Isaiah 30:10

Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: WHICH SAY TO THE SEERS, SEE NOT - (; ; ). SEE NOT - as you now do, foretelling misfortune. PROPHECY NOT ... RIGHT THINGS. Not that they avowedly requested this, but their conduct virtually expressed it. No man, professedly, wishes to be deceived; but many seek a kind of teaching which is deceit; and which, if they would examine, they might know to be such (). The Jews desired success to be foretold as the issue of their league with Egypt, though ill had been announced by God'...

10._Who say to the seers, See not. _He now describes more clearly, and shews, as it were, to the life, the contempt of God and obstinacy which he formerly mentioned; for wicked men not only pour ridicule on doctrine, but furiously drive it away, and would even wish to have it utterly crushed and buried. This is what Isaiah intended to express. Not only do they turn away their ears, and eyes, and all their senses, from doctrine, but they would even wish that it were destroyed and taken out of the way; for wickedness is invariably attended by such rage as would lead them to wish the destruction of that which they cannot endure. The power and efficacy of the word wounds and enrages them to such a degree, that they give vent to their fierceness and cruelty like wild and savage beasts. They would gladly escape, but whether they will or not, they are constrained to hear God speaking, and to tr...

8-18 The Jews were the only professing people God then had in the world, yet many among them were rebellious. They had the light, but they loved darkness rather. The prophets checked them in their sinful pursuits, so that they could not proceed without fear; this they took amiss. But faithful ministers will not be driven from seeking to awaken sinners. God is the Holy One of Israel, and so they shall find him. They did not like to hear of his holy commandments and his hatred of sin; they desired that they might no more be reminded of these things. But as they despised the word of God, their sins undermined their safety. Their state would be dashed in pieces like a potter's vessel. Let us return from our evil ways, and settle in the way of duty; that is the way to be saved. Would we be strengthened, it must be in quietness and in confidence, keeping peace in our own minds, and relying up...

WHICH SAY TO THE SEERS - The prophets (see the note at Isaiah 1:1). SEE NOT - They desire not that they should communicate to them the will of Yahweh. PROPHESY NOT UNTO US RIGHT THINGS - It is not probable that they “openly” demanded of the prophets that they should declare falsehood and deceit, but their conduct was as if they had required that. The sense is, they bore with impatience the theatenings and commands of the true prophets; they were offended at their plainness and their reproofs of their vices; and they preferred the false prophets, who fell in with their prejudices, and who did not denounce the judgment of God for their crimes. SPEAK UNTO US SMOOTH THINGS - That is, those things which are in accordance with our feelings, pre

EXPOSITION ISAIAH 30:1 THE ALLIANCE WITH EGYPT OPENLY REBUKED. In the preceding chapter (Isaiah 30:15) the design of the Jewish rulers to seek the alliance of Egypt was covertly glanced at and condemned; now it is openly declared and rebuked. The rulers are warned that no good can possibly come of it, even in a worldly sense. The Egyptians will give no aid, or at any rate no effectual aid. The sums expended in purchasing their friendship will be utterly thrown away. ISAIAH 30:1 WOE TO THE REBELLIOUS CHILDREN (comp....

WHICH SAY TO THE SEERS, SEE NOT,.... The same with the prophets in the next clause, which explains this: AND TO THE PROPHETS, PROPHESY NOT UNTO US RIGHT THINGS; things agreeable to the mind and will of God, and which ought to be done; not that they, in so many words, said this, but this was the language of their hearts and actions. The Targum is, "who say to the prophets, prophesy not, and to the teachers, teach us not the doctrine of the law:'' SPEAK UNTO US SMOOTH THINGS; that peace and prosperity should attend them, though they went on in their sinful courses: PROPHESY DECEITS; for to prophesy peace to them, when destruction was at hand, was to deceive them; and yet they chose rather to be told the one than the other....

CHAPTER 30 The Fourth Woe Against Alliance With Egypt 1. _The alliance and its failure (Isaiah 30:1)_ 2. _The written table against the rebellious people (Isaiah 30:8)_ 3. _Jehovah's word of encouragement (Isaiah 30:15)_ 4. _The nation blest and restored (Isaiah 30:18)_ 5. _Idolatry ceases and the land restored (Isaiah 30:22)_ 6. _The accomplishment by the coming of the Lord (Isaiah 30:27)_ While this chapter had a si

This passage is introduced by a strange title, Oracle concerning the beasts of the Negeb, _i.e._ either the beasts who carry the treasure to Egypt (Isaiah 30:6_ b_), or the wild creatures that infest the Negeb. Duhm supposes that the oracle began In the wastes of the South, and that the title should be, Oracle. In the wastes of the South. the title being taken from the opening words, which have fallen out of the text through haplography. With great trouble and expense the ambassadors go through the difficult and dangerous desert to negotiate a useless alliance with Egypt, an insolent and indolent people. The prophet is bidden write his oracle on a tablet (Isaiah 8:1) and inscribe it in a book, that it may be a witness (_mg._) for ever ...

The documents (as in Isaiah 8:16) are a protest against the persistent disobedience of the people. Render with R.V. FOR IT IS, &c....

NOW GO, WRITE IT BEFORE THEM, &C.— See the analysis. The Spirit of God, about to convict the degenerate people of the foolishness of their counsels, pierces into the inmost source of their errors, namely, their irreverence and disregard of the true word of God, and the faithful teachers of that word, and their contempt of the counsels suggested to them, in the name and by the authority of the Lord. He therefore places in the present period this most corrupt disposition of the people in full light, and paints it in strong colours, commanded by the Spirit of God to _write it in a book,_ that it might be a monument to future ages, as well of the care and providence of God towards his people, as of their depraved disposition and foolish counsels, whereby they hastened their destruction. See Deuteronomy 31:19....