Isaiah 3:7

In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people. IN THAT DAY SHALL HE SWEAR - literally, lift up; namely, his hand: the gesture used in solemn attestation. Or, his voice - i:e., answer: so the Vulgate. I WILL NOT BE AN HEALER - of the body politic, incurably diseased (). FOR IN MY HOUSE (IS) NEITHER BREAD NOR CLOTHING - so as to relieve the people, and maintain a ruler's dignity. A nation's state must be bad indeed when none among men, naturally ambitious, is willing to accept office....

7._In that day shall he swear. _The word _swear _expresses an absolute and vehement refusal; for frequently he who at first excuses himself, or declares that he will not do it, at length yields to entreaty; but he who, in refusing, employs an oath, shuts out all hope, because he gives them to understand that his purpose is firm and decided. Perhaps, too, the phrase _in that day_, means “_immediately_, without any delay, and without long consultation;” but as it may also be viewed demonstratively, ( δεικτικῶς,) as pointing out more fully the time of the calamity, I do not express a strong opinion. The general meaning is obvious, that their ruinous condition will be past remedy. As to the word חבש, (_chobesh_,) though commentators differ in their interpretation of it, yet I cheerfully concur with those who think that the metaphor is here borrowed from

1-9 God was about to deprive Judah of every stay and support. The city and the land were to be made desolate, because their words and works had been rebellious against the Lord; even at his holy temple. If men do not stay themselves upon God, he will soon remove all other supports, and then they must sink. Christ is the Bread of life and the Water of life; if he be our Stay, we shall find that is a good part not to be taken away, John 6:27. Here note, 1. That the condition of sinners is exceedingly woful. 2. It is the soul that is damaged by sin. 3. Whatever evil befals sinners, be sure that they bring it on themselves....

Verse Isaiah 3:7. _IN THAT DAY SHALL HE SWEAR_ - "Then shall he openly declare"] The _Septuagint, Syriac_, and _Jerome_, read וישא _veyissa_, adding the conjunction, which seems necessary in this place. _I WILL NOT BE A HEALER_] _I am not a leche_. - Old MS. Bible. _Leech_ was the ancient English word for a _physician_. _FOR IN MY HOUSE IS NEITHER BREAD NOR CLOTHING_ - "For in my house is neither bread nor raiment"] "It is customary through all the East," says Sir _J. Chardin_, "to gather together an immense quantity of furniture and clothes; for their fashions never alter." Princes and great men are obliged to have a great stock of such things in readiness for presents upon all occasions. "The kings of Persia," says the same author, "have great wardrobes, where there are always many hundreds of ha

IN THAT DAY SHALL HE SWEAR - Hebrew, ישׁא _yı̂shā'_ ‘Shall he lift up’ - that is, the voice, or the hand. To lift up the hand was one of the modes of taking an oath. Perhaps it means only that he should lift up “the voice” - that is, “should answer;” compare Numbers 14:1. The Vulgate, the Septuagint, and the Chaldee, read it simply ‘he shall answer.’ I WILL NOT BE AN HEALER - Hebrew, ‘a binder up,’ Isaiah 1:6. The Vulgate renders it, ‘I am not a physician.’ The Septuagint and the Chaldee, ‘I am not sufficient to be a leader.’ The meaning is, that the state of affairs was so ruinous and calamitous that he would not attempt to restore them; as if, in the body, disease should have so far progressed that he woul

EXPOSITION ISAIAH 3:1 GOD'S JUDGMENT UPON JERUSALEM. The general denunciations against Israel of the two preceding chapters are here turned especially against Jerusalem. God will deprive her of all her superior and more honorable classes (Isaiah 3:1); and will give her "children" for her rulers (Isaiah 3:4). There will be continued oppression, and the rise of an insolent and undutiful spirit (Isaiah 3:5). Those fit to bear rule will refuse to do so (Isaiah 3:6,...

IN THAT DAY SHALL HE SWEAR,.... Or "lift up", that is, his hand e, which was a gesture used in swearing, and therefore is so rendered; the meaning is, that he shall at once immediately give an answer, and for the solemn confirmation of it shall say an oath with it, saying, I WILL NOT BE A HEALER, or "a binder"; that is, of wounds, of political wounds, made in the nation, and which were incurable. See Isaiah 1:6 for the meaning is, that he neither was fit to be, nor could he be, a healer of the distempered state of the nation, it was so desperately bad. The Targum is, "I am not fit to be a head or governor;'' and so Kimchi explains it of a governor, who, he says, is so called, because he binds and imprisons those that transgress his commands; and to this sense Jarchi and Abarbinel: FOR IN MY HOUSE [IS] NEITHER BREAD NOR CLOTHING; not

CHAPTER 3 Judgments upon the Rulers and the Daughters Of Zion 1. _The judgment against the rulers (Isaiah 3:1)_ 2. _Jerusalem's sad condition (Isaiah 3:8)_ 3. _Jehovah's message (Isaiah 3:10)_ 4. _The worldliness of the daughters of Zion (Isaiah 3:16)_ 5. _Their humiliation in judgment (Isaiah 3:24; Isaiah 4:1)_ This chapter describes the corrupt conditions among the professing people of God in Isaiah's day. A similar corruption and worldliness pr

JUDAH TO BE PUNISHED WITH ANARCHY. The date is uncertain. That it was early in the reign of Ahaz is a dubious inference from Isaiah 3:12. The pillars of society will be removed, and control will thus be thrown into the hands of young, inexperienced upstarts. Social distinctions will be swept away, age and rank no longer secure respect. Tired of the anarchy, the people will offer the headship of their district to one whom they imagine equal to it, apparently because he belongs to the old order and has hereditary instincts for administration. But he will refuse, disclaiming the qualification. This impending ruin is due to Judah's rebellious provocation of Yahweh, its respect of persons (_mg.),_ Sodom-like shamelessness in its sin. Blessed is the righteous, woe to the wicked; each shall reap what he has sown. The people is governed by oppressors and usurers, its leaders mislead it....

SWEAR. Hebrew "lift up [the hand]": i.e. swear. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 14:22.Exodus 6:8; Numbers 14:30; Deuteronomy 32:40). App-92....