CHAPTER VI _This chapter, by a particular designation of Isaiah to the_ _prophetic office_, 1-8, _introduces, with great solemnity, a declaration of the whole_ _tenor of the Diving conduct in reference to his people, who, on_ _account of their unbelief and impenitence, should for a very_ _long... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 6:2. _ABOVE IT STOOD THE SERAPHIM_] שרפים _seraphim_, from שרף _seraph_, to _burn_. He saw says _Kimchi_, the angels as flames of fire, that the depravity of that generation might be exhibited, which was worthy of being totally burnt up. _HE COVERED HIS FEET_ - "He covereth his feet"]... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 6:3. _HOLY, HOLY, HOLY_] This hymn performed by the seraphim, divided into two choirs, the one singing responsively to the other, which _Gregory Nazian_., Carm. 18, very elegantly calls Συμφωνον, αντιφωνον, αγγελων στασιν, is formed upon the practice of alternate singing, which prevaile... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 6:5. _WO IS ME! FOR I AM UNDONE_] נדמיתי _nidmeythi_, I am become dumb. There is something exceedingly affecting in this complaint. I am a man of unclean lips; I cannot say, Holy, holy, holy! which the seraphs exclaim. They are holy; I am not so: they see God, and live; I have seen him,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 6:6. _A LIVE COAL_] The word of prophecy, which was put into the mouth of the prophet. _FROM OFF THE ALTAR_] That is, from the altar of burnt-offerings, before the door of the temple, on which the fire that came down at first from heaven (Leviticus 9:24; 2 Chronicles 7:1) was perpetual... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 6:9. _AND HE SAID_] לי _li, to me, two_ MSS. and the _Syriac_. _Thirteen_ MSS. have ראה _raah_, in the regular form.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 6:10. _MAKE THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE FAT_ - "Gross"] The prophet speaks of the event, the fact as it would actually happen, not of God's purpose and act by his ministry. The prophets are in other places said to perform the thing which they only foretell: - "Lo! I have given thee a char... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 6:11. _BE UTTERLY DESOLATE _- "Be left"] For תשאה _tishaeh_, the _Septuagint_ and _Vulgate_ read תשאר _tishshaer_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 6:13. _A TENTH_] This passage, though somewhat obscure, and variously explained by various interpreters, has, I think, been made so clear by the accomplishment of the prophecy, that there remains little room to doubt of the sense of it. When Nebuchadnezzar had carried away the greater... [ Continue Reading ]