CHAPTER XXXII _Prophecy of great prosperity under Hezekiah; but, in its_ _highest sense, applicable to Christ_, 1-8. _Description of impending calamities_, 9-14. _Rejection of the Jews, and calling of the Gentiles_, 15. _The future prosperity of the Church_, 16-20. NOTES ON CHAP. XXXII Verse... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 32:2. _AS THE SHADOW OF A GREAT ROCK_] The shadow of a great projecting rock is the most refreshing that is possible in a hot country, not only as most perfectly excluding the rays of the sun, but also as having in itself a natural coolness, which it reflects and communicates to every t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 32:3. _AND THE EYES OF THEM THAT SEE SHALL NOT BE DIM _- "And him the eyes of those that see shall regard"] For ולא _velo, and not, Le Clerc_ reads ולו _velo, and to him_, of which mistake the Masoretes acknowledge there are _fifteen_ instances; and many more are reckoned by others. The... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 32:5. _THE VILE PERSON SHALL NO MORE BE CALLED LIBERAL_] The different epithets here employed require minute explanation. _The vile person _- נבל nabal, the pampered, fattened, brainless fellow, who eats to live, and lives to eat; who will scarcely part with any thing, and that which h... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 32:6. _THE VILE PERSON WILL SPEAK VILLANY_ - "The fool will still utter folly"] A sort of proverbial saying, which _Euripides_ (Bacchae, 369) has expressed in the very same manner and words: Μωρα γαρ μωρος λεγει· "The fool speaks folly." Of this kind of simple and unadorned proverb or p... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 32:7. _THE INSTRUMENTS ALSO OF THE CHURL ARE EVIL_ - "As for the niggard, his instruments are evil"] His machinations, his designs. The paronomasia, which the prophet frequently deals in, suggested this expression וכלי כליו _vechelai kelaiv_. The first word is expressed with some variet... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 32:8. _LIBERAL THINGS _- "Generous purposes"] "Of the four sorts of persons mentioned Isaiah 32:5, three are described, Isaiah 32:6, but not the fourth." - SECKER. Perhaps for והוא _vehu, and he_, we ought to read ושוע _veshoa, the bountiful_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 32:9. _Rise up, ye women_ - "ye provinces." _Ye careless_ _daughters_ - "ye cities." - _Targum_. From this verse to the end of the _fourteenth_, the desolation of Judea by the Chaldeans appears to be foretold.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 32:11. _GIRD SACKCLOTH_] שק _sak, sackcloth_, a word necessary to the sense, is here lost, but preserved by the _Septuagint_, MSS. _Alex_. and _Pachom_., and I. D. II., and edit. _Ald_. and _Comp_., and the _Arabic_ and _Syriac_. _TREMBLE - BE TROUBLED - STRIP YOU_] פשטה _peshotah_, רג... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 32:12. _THEY SHALL LAMENT - FOR THE PLEASANT FIELDS_ - "Mourn ye for the pleasant field"] The _Septuagint, Syriac_, and _Vulgate_ read ספדו _siphdu, mourn ye_, imperative; twelve MSS., (five ancient,) two editions, the _Septuagint, Aquila, Symmachus, Theodotion,_ _Syriac_, and _Vulgate_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 32:13. _SHALL COME UP THORNS AND BRIERS_ - "The thorn and the brier shall come up"] All the ancient Versions read ושמיר _veshamir_, with the conjunction. And an ancient MS. has תעלה בו _taaleh bo_, "shall come up in it," which seems to be right; or rather בה _bah_: and there is a rasure... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 32:14. _THE PALACES SHALL BE FORSAKEN_] The house of the sanctuary (the temple) shall be destroyed. - _Targum_. _THE FORTS _- "Ophel"] It was a part of Mount Zion, rising higher than the rest, at the eastern extremity, near to the temple, a little to the south of it; called by Micah, M... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 32:15. _AND THE FRUITFUL FIELD_] והכרמל _vehaccarmel_. So _fifteen_ MSS., _six_ ancient, and _two_ editions; which seems to make the noun an appellative.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 32:17. _THE WORK OF RIGHTEOUSNESS_] Righteousness works and produces peace. _THE EFFECT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS_] עבדת _abodath, the culture_. Righteousness, _cultivated_ by peace, produces tranquillity of mind and permanent security. Reader, hast thou the principle? If so, dost thou cultivat... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 32:19. _THE CITY SHALL BE LOW IN A LOW PLACE. _- "The city shall be laid level with the plain."] For ובשפלה _ubashephelah_, the _Syriac_ reads וכשפלה _ukeshephelah_. _The city _- probably Nineveh or Babylon: but this verse is very obscure. Saltus; Assyriorum regnum: civitas; magnifica A... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 32:20. _THAT SOW BESIDE ALL WATERS_ - "Who sow your seed in every well-watered place"] Sir John Chardin's note on this place is: - "This exactly answers the manner of planting rice; for they sow it upon the water, and before sowing, while the earth is covered with water, they cause the... [ Continue Reading ]