Isaiah 18:5

For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the branches. FOR - rather, But in contrast to God's seemingly favouring the enemy while their projects against Judah were in the bud (). AFORE THE HARVEST, WHEN THE BUD IS PERFECT - perfected; when the enemy's plans are on the verge of completion. AND THE SOUR GRAPE IS RIPENING IN THE FLOWER rather 'when the flower shall become the ripening grape' AND THE SOUR GRAPE IS RIPENING IN THE FLOWER - rather, 'when the flower shall become the ripening grape' (Maurer). HE SHALL BOTH CUT OFF THE SPRIGS - the shoots with the grapes on them. God will not only disconcert their present plans, but preve...

5._For when the harvest shall be at hand. _Literally it is, “in presence of the harvest;” but we must soften the harshness of the expressions; and it cannot be doubted that the meaning of the Prophet is, that when the harvest is close at hand, and when the grapes are nearly ripe, the whole produce, in the expectation of which wicked men had rejoiced, will suddenly be snatched from them. The Prophet continues the same subject, and confirms by these metaphors what he had formerly uttered, that the wicked are not immediately cut off, but flourish for a time, and the Lord spares them; but that when the harvest shall be at hand, when the vines shall put forth their buds and blossoms, so that the _sour grapes _make their appearance, the branches themselves shall be cut down. Thus when the wicked shall be nearly ripe, not only will they be deprived of their fruit, but they and their offspring s...

Verse Isaiah 18:5. _THE FLOWER_ - "The blossom"] Heb. _her_ blossom; נצה _nitstsah_, that is, _the blossom of the vine_, גפן gephen, vine, understood, which is of the common gender. See Genesis 40:10. Note, that by the defective punctuation of this word, many interpreters, and our translators among the rest, have been led into a grievous mistake, (for how can the swelling grape become a blossom?) taking the word נצה _nitstsah_ for the predicate; whereas it is the subject of the proposition, or the nominative case to the verb....

FOR AFORE THE HARVEST - This verse is evidently figurative, and the image is drawn from that which is commenced in the previous verse. There, God is represented as calmly regarding the plans of the people here referred to - as the sun shines serenely on the herb, or the dew falls on the grass. “That” figure supposes that they had “formed” plans, and that they were advancing to maturity, like a growing harvest, while God surveyed them without interposition. This verse continues the figure, and affirms “that those plans shall not be mature;” that God will interpose and defeat them “while” they are maturing - as if a man should enter the harvest field and cut it down after it had been sown, or go into the vineyard, and cut down the vines while the green grape was beginning to ripen. It is, therefore, a most beautiful and expressive figure, intimating that all their plans would be foiled eve...

EXPOSITION ISAIAH 18:1 THE HOMAGE OF ETHIOPIA TO JEHOVAH. Amid the general excitement caused by the advance of Assyria, Ethiopia also is stirred, and stirred to its furthest limits. The king sends messengers in beats upon the canals and rivers to summon his troops to his standard (Isaiah 18:1, Isaiah 18:2). The earth stands agaze to see the result of the approaching collision (Isaiah 18:3); but God rests calmly in heaven while events are ripening ...

FOR AFORE THE HARVEST,.... Or vintage: the above metaphor is carried on; before the designs and schemes of the people above described are ripe for execution, who promised themselves a large harvest of their neighbours: WHEN THE BUD IS PERFECT; when the bud of the vine is become a perfect grape, though unripe; when the scheme was fully laid, and with perfect and consummate wisdom as imagined, though not brought into execution: AND THE SOUR GRAPE IS RIPENING IN THE FLOWER; things go on and promise well, as if the issue would be according to expectation, and there would be a good vintage. The sour grape may denote the temper and disposition of the above people against their enemies, their ill nature, and enmity to them; or the sins and transgressions, for which the judgment denounced came upon them: HE SHALL BOTH CUT OFF THE SPRIGS WITH PRUNING HOOKS, AND TAKE AWAY [AND] CUT DOWN THE BRA...

CHAPTER 18 When Israel Will be Brought Back 1. _The land beyond the rivers of Ethiopia (Isaiah 18:1)_ 2. _The ambassadors sent (Isaiah 18:2)_ 3. _The trumpet blown and Jehovah's Message (Isaiah 18:3)_ 4. _Israel restored to Mount Zion (Isaiah 18:7)_ An interesting prophecy concerning a nation of great power, which will be used in the bringing back of God's ancient people....

ISAIAH 18. ISAIAH DISCOURAGES THE SCHEMES OF ETHIOPIA. This chapter is probably connected with the policy of the Egyptian alliance so frequently denounced by Isaiah in 29- 31. Here the negotiations seem to be in the initial stage, and the courteous language of Isaiah agrees best with the view that at present he did not regard the alliance as within the range of practical politics. The land of Ethiopia is described, with special reference to the swarms of flies. Its rivers are the Blue and White Nile. Ambassadors have been sent to Jerusalem, apparently to induce the Jews to throw off the Assyrian yoke and assure them of support. They have come down the Nile, here called the sea (Isaiah 19:5 *), in light boats of papyrus (Exodus 2:3). These were very swift, and could be carried along the bank where the river was not na

The purpose of Jehovah, as disclosed to Isaiah by special revelation. The opening words point back to a definite time when this illumination came to him, whether in a moment of ecstasy or not it is impossible to say....

FOR SO THE LORD SAID, &C.— We have here the divine judgment to be inflicted upon the Assyrian in its due time. The passage is obscure and difficult. The _first_ part of it sets forth, figuratively, Jehovah as it were expecting and in his counsel considering the proper time for the execution of this judgment, while he had determined in himself to refresh the pious among his people with some proofs of his favour. The _second_ part describes the judgment itself. The former part is contained in these words, _For so the_ _Lord said unto me;_ that is to say, revealed this thing unto me from his secret purposes; _I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling-place;_ that is to say, "While the Assyrian is forming his designs for the destruction of my people, I will seem to rest, and to have a regard for their preservation; and I will _behold and consider_ in the heavens, what time most...