connecting the anklets of Isaiah 3:18, and so regulating the “mincing” or “tripping” motion of the wearer.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RINGS, AND NOSE JEWELS. — The first word points to the signet ring, worn both by men and women of wealth (Exodus 35:22; Numbers 31:50; Esther 3:12; Esther 8:8; Jeremiah 22:24); the latter _to_ the ornaments worn pendent from the nostrils as by modern Arabian women (Genesis 24:22).... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHANGEABLE SUITS OF APPAREL. — Better, _state,_ or _festal, dresses._ The word is used in Zechariah 3:4, of the high priest’s garments, “gold and blue, and purple, and fine linen” (Exodus 28:6). THE MANTLES. — Better, _tunics._ The uppermost of the two garments, commonly richly embroidered. WI... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GLASSES — _i.e.,_ the polished metal _mirrors_ (as in Exodus 38:3; Job 37:18; 1 Corinthians 13:12; James 1:23), which the Eastern lady carried in her hand, that she might adjust her toilet. The LXX. rendering, “Laconian [Spartan] garments,” _i.e.,_ indecently transparent, is curious enough to de... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS. — Now comes the terrible contrast of the day of destruction that is coming on all this refined luxury. Instead of the balmy perfume of the scent-bottles, there shall be the stench of squalor and pestilence; instead of the embroidered girdle (Isaiah 11:5), not a “rent,” but... [ Continue Reading ]
(25-26) THY MEN...(26) HER GATES... — The feminine pronoun in both verses points to the daughter of Zion as representing her many daughters. As in Lamentations 1:1, and as in the JUDÆA CAPTA medals that commemorated the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, she is represented as sitting on the ground d... [ Continue Reading ]